Amazon Publishing plans to acquire mass-market paperback publisher Dorchester Publishing. Other interested parties are welcome to try and outbid the retail giant at an auction which will take place in August. Dorchester built its list specializing in genre fiction (western, horror and romance) novels.

Here’s more from Digital Book World: “In practice Amazon, or any firm that outbids Amazon in an auction to be conducted in August, will tender amendments to authors and agents transferring rights to the new entity, in exchange for which back royalties will be paid in full. The acquiring firm will then convert the books to e-books (a number of them have been converted already) and release them in e-book format. The original covers are among the assets to be acquired; our understanding is that Dorchester owned them outright and no rights clearance will have to be undertaken.”

Since launching its publishing arm, Amazon has pushed to rapidly acquire small publishing houses and set up imprints. Last month, Amazon acquired Avalon Books which boasted a backlist of 3,000 titles. In December 2011, Amazon purchased 450 titles from Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books to start off its children’s division. In addition, the company has six imprints: AmazonEncore (out-of-print/self-published books), AmazonCrossing (books in translation), Montlake Romance (romance titles), Thomas & Mercer (suspense and thriller titles), 47North (science-fiction and fantasy titles) and New Harvest (general publishing). (via Sarah Weinman)