Publishing Trends

People Round Up, Early July, 2024

July 3, 2024

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PEOPLE

At Putnam/PRH, Lindsay Sagnette will join as VP, editor in chief, on July 15th. She was most recently VP, editorial director at Atria. Newly reporting to Sagnette are Tara Singh Carlson, Michelle Howry, Daphne Ming Durham, and Kate Dresser. She takes the position previously held by Sally Kim, who moved to Little, Brown as President and Publisher earlier this year.

Cassidy Graham has joined as editor at Open Field/Penguin Life. Senior editor of Random House Children’s, Barbara Bakowski will retire on July 3rd. Becky Green has been promoted to SVP, retail, and Penguin Young Readers sales. She will maintain oversight of national accounts and retails sales, in addition to her new sales-leader responsibilities. Mark Santella has been promoted to SVP, mass merchandise, and Random House Children’s sales. He will lead the RHCB sales effort along with his current responsibilities. Chatto & Windus will have Becky Hardie becoming publishing director, taking over from Clara Farmer. Farmer will become associate publishing director, while pursuing her PhD in publishing history. Molly Slight joins as editorial director, succeeding Rose Tomaszewska. Slight was previously publisher at Scribe UK. Asia Choudhry has been promoted to assistant editor. At Penguin Random House Audio, Kayla Kohlmeister has joined as publicist. Clare Perret, previously managing editor at Kensington, has joined Random House Children’s Books as senior copy editor.

At Simon & Schuster, Wibke Grutjen will join as SVP, global chief marketing and communications office on August 5th, reporting to president and CEO Jonathan Karp. She will also be a member of the publisher’s executive committee. She was most recently the chief marketing officer at Hachette Book Group. Maria Mann has joined Primero Sueño as associate director of publicity and marketing. She was previously at CNN en Español, Barnes and Noble, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Frontier Public Relations, and most recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Will Plunkett has been named digital sales manager. Abby Carola has joined as art & design coordinator for Simon & Schuster Children’s.

At Macmillan, Rachel Menth has joined as director of systems integration of Biblio. Donna Wilson has joined as cost accountant and Jasmine Cabrera has joined as inventory specialist. Justin Krasner, formerly executive editor at Odd Dot, has left the company. Alyssa Awe has joined as EVP for business development and publishing strategy. Shawn Foster has joined as VP for children’s sales.

Hachette Book Group welcomes Gabriella Mongelli as senior editor starting July 8th. She will be reporting to Sally Kim. Mongelli was previously at Park Row Books.

At HarperCollins, Nicole Pingelton, senior manager of special markets will now sell into gift and specialty retail and wholesale channels, handling sales and relationships with gift representatives groups and specialty wholesalers.

At Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, editorial director and founding shareholder Rosie de Courcy will be leaving the company on July 19th. She has been a part of Head of Zeus for the past 12 years.

At Sourcebooks, Ariel Curry has joined as senior editor of nonfiction. Shannon McCain has joined as associate director of international marketing and publicity. Diana Schmidt has joined as marketing assistant for Sourcebooks Casablanca and Bloom Books.

In the wake of founder Sue Arroyo’s passing in February, Helga Schier has been named interim CEO of CamCat Publishing. She will still continue her duties as editorial director.

Skyhorse Publishing senior editor Nicole Frail is leaving the company after 12 years and can be contacted at nicolefrailedits@gmail.com.

Candlewick Press sees the return of Martha Kennedy as assistant art director. She was most recently art director at Simon & Schuster. Rory Lake joins as promotions designer. She was most recently the community engagement coordinator at Emmanuel College.

Gemini Books has named Elen Jones publisher of a new gift imprint, Gemini Editions. She was most recently publishing director at Laurence King.

At Open Road Media, strategic advisor of science fiction and fantasy, Betsy Mitchell retired on June 28th. Stefan Dziemianowicz will join as consulting editor, horror, fantasy, and science fiction.

Quarto saw Martha Bucci join on July 1st as SVP of sales and marketing for the US, reporting to CEO Alison Goff. Bucci was previously at Hachette Book Group, leading the chain sales and mass channel sales division.

