Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) acquired publication rights from Avalon Books for more than 3,000 of its books, mostly in the romance, mystery and western genres. The online retailer's Kindle brand tablets and e-readers have has been vying with in the digital-book space with iPad maker Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS), with its line of Nook devices. Avalon Books said its titles include works by Carolyn Brown, whose book "The Ladies Room" is nominated for a 2012 Romance Writers of America award. Terms of the transaction weren't provided. Amazon shares were down 47 cents at $214.10 in recent after-hours trading. Through the close, the stock is up nearly 24% this year. Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@dowjones.com
