As "secret meetings" between Random House and various literary agents to discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the current and future state of the industry are taking place right this moment, according to Publishing News.

What else will be discussed? Frontlist vs. midlist authors, the growing obsession with data, and what lengths publishers will go to make sure their books get choice placement at Tesco, Asda and other top supermarkets even as many other fine books get left behind.

Some are encouraged, like Gill Coleridge: "There is much more transparency about sales now because it is so easy to access the figures, and in some ways that’s a good thing. However, I am noticing much more steel on the part of editors. I have seen publishers refuse to pay more than they believe a sales track record warrants, and let authors go as a result, rather than over-pay."

And while it's easy to start invoking the Department of Duh in all of this -- remember the mantra that publishing is a business! -- I guess if secret meetings are what it takes, all well and good, right? Still, if someone was actually in attendance and wants to share, by all means, drop us a line...