Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
50 Facts for 50 Years of ‘The Power Broker’
Who Made it on The Booker Prize Shortlist?
President Carter to Receive Peace Prize for Literary Contributions
To Read or Not to Read- Why Are Schools Assigning Fewer Books?
Reduce, Reuse, and Read- How Publishers Are Trying New Printing Methods
PEOPLE
Following Hachette’s restructuring over the summer with Algonquin being moved into Little, Brown, publisher Betsy Gleick will leave the company October 4th, as will associate publisher Michael McKenzie. Also at Hachette, Tracy Bozentka joins as sales manager for children’s sales. She was previously district sales manager for field sales and special markets at Scholastic. Colleen Kurzbach is joining the sales team as director of title management, she was previously the senior director of title management at Penguin Random House, specifically Knopf and Penguin Publishing Groups.
Penguin Random House, emeritus EVP, corporate communications, Stuart Applebuam will step down from the company on September 30th after 52 years with associated companies. He is “Bertelsmann’s longest-tenured employee in North America”.
At Simon & Schuster,VP, director, sales operations Eileen Gentillo will retire from the company after 40 years. The remaining members of the sales operations team will be integrated into other operation groups around the company starting October 1st. Jisoo Leones and Andres Feliciano will join the sales department. Caroline Bonin and Lis Kingren-Hawkins will join information services & technology. Nikita Patil will join client services. Elizabeth Worthy and Billie Anna Runions and Jessica Tosi will join corporate marketing. Sean Duffy will join business operations. Kerri Kolen, previously VP and head of audiobooks at Pushkin Industries has joined Pave Publishing House as VP. Julie Neimat, previously EVP, people and culture at Warner Bros. Discover, has joined as chief human resources officer. Ella Laythem joins as art director at Saga Press. She was previously senior designer at Penguin Random House. At Harmony Rodale, Matthew Benjamin has been promoted to editorial director, Harmony. Donna Loffredo has been promoted to executive editor, director of author development, Harmony and Rodale Books. Dervla Kelly has been promoted to editorial director, Rodale Lifestyle. Michele Eniclerico has been promoted to senior, Harmony.
HarperCollins sees Bailey Thomas, formerly senior imprint manager at Penguin Random House join as director of divisional sales and retail development. Catherine Aramino has joined as academic marketing associate. She was previously at Kaufman Studios and Dover Publications. Amanda Maciel has joined Harper middle grade/teen group as VP, editorial director, reporting to VP, publisher Erica Sussman. She was previously at Scholastic.
Lily Philpott, formerly director of programs and partnerships at Asian American Writers’ Workshop has joined Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull as events manager and can be contacted at lily.philpott@catapult.com.
At Sourcebooks, Cara Nesi has joined as senior inside sales manager. Ashley Mallick has joined as key account fulfillment representative. Justin Krasner has joined as editorial director of Sourcebooks eXplore imprint.
At Chronicle Books, Barbara Bersche is joining as senior designer. Wynne- Au-Yueng has joined as designer.
Phaidon Press sees Kindall Gant join as senior publicist.
At Independent Publishers Group, Rachel McCumber has joined as subsidiary rights and royalties coordinator.
InterVarsity Press, sees Eva Pankratz join as publicity coordinator.
At Baker Publishing Group, Luverta Reames, formerly editorial assistant at Waterbook and Multnomah, has joined Chosen Books as acquisition editor.
Anne McGilvray & Company sees Lisa Bach join as director of sales and publisher relations, she was previously executive publisher relations.
Editor-in-chief of Minnesota Historical Society Press, Ann Regan has retired
At Llewellyn Worldwide, Anthony Dalessandro, formerly national account manager at Sounds True, joined as national account manager and can be contacted at anthonyd@llewellyn.com.
Chelsea Green Publishing sees Anna Bliss join as senior editor.
The University of North Carolina sees Sebastian Biot join as digital initiatives specialist.
Ethos Books sees Justin Chia taking over for Pei Ying as marketing manager. He previously oversaw their marketing and publicity.
In Agency News…
Maria B. Campbell Associates has promoted Madi Tower to junior scout. Nina Dahan-Relijich has been promoted to junior scout. Sara Vitale has been promoted to senior scout.
Transatlantic Agency has promoted Amanda Orozco to senior literary agent. Joni Di Placido has joined as international rights coordinator.
Jemma McDonagh has launched her own literary agency, Jemma McDonagh Agency, selling English language and translation rights for other agencies. She was previously joint managing director at The Marsh Agency.
