Random House has released the first direct-to-digital fiction title by bestselling author Katie Fforde, a short story entitled The Undercover Cook, while simultaneously relaunching her website. The Undercover Cook will also feature the first chapter of Fforde's new physical book Recipe for Love, which will be published in hardback in March.

BBC Books has signed a two-year publishing deal with the BBC's upcoming talent show The Voice which will feature singers including Jessie J [pictured] and Tom Jones as talent coaches. Editorial director Lorna Russell bought rights in four titles focused on the series from Julian Alexander at LAW: Backstage Pass (world English language rights); The 2012 Winners' Story (UK and Commonwealth); The Behind the Scenes Guide Series Two (world English language); and 2013 Winners' Story (UK and Commonwealth).

The Publishers' Publicity Circle (PPC) has revealed the shortlists for its 2011 awards, including its new Librarian of the Year prize. The awards are given to publicists responsible for the best PR campaigns carried out in 2011, and include the PPC Award for Hardback Non-Fiction, with nominations for Riot Communications' Anwen Hooson and Viking's Amelia Fairney for the campaign for Claire Tomalin's Charles Dickens: A Life, and Bloomsbury's Katie Bond for The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.

Quercus has reported that sales of its non-Larsson books increased by 83% over the last quarter of 2010 while e-book sales grew by 270% in December by comparison to the previous year. The publisher's trading statement for the final three months of 2011 revealed five of its books had performed notably well, alongside Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, as the company continues with its strategy of expanding the depth and breadth of its fiction, non-fiction and children's books while maintaining the momentum of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy.

Acclaimed American novelist Jonathan Franzen has waded into the e-books vs paperback debate, and came out punching in favour of print. Describing new technology like Amazons Kindle as a con, the author of Freedom told the Telegraph: The technology I like is the American paperback edition of Freedom.

Bloomsbury is to launch a new literary imprint, Bloomsbury Circus, to accommodate its expanding publishing. The imprintwhich sports an aerialist logo adapted from the publishers traditional Dianawill feature fiction and very select non-fiction, with a focus on fine writing.

Scholastic has entered into a partnership with Bounce! Sales and Marketing, though the publisher's own UK key accounts, and marketing and communications teams will continue unchanged. Bounce! Sales and Marketing will represent all Scholastic and Chicken House books to independent and specialist accounts.

Orion is to publish a new novel by George Pelecanos, a writer on TV show The Wire, as a late addition to its spring schedules. What It Was, a noir thriller set in 1970s Washington DC, will be published as a 25 signed and numbered hardback collectors edition and a 9.

Agent Christopher Little has reached an amicable agreement with author J K Rowling, who ended her longstanding relationship with the Christopher Little Literary Agency LLP suddenly in June last year. A statement issued by Little's spokesperson said: J K Rowling and her former agent, Christopher Little, have reached an amicable agreement concluding their longstanding business relationship, the terms of which remain confidential.

Macmillan Children's Books has won world rights in a first novel called Soldier Dog by Sam Angus, following a hotly contested three-way auction. Fiction editor Rachel Petty bought world rights to the novel, the story of a boy soldier and his messenger dog during the First World War, through Lucy Juckes at Jenny Brown Associates.