The American Booksellers Association welcomes Emily Nason as education specialist.

Princeton University Press has Yiwen Luo join as senior sales manager.

Strand Book Store has named Kelly Sterling as its chief retail officer and Carson Moss to its chief operating officer.

Beaufort Books, Alexa Schmidt joins as senior editor. Kaylee Lovato has joined Beaufort Books as marketing and publicity associate

Cornell University Press, Will Hearn, formerly advertising and promotions coordinator at William B. Eerdmans Publishing, has joined as academic marketing coordinator. He can be contacted at wjh223@cornell.edu.

In Agency News…

FinePrint Literary Management has welcomed Christine Goss as an agent. She was previously at Purcell Agency.

Cookie McDermid welcomes Amy Moore-Benson as an agent. She was previously at Meridian Artists.

Franklin & Siegal Associates will now serve as the US/Canada scout for Orion Publishing Group.

PROMOTIONS

At Simon & Schuster, Kassandra Rhoads has been promoted to senior publicist at Scribner. At Atria Books, Kate Napolitano has been promoted to editorial director, nonfiction. Sean deLone has been promoted to editor.

Penguin Random House has promoted Kristina Fazzalaro at Viking/Penguin to associate director of publicity. Kate Renner has been promoted to art director for Viking Books for Young Readers, Philomel, and Flamingo.

At Macmillan, Merilee Croft has been promoted to managing editor on the managing editorial team.

HarperCollins has promoted Gillian Wise to director, special markets sales and speciality publishing. Michelle Ramos has been promoted to project manager, special markets. Emma Tomko has been promoted to sales manager of educational sales. Karlee Stephney has been promoted to senior sales associate of special markets. Reid Sewell has been promoted to publishing manager at HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Scholastic has promoted Emily Seife to executive editor.

Astra Publishing House has promoted Olivia Dontsov to managing editor. At Astra Books for Young Readers, Kerry McManus has been promoted to marketing director, Susan Dobinick has been promoted to assistant publisher, and Millie von Platen has been promoted to associate editor.

Candlewick Press has promoted Hayley Parker to assistant art director.

At Norton, Rachel Salzman and Eric Sinesky Lovett have been promoted to senior publicity director. Gina Savoy has been promoted to publicist. Fanta Diallo has been promoted to senior publicist at Liveright. Clio Hamilton has been promoted to associate publicist at Liveright. Melanie Tortoroli has been promoted to executive editor.

Sourcebooks has promoted Kelly Lawler to senior creative director of adult and YA. Olivia Haase has been promoted to assistant publishing coordinator of children’s fiction and nonfiction.

DULY NOTED

Gary Urda Memorial Simon & Schuster will hold a virtual gathering to celebrate the life and work of Urda, SVP, sales, who died on Monday June 24th. All who knew and worked with Gary are invited to attend the Zoom session beginning at 4:00 PM ET Wednesday, July 10: https://cbs.zoom.us/j/99554165233

Written Remembrances may be sent to corporate.communications@simonandschuster.com

Tara Simons and Laura Heathfield have launched their literary agency, Greenstone Literary Agency, which will specialize in commercial fiction and select nonfiction. Both were previously at Darley Anderson