Rachel Richardson, previously of Watson Little, has launched Rich Lit, which will specialize in children’s books, commercial and upmarket fiction for adults, select nonfiction, and international titles.
BOOM! Studios Michael Kelly will join as publisher. He was previously VP, global publishing at Hasbro.
AARP Books, Jodi Lipson is retiring as director on September 20th, after over 14 years. Leah Miller will succeed her as director.
Astra Publishing House sees Paul Reyes join as retail marketing manager for Astra Children’s. He previously worked at DK and Penguin Young Readers.
PROMOTIONS
At Penguin Random House, Nicole Biton has been promoted to senior publicist at Putnam. Heather Mill has been promoted to senior manager, backlist publicity. Erin Madison has been promoted to senior manager, backlist publicity. Gabriella Shery has been promoted to designer at Penguin Random House Audio. At Kokila, Sydnee Monday has been promoted to editor. Reid Walsh has been promoted to VP for sales analysis at Penguin Random House. Stacey Stein has been promoted to assistant director of publicity at Crown.
Simon & Schuster has promoted Tim O’Connell to VP, publisher at Saga Press. He was previously the editorial director of fiction and now will be reporting to Sean Manning. He will continue to acquire literary fiction and select nonfiction for the Simon & Schuster list. Joe Monti is promoted to VP, associate publisher and editorial director, reporting to O’Connell.
Scholastic has promoted Kara Pauley to rights assistant. Stacey Jaffe has been promoted to the new position of chief digital officer.
Bloomsbury Publishing has promoted Lauren Wilson to associate publicist. Harriet LeFavour has been promoted to editor. Briana Williams is being promoted to assistant marketing manager.
Sourcebooks has promoted Rebecca Atkinson to associate manager of international marketing and publicity. Elisabeth Clary has been promoted to assistant editor at Sourcebooks Wonderland. Zoya Boskovic has been promoted to digital marketing specialist. Alexandra Derdall has been promoted to digital marketing manager for special projects.
Chronicle Books has promoted Gwyneth Morgan to sales and marketing enablement coordinator.
The Future of Agency has promoted Amanda R. Livingston to marketing manager and can be contacted at amanda@thefutureofagency.com.
Books-A-Million promoted Damian Doggett to SVP and chief accounting officer.
InterVarsity Press has promoted Karin DeHaven to senior publicist.
Princeton University Press promoted Chloe Coy to assistant editor. Emma Wagh has been promoted to editorial associate. Lijuan (Sophie) Liu has been promoted to assistant business operations manager. Lina Sun has been promoted to China office operations manager. Will Pagdatoon has been promoted to promotions associate and Taylor Sumereau was promoted to intellectual property and contracts coordinator.
Girl Friday Productions has promoted Abi Pollokoff to senior publishing manager.
BOOM! Studios has promoted Bryce Carlson to VP, deputy publisher, reporting to Kelly.
DULY NOTED
The National Book Foundation will award Barbara Kingslover with the 2024 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, which will be presented at the National Book Awards ceremony and held on November 20th.
NYU Advance Publishing Institute announced that registration is now open, and there is an early bird discount through October 13. (Group discounts are also available.) An information session will be offered September 18
API 2025 program topics include:
For more information about the program, pricing, and to register, click here.”
Apple has announced the cut of approximately 100 jobs and reports from Bloomberg saying “the biggest impact on teams responsible for Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore.” The Apple News team will also be affected.
EVENTS
Sept 14-28
New York, NY
Sept 22-30
Brooklyn, NY
Sept 25- Oct 5
Amman, JO
Indonesia International Book Fair
Sept 25-29
Jakarta, IDN
Budapest International Book Festival
Sept 26-29
Budapest, HU
New England Independent Booksellers Association Conference
Oct 3-5
Providence, RI
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
Why Do Fans Have to Wait so Long for Next Game of Thrones Book?
Do BookTok Influencers Even Care About Books They Review?
Before Covid, During Covid, and After- What Did “Station Eleven” Get Right ?
The Black List Helped Hollywood but Can it Do the Same For Publishing?
The Power of Gossip- How a Publishing Gossip Group Has Become an Escape and Resource
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
Neil Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book” Hits a Dead End as Disney Shelves Movie
Stephen King Speaks Out as He Joins Growing List of Banned Authors in Florida
Why is NaNoWriMo’s Stance on Ai Problematic?
