BUSINESS MEMO: PUBLISHING MERGER

Barnes & Noble Inc. is buying a 49 percent stake in iUniverse.com Inc., a Web-based publisher that helps aspiring authors get their books printed and sold.

The companies declined to disclose the terms of Tuesday's deal, which is Barnes & Noble's biggest push into the publishing business yet. The New York-based company does own a small publishing house and also publishes books under its own imprint.

Barnes & Noble says the deal will help it discover fresh and new writing talent some of the giant publishers might overlook. In the future, its connection to iUniverse.com could also help it facilitate in-store publishing.