EVENTS

Jun 27 – Jul 2

ALA Annual Conference

San Diego, CA

Jul 4-7

Anime Expo

Los Angeles, CA

Jul 11-13

Romance Slam Jam

Online

Jul 13-14

New York City Poetry Festival

New York, NY

Hong Kong Book Fair

July 17-23

Hong Kong

Comic-Con International

Jul 25-28

San Diego, CA

Romance Writers of American Conference

Jul 31- Aug 3

Austin, TX

Posted in Book View • Tagged Abby Carola, American Booksellers Association, Ariel Curry, Asia Choudhry, Atria, Barbara Bakowski, barnes and noble, Becky Green, Becky Hardie, Betsy Mitchell, Biblio, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, Brown, CamCat Publishing, Candlewick Press, Cassidy Graham, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chatto & Windus, Clara Farmer, CNN en Español, Daphne Ming Durham, Donna Wilson, Frontier Public Relations, Gabriella Mongelli, Gemini Books, Gemini Editions, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Head of Zeus, Helga Schier, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jasmine Cabrera, Jonathan Karp, Justin Krasner, Kate Dresser, Kayla Kohlmeister, Laurence King, Lindsay Sagnette, Little, Macmillan, Maria Mann, Mark Santella, Martha Bucci, Michelle Howry, Molly Slight, Mongelli, Nicole Pingelton, Open Field, Open Road Media, Park Row Books, Penguin Life, Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Young Readers, Primero Sueño, Princeton University Press, Quarto, Rachel Menth, Random House Children's, Rose Tomaszewska, Rosie de Courcy, Sally Kim, Scribe UK, Shannon McCain, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Children, Sourcebooks, Stefan Dziemianowicz, Sue Arroyo, Tara Singh Carlson, Wibke Grütjen, Will Plunkett

People Round Up, Mid June, 2024

By PT Editors

June 17, 2024

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PEOPLE

Jonathan Shar has been named CEO of Barnes & Noble Education by the company’s board of directors. He succeeds Michael P. Huseby, whose resignation from the position went into effect on June 11th.

The National Book Foundation, has elected three new board members, bringing the board total to 23 members: Jonathan Karp, president and CEO of Simon & Schuster, Peggy Koenig, chair emeritus, Abry Partners; and Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO, The Najafi Companies.

As reported earlier, layoffs at Hachette Book Group include Little, Brown, where seven people were laid off including executive editor Ben George (who can be contacted at benjamincgeorge@gmail.com) and VP publisher Terry Adams. Hachette executive director of field sales, John Leary, left the company June 7th after 23 years. This follows a reorganization of the sales team: David Chaudhry, senior national accounts manager of CBA sales is leaving the company. Heather Hulse, manager of CBA sales administration is leaving the company. Meanwhile, Maggie Curley, formerly marketing analytics coordinator at Open Road Media, has joined Orbit as marketing manager. Nick Devaney joins as director of field sales on June 17. Most recently, Devaney was director of field sales at Penguin Random House, working on the Penguin list. Laura Pennock joins as VP of mass merchandising, wholesale, and library marketing on June 24th. She was previously at Macmillan where she oversaw the mass merchandising, wholesale, and distribution channels.

At Penguin Random House, Ben Hyman will join as editorial director for Schocklen on July 8th, reporting to Jordan Pavlin. Mari Kesselring has joined as publishing manager for Driven. .

At Simon & Schuster, Anne Speyer has joined Marysue Rucci Books as executive editor. Lesley Collins has joined as domestic rights manager and film and TV liaison. She was previously digital sales manager for the company.

At HarperCollins, Juliette Shapland, SVP, rights and permissions, will retire on July 31st after 26 years with the company. Jean McGinley will become SVP, rights and permissions, effective July 29th.

Disney has Anuoluwapo Ohioma, formerly associate editor at Penguin Workshop, has joined Freedom Fire/Disney Hyperion as editor.

New York Times Book Review, Jennifer Harlan will join as senior staff editor, focusing on service journalism about “what to read next”. She was previously at the Projects and Initiatives desk at the Times.

At Albert Whitman, Sue Tarsky, publishing director, has left the company and can be contacted at s.tarsky@btinternet.com.

House of SpeakEasy has appointed Daniel Gallant to executive director. He is a development and communications strategist for arts and cultural entities, as well as a writer, lecturer and event producer.

At Union Square & Co. Danielle Curtis has joined as editor for the health and wellness categories. She was most recently at Wiley.

At Abrams, Amanda Banci, formerly book production manager at Book of the Month, has joined as production manager. Kristina Korpus, formerly manga editor at Seven Seas Entertainment, has joined Abrams ComicArts as editor. Nate Lee, formerly administrative assistant at Writers House, has joined as assistant managing editor.