Would You Bribe Your Child to Read?
Sam Spade’s Story to Continue Once in Public Domain
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
How Hobart, NY Transformed Into a Book Lover’s Paradise
How Translating Small Languages is No Small Task
Should Author Profiles Replace Book Criticism?
The Censorship Battle in Florida Continues as US Publishers Sue
Will Fantasy Continue to Find Strong Sales This Fall?
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
Exploring and the Celebrating the World of Janet Frame at 100
The Ghostwriting Goodbye- How Author Leslie Jamison Finished Rebecca Godfrey’s Last Work
Barnes & Noble’s Hot Streak Continues
How Did Ireland Become a Literary Powerhouse?
Are Bookstores a Waste of Space?
PEOPLE
At Penguin Random House, Helen Thomaides, previously assistant editor at W.W. Norton has joined as editor for Hogarth and the Modern Library. Ariela Rudy Zaltzman has left Penguin Random House. She can be contacted at arielarudy@gmail.com. Hannah Perrin has joined Crown as associate marketing manager. Jamie Lescht has joined as publicity manager. She was previously senior publicist at Penguin Press.
Hachette Book Group, Clive Priddle will step down as publisher of Public Affairs, effective September 13. Leigh Marchant will join as SVP and chief marketing officer on September 23, reporting to Richard Kitson. Previously she was SVP, director of marketing and & strategy & engagement at Random House. Tom Mis, formerly production manager at John Marshall Media, has joined Hachette Audio as audio post-production. Oriel Voegele, formerly publicity assistant at Basic Books, has joined Hachette Audio as publicity and marketing coordinator. Jerry Jensen joins as executive director of mass merchandising. He was previously at Simon & Schuster. Dan Kosack joins as director of mass merchandising. He was previously at Penguin Random House. Avi Molder is moving to the merchandising team to become national account manager, airports. Molly McLaughlin has been promoted to associate national accounts manager. Tishana Knight, senior national accounts manager, will be the inventory and operational point person for the mass merchandising channel. Associate editor Mollie Weisenfeld has left the company.
At Simon & Schuster, Ingrid Paredes, formerly special projects manager at Scholastic, has joined as manager for corporate and premium sales and special markets. Lauren Marino is joining as Simon Element as executive editor.
HarperCollins, sees Elise Damasco, previously advisory specialist at the Skokie Public Library join HarperCollins Children’s Books as school and library marketing coordinator. Dan Vidra, international sales director has departed the company. He can be reached at DVidra009@gmail.com.
At Sourcebooks, Nicholas Sweeney has joined as production editor for children’s. Celeste Knudson has joined as senior art director for children’s.
Authors Equity, Craig Young has joined as president of sales and can be reached at craig@authorsequity.com. He was previously deputy publisher at Little, Brown.
At Chronicle Books following a reorganization they have expanded their children’s books program. Rebecca Frazer joins as executive editor, overseeing licensing partnerships. She was previously at AMEET Publishing. Mary Colgan returns as senior editor, overseeing chapter books and the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site line. She was previously at Highlights for Children, Boyds Mills Press, and Callisto Media. The marketing, publicity and school & library marketing teams will be combined under marketing associate director Brittany Mitchell. Natalie Nicolson takes on the role of senior manager of brand marketing.
At Springer Nature, Natalie Weaver has joined Kogan Page as marketing manager for North America.
At NYU Press, director Ellen Chodosh will retire from the company effective October 4th. Eric Schwartz, formerly editorial director at Columbia University Press will join and take over as director.
At Parallax Press, Katie Sheehan, formerly associate director of communications at Berret-Koehler Publishers and can be contacted at ksheehan@parallax.org.
Chelsea Green Publishing has appointed Matthew Derr as deputy publisher.
Port Hawkesbury Paper sees Eric Huard as director of speciality sales.
At Orca Book Publishing, Alexandra Valiquette joins as French-language sales specialist.
At Andrews McMeel Publishing, Jessica Rodriguez has joined as children’s and graphic novel art director.
Viz Media, Kevin Hamric, VP of publishing sales, has left the company and can be contacted at krh9595@gmail.com.
Creative Editions sees Beth Kephart as senior editor.
At Bookmobile, Hans Weyandt has joined Itasca Books, a division of Bookmobile as distribution manager. Mark Jung is retiring at the end of the month after 20 years with the company.
