By Erin Cox and Siobhan O’Leary

The Bookseller reports that Random House has partnered with Sony to create an exclusive limited edition Reader Pocket Edition for James Patterson. Reasoning behind the deal comes from Jonathan Davis, digital publisher at Random House, who said: “The bundle of a limited edition device plus exclusive content make for a distinctive and ideal Christmas gift for book lovers in the UK.” We’re wondering, isn’t that what a book is?

As holiday bookselling season begins, Publishers Lunch reported that both Barnes & Noble and Borders are seeing a continued decline in sales and traffic to the stores. In spite of Monday’s positive report of the Nook selling out (and the recent reports of huge sales for Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue), BN warned that they “expect that general retail traffic will remain challenged during the holiday selling season.”

The MVB Marketing and Publishing Services has found a way to keep bricks-and-mortar stores in business during the e-book revolution. Yesterday, they announced that stationary bookstores can now use an “E-Book Transfer Tool” on livendo.de for 89 Euros, which gives customers the option of buying e-books available on libreka! on the spot. The bookstores simply have to install the software on their computers and then copy the selected title to a customer’s SD card, USB stick, or other means of storage.

The Boersenblatt reports that Germany’s Ifo business climate index, compiled monthly by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, increased in November to 93.9 points (+1.9 points), matching levels reached before the economic downturn in late Summer 2008. Predictions for the next six months are even more positive for exports and manufacturing companies, which expect fewer staff reductions.

On a lighter note, The New Yorker’s Book Bench blog continues with its series “1,000 Words,” featuring book-related photographs from around the world. So, while everyone begins their holiday travels, think of submitting a photograph of your own.