At Sourcebooks, Morgan Pfeiffer has joined as special markets sales coordinator.

Sasquatch Books, which was recently acquired by Blue Star Press, has Frances Baca join as president and Brian Hurley join as publishing director. Avalon Radys has joined as senior editor.

Entangled Publishing welcomes Sylvan Creekmore, formerly editor at Avon, has joined as senior editor.

At Nosy Crow Inc., Olivia Blackmer has joined as marketing assistant.

The University of Wisconsin Press sees Dan Crissman, formerly editorial director at Indiana University Press, join as editor-in-chief.

At Princeton University Press, Tim Wilkins, director of North American sales, will move into the newly created role of director of finance and sales.

At ReaderLink, Mark Nawrocki has joined as business analyst II. David Gorzek has joined as financial planning manager.

At Candlewick Press, Martha Kennedy is joining as assistant art director. Karen Menzie, formerly director of sales at Zibby Books, is joining as senior national account manager to Amazon.

Choose Your Own Adventure, Lizzi Middleman has returned as marketing director. Middleman started her career in publishing at Chooseco over a decade ago and has since worked at Hachette Book Group.

Poets & Writers, Jared Jackson has joined as director of programs and partnerships. He was previously program director, literary programs and emerging voices at PEN America.

At Books-A-Million, Courtney Adair joins as general counsel, reporting to president and CFP Todd Noden.

In Agency News…

At KT Literary, Kait Feldman has joined as an agent. Chelsea Hensley has been promoted to agent. Lauren Symonds has been promoted to senior agent.

At Creative Artist Agency, Michael Johnston has been promoted to agent in the books department. Tia Ikemoto has been promoted to agent in the books department. Julie Flanagan has been promoted to agent in the books department. Kelly Berger has been promoted to motion picture literary agent.

At Stimola Literary Studio, Hillary Godwin, formerly submission reader for Roaring Brook Press, has joined as literary agent assistant.

Aitken Alexander Associates, Harriet Moore will join June 17th. She was previously at David Higham Associates.

At Aevitas Creative Management UK, The Viney Agency founded by Charlie Viney has merged with ACM UK. Jack Ramm joins as agent. He previously ran his own agency, Ramm Studios. Jon Michael Darga has been promoted to senior agent.

At Kevin Anderson & Associates, Heather Schroder has joined as director of talent, VP, managing and growing KAA’s network of writers. Her agency, Compass Literary, will continue to operate as its own entity.

CookeMcDermid Literary Management, founding partner Sally Harding is retiring. She started The Harding Agency in 2005 and merged with The Cooke Agency in 2017.

PROMOTIONS

At Penguin Random House, Casey Moses has been promoted to assistant art director. Bessa Zenebework has been promoted to senior manager, advertising. Tricia Ryzner has been promoted to senior manager, advertising. Jordan Bishop has been promoted to senior associate, audience engagement. Kortney Hartz has been promoted to publishing manager. Lauren Appleton has been promoted to executive editor of Tarcher Perigee.

At Hachette Book Group, Saimah Haque is promoted to senior director of consumer marketing. Medina Cekovic will be moving into the newly created position of ecommerce marketing manager.

At Abrams, Rebecca Kaplan has been promoted to VP and editor-in-chief. Hema Sukhram is being promoted to royalty manager.

HarperCollins has promoted Meghan Deans to executive director of marketing at Ecco. Jacob Surpin has moved over as senior editor. Surpin was previously at Tarcher Perigee.

At Rizzoli International Publications, Tina Persaud, previously editorial director for Laurence King, has been appointed associate publisher of Rizzoli UK, starting in August.

At Scholastic MacKenzie Kurtzner has been promoted to planning coordinator.

At Sourcebooks, Raquel Latko has been promoted to associate director of sales, mass merch adult, managing sales and distribution strategy for adult titles into Readerlink accounts. Jess Elliot has been promoted to associate director of sales, mass merch kids, managing sales and distribution strategy for kids and YA titles into Readerlink accounts. Christina Noriega has been promoted to director of special markets and gift sales and will prioritize new business opportunities.