Minnesota Historical Society Press, Ryan Hemmer, formerly editor in chief at Fortress Press. John Rahm, formerly director of growth initiatives at Capstone Publishing has joined as director..
At Chooseco, Benjamin Wilgus formerly at First Second has joined as editor and can be reached at bwilgus@chooseco.com.
In Agency News…
At New Leaf Literary & Media, Trinica Sampson-Vera is being promoted to associate agent.
Andrienna Ingrum has joined Serendipity Literary Agency as VP and senior agent. She was previously at Broadleaf Books.
Baker Literary Scouting, Ellie VandenBerg has been promoted to vice president.
At FinePrint Literary Management, Mara Hollander has been promoted to associate agent.
PROMOTIONS
At Hachette Book Group, Cristal Sanchez has been promoted to sales associate for the online and digital team. Fantasia Brown has been promoted to national account manager for the online and digital team.
Simon & Schuster has promoted Natalia Olbinski to associate art director. Math Monahan is being promoted to art director.
At Penguin Random House, Jules Kelly has been promoted to associate director of trade marketing at Random House Children’s Books. Megan Mitchell has been promoted to senior marketing manager at Random House Children’s Books. Kaitlin Kneafsey has been promoted to associate director of publicity at Penguin Young Readers. Shannon Spann has been promoted to senior digital marketing manager at Penguin Young Readers.
At Union Square & Co., Alexandra Eliopoulos has been promoted to managing editor for digital publishing and reprints.
At Melville House Publishing, Hannah Lafferty is being promoted to director of sales. She can be contacted at hanna@mhpbooks.com. Pia Mulleady has been promoted to publicist and can be contacted at pia@mhpbooks.com. Michelle Capone has been promoted to associate editor. She can be contacted at michelle@mhpbooks.com.
At Lerner Publishing Group, Ben Tunby has been promoted to premedia manager. Spencer Hanson has been promoted to project manager. Annie Zheng has been promoted to editor.
At Beacon Press, Frankie Karnedy has been promoted to sales and marketing coordinator. Maya Fernandez and Haley Lynch have been promoted to editor.
At Chelsea Green Publishing, Sean Maher has been promoted to director of North American sales, marketing, and publicity.
Diversion Books, Evan Phail has been promoted to acquisitions editor.
Good Book Company has promoted Nick Bannister to U.S. sales director.
DULY NOTED
NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute (NYU API), an executive education program, inspired by the Yale Publishing Course, is now returning for a second year in 2025. API 2025 will be held on NYU’s Greenwich Village Campus from January 6-10, 2025. Enrollment is now open
Susan Wokcicki, YouTube CEO and a key player in encouraging the publishing world to allow Google, which later would be known as Google Books, to scan books into its search engine, died of lung cancer on August 9. She was 56.
Dana Adkins Pan, 77, died at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on July 22. She had spent thirty years as an editor at Viking, Houghton Mifflin and later, at Reader’s Digest. The date for a memorial service will be announced shortly.
Betty Prashker, 99, died on July 30 at her daughter’s home in the Berkshires. She was one of the first women to rise high in publishing editorial ranks and enterprising editor of feminist nonfiction. She is estimated to have edited more than 500 books during her time at Doubleday and Crown.
New York Times bestselling author of Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography of Kurt Cobain and prolific music writer and editor, Charles Cross, 67, died August 9.
Susan Watt, veteran publisher and HarperCollinsUK editor-at-large dies. In addition to her 60 year long tenure at HarperCollins, she was also the longtime editor of Bernard Cornwell.
EVENTS
Edinburgh International Book Fair
Aug 10-25
Edinburgh, UK
Aug 23- Sep 8
Crystal Palace Gardens, PT
Aug 31- Sept 1
London, UK
Sept 7-8
Chicago, IL
Sept 14-28
New York, NY
Sept 22-30
Brooklyn, NY
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
The BookTok Boom: Adult Fiction Sales Soar to New Heights
Hugo Awards 2024: Who Took Home the Top Honors?
What Makes a Thriller Thrilling?
The Book Bar Buzz- A Look at Their Success
President Obama’s Summer Reading List & Playlist Have Dropped- Did Your Favorites Make it?
Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know.
100 Years of Baldwin- What to Read to Celebrate His Legacy
Utah Outlaws Books in First Statewide Ban
Open Road Integrated Media to Offer Geo-targeting for Banned Books
Latino Authors Making Waves in Children’s Books
Meet ‘Maven’ Audible’s Ai-Powered Search Feature
