Jennifer Chambliss Bertman discusses ‘Book Scavenger,’ a middle-grade mystery involving clues that lead to hidden books, as well as the real-life version of the game that kids are taking part in.

Maggie Stiefvater talks about bringing her Raven Cycle to a close with ‘The Raven King,’ as well as the interconnection of art, music, and cars in her life and writing.

Ron Miscavige discusses his new book, Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, with Publishers Weekly Radio.

In this fascinating interview, Ron Miscavige, the estranged father of the Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, discusses frankly his relationship with his son and the controversies surrounding Scientology.

"You are led to believe that Scientology is the answer to all of man's problems," Ron Miscavige tells PW Radio. "My life became intolerable to me."

(The Church of Scientology has posted a statement about the book at www.scientologynews.org/ronmiscavige.)

Then, Publishers Weekly senior correspondent Claire Kirch provides a live report from the show floor of BEA, #BEA16.

The winds of change are blowing at BookExpo America. Last week, the publishing industry’s top trade show arrived in Chicago for the first time since 2004.

Hardly anyone considers the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan to be comfortable, though the book business may have become settled in at the Javits as home of BEA for the last seven years.

“There were concerns from a lot of booksellers that the show was becoming too ‘Northeast-centric,” notes Jim Milliot, Publishers Weekly editorial director. “[BEA show organizers] Reed Exhibitions were hearing (from booksellers) that they see the same people all the time.”

In recent months, e-book sales figures have flattened or fallen. A pair of e-book sales initiatives announced this week could provide a boost to publishers’ digital fortunes.

On Tuesday, Shelfie, the book discovery app that allows readers to essentially digitize their print libraries through discount e-book bundling, announced a partnership with the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Mass., to offer digital editions of four print books. The deal is the Canadian startup’s first test as a bookstore promotional tool in the U.S.

“Harvard Book Store kicked off the arrangement for a May 3 appearance with former Wired editor Chris Anderson, author of Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking,” Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer, explained. “Those who purchase a copy of Anderson’s book from the Harvard Book Store will be able to get the e-book through Shelfie—once they sign up and download the app, sign the copyright page, and send a photo of the page to Shelfie to verify ownership.”

Meanwhile, Goodreads, the social reading community that Amazon acquired in 2013, is launching a free e-book giveaway to go along with its print giveaway program. The new beta Kindle e-book promotion will allow an author or publisher—whoever has distribution rights—to launch a promotion giving away up to 100 copies of a Kindle e-book.

“The Shelfie app underscores something I have never been quite comfortable with—and that is, publishers treat digital as a second bite at the apple. Print still accounts for most of their sales, so you buy a print book, and if, as a reader, you want the convenience of reading it digitally too, you have to buy it again,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

Simon Sebag Montefiore (@simonmontefiore) discusses his new book, The Romanovs: 1613–1918. Until the 1900s, journalist and historian Montefiore tells PW Radio, "the Romanovs had been the most successful dynasty of modern times."

The Romanovs, he says, is "a story of power, a story of family." He adds, "I wished to show how Russia became the Russia of today."

The award-winning author of popular history books and British TV presenter calls Catherine the Great "a lovable figure... a genius."

Then, PW editorial director Jim Milliot previews BookExpo America's return to Chicago.

Over a half century of business transformation and reinvention, one figure has persisted in the book trade. Len Riggio, the founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble, built a bookselling empire that remains the nation’s largest – even if it also the last of its kind. This week, the 75-year-old Riggio announced the next step in his long career.

“Riggio has led the company since its inception in 1965,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer. “He told PW that he has done everything he wanted to do in business, and that he is now looking to focus on his ‘philanthropic and social’ interests.”

Paul B. Guenther, former president of Paine Webber and a B&N board member since 2015, has been named by the board as non-executive chairman; Ron Boire, B&N’s CEO, will report to the board. R​iggio expects to step down in September, 2016.

“Despite the many challenges B&N faces, Riggio remains confident that the company can continue to be a major force in bookselling,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

Author Richard Zacks discusses his new book, 'Chasing the Last Laugh: Mark Twain’s Raucous and Redemptive Round-the-World Comedy Tour.'

"Twain was the funniest man in America and it all came crashing down," Zacks tells Publishers Weekly Radio hosts Rose Fox and Mark Rotello. "Twain was the greatest self-promoter....He always wanted something he couldn't have."

Then, PW senior writer Andrew Albanese recaps the recently concluded Google Books copyright case.

The path leading to the marble steps of the United States Supreme Court building demands patience from all parties. When at last the journey ends, the justices offer no consolation other than their opinions.

On Monday this week, April 18, 2016, the long road ended for the Authors Guild in their copyright infringement case against Google. That suit began in 2005, and a generation later in Internet time, it concluded in favor of the Web giant.

“Mary Rasenberger, the Authors Guild executive director, said the court was ‘blinded’ by Google’s public benefit arguments,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer. “And Authors Guild president Roxana Robinson added said the denial was proof that we’re witnessing ‘a vast redistribution of wealth from the creative sector to the tech sector.’

“I guess you can make an argument that tech companies are profiting off others' creative works,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “But to put that all on the backs of Google’s digitization was ill-advised, I believe.”

Author Sunjeev Sahota discusses his second novel, 'The Year of the Runaways,' which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

"Immigration has always been part of my backstory," he tells PW Radio. "In India, the need to get a share of the global spoils is very acute."

Then, PW children's and YA reviews editor John Sellers recaps the Bologna Children's Book Fair.