Sasquatch Books has promoted Tony Ong to art director. Anna Goldstein has been promoted to executive art director. Peggy Gannon has been promoted to senior production manager.

Chronicle Books has promoted Carlee Boomer to distribution client sales coordinator.

Candlewick Press has promoted Ainslie Campbell-Schwartz to associate editor.

John Hopkins University Press has promoted Kelly Hannagan to senior digital marketing manager. Kait Howard has been promoted to publicity director.

At ReaderLink, Will Campbell has been promoted to VP of Walmart sales. Julian Fernandez has been promoted to supply planner II.

Soho Press has promoted Lily Detaeye to associate publisher.

DULY NOTED

Authors Equity, the new publishing house that was created in March by former Penguin Random House and Macmillan executives Madeline McIntosh, Don Weisberg, and Nina von Moltke has announced its first 10 titles.

Arnaud Nourry, the former longtime head of Hachette Livre, has founded a publishing company, Les Nouveaux Éditeurs, which has entered into a first-look agreement for future editorial acquisitions with Simon & Schuster.

Anime NYC and Japan Society have come together to launch a new awards program, the American Manga Awards. It will take place on August 22nd and look to “celebrate the outstanding achievements of professionals in the world of Japanese comics”.

Jennifer Weiner announced that she is partnering with Philadelphia-based literary organization Blue Stoop to launch the Jennifer Weiner Fellowship. The fellowship will award $5,000 and mentoring opportunities to six emerging women prose writers in the US. Recipients will include “at least two writers of color, at least two parents, and at least two writers living in the greater Philadelphia area”.

EVENTS

June 19th-23rd

Beijing International Book Fair

Beijing, CNCC

June 23-26th

BookCamp 2024

Newark, NJ

June 27th – July 2nd

ALA Annual Conference

San Diego, CA

July 4-7th

Anime Expo

Los Angeles, CA

July 11-13th

Romance Slam Jam

Online

July 13-14th

New York City Poetry Festival

Governors Island, NY

July 17th-23rd

Hong Kong Book Fair

Posted in Book View • Tagged Abrams, Abrams ComicArts, Aevitas Creative Management UK, Aitken Alexander Associates, Albert Whitman, Amazon, American Manga Awards, Anime NYC, Arnaud Nourry, Authors Equity, Barnes & Noble Education, Ben George, Blue Stoop, Books-A-Million, Brown, Candlewick Press, Choose Your Own Adventure, Chooseco, Chronicle Books, Compass Literary, CookeMcDermid Literary Management, Creative Artist Agency, David Higham Associates, Disney, Don Weisberg, Ecco, Entangled Publishing, Freedom Fire/Disney Hyperion, Hachette Livre, HarperCollins, House of SpeakEasy, Indiana University Press, Japan Society, Jennifer Weiner Fellowship, John Hopkins University Press, Jonathan Karp, Jonathan Shar, Kevin Anderson & Associates, KT Literary, Les Nouveaux Éditeurs, Little, Macmillan, Madeline McIntosh, Marysue Rucci Books, Month, National Book Foundation, New York Times Book Review, Nina von Moltke, Nosy Crow, Octopus Publishing Group, Pen America, Penguin Random House, Penguin Workshop, Poets & Writers, Princeton University Press, Ramm Studios, Readerlink, Rizzoli International Publications, Rizzoli UK, Roaring Brook Press, Sasquatch Books, Schocklen, Scholastic, Seven Seas Entertainment, Simon & Schuster, Soho Press, Sourcebooks, Stimola Literary Studio, Tarcher Perigee, Terry Adams, The Cooke Agency, The Harding Agency, The Najafi Companies, The Viney Agency, Times, Union Square & Co., University of Wisconsin Press, Writers House, Zibby Books

People Round Up, Early June, 2024

By PT Editors

June 3, 2024

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PEOPLE

Bloomsbury Publishing announced that Daniel Bean, formerly US manager at Cambridge University Press, is joining as sales director, US academic and professional on July 1st. Elena McAnespie joins as academic marketing and publicity director. She was head of sales and marketing at University of California Press until 2021, when she started her own consulting firm.

Macmillan Publishers welcomes Kaustubh Kamat as SVP of technology. Kaitlyn Connors joins as sales assistant, special markets, and trade sales.

At Hachette Book Group, Cara Bedick, previously editorial director of Chronicle Prism has joined Little, Brown Spark as executive editor.

Penguin Random House announced the return of Jennifer Ridgway to the Crown Publishing Group as director of marketing sales. Mor Mezrich has joined Penguin Random House Audio as senior audio engineer. Katie Dutton, previously associate manager for middle grade marketing at Scholastic, has joined Random House Children’s Books as manager for school and library digital marketing.

At Bindery Books, Shira Schindel has joined as acquisitions director. She was formerly the head of acquisitions at Blackstone Publishing until 2023, when she started her own consulting firm. CJ Alberts has joined as marketing manager. Charlotte Strick has joined as creative director.

Pushkin Press UK, which recently bought Steerforth Press, announced that Zandra Rose has joined as an associate manager for marketing and publicity. Meanwhile, Steerforth co-founder, Chip Fleishcer, will remain as a senior editor.

Seminary Co-op Bookstores announced that Jeff Deutsch has stepped down as executive director.

At Urano Publishing, Suzy Swartz has joined as acquisitions editor.

Haymarket Books welcomes Anne Rumberger, formerly sales and marketing director at Verso Books, as sales and marketing director.

In Agency News…

At Folio Literary Management, Veronica Meliksetian joined Folio Jr. as literary and operations assistant.

PROMOTIONS

Penguin Random House has promoted Alyssa Adler to publicity manager at Avery & TarcherPerigee. Lillian Ball has been promoted to assistant director of publicity at Avery & TarcherPerigee. Katie MacLeod-English is being promoted to associate marketing manager at Avery Books & TarcherPerigee. Neda Dallal is being promoted to senior marketing manager at Avery Books & TarcherPerigee. Nick Martorelli has been promoted to senior executive producer at Penguin Random House Audio. Jessie Stratton is being promoted to associate marketing manager at Penguin Press. Heather Palmer has been promoted to associate managing editor at Penguin Random House Audio. Benny Goldmintz has been promoted to managing editor at Penguin Random House Audio. Natalie Capogrossi has been promoted to senior manager for school marketing at Random House Children’s Books.

Macmillan Publishers has promoted Diandra Dinanath to manager of human resource information systems.

Hachette Book Group has promoted Kirsiah Depp to editor at Grand Central Publishing. Kelsey Horton has been promoted to executive editor at Delacorte Press. Sara High has been promoted to the newly created role of VP and director of international and Canada sales.

HarperCollins Publishers has promoted Clare Vaughn and Caitlin Johnson to editor. Sara Schonfeld, Carolina Mancheno Ortiz, and Elizabeth Agyemang have been promoted to senior editor. Carlos Rosario has been promoted to director of content creation and video strategy for Morrow and HarperCollins Children’s Books. Sam Fox has been promoted to senior director of content creation and social media strategy for Morrow and HarperCollins Children’s Books. Danielle Bartlett has been promoted to senior director of publicity at the Morrow Group.

Peachtree Publishing Company has promoted Zoie Konneker to assistant editor at Peachtree and Peachtree Teen.

The University of North Carolina Press has promoted Dawn Durante to editorial director.

Sounds True has promoted Sahar Al-Nima to assistant editor. Sarah Stanton has been promoted to editorial director.

Angry Robot and Datura Books have promoted Caroline Lambe to publicity manager.

Fox Channel Publishing has promoted Erin Turner to associate publisher and editorial director.

DULY NOTED

Bloomsbury Publishing has acquired Rowman & Littlefield, this marks the largest acquisition by Bloomsbury to date at $83 million. The asset sales does not include the Rowman & Littlefield’s other businesses including Globe Pequot (with the exception of the Applause and Backbeat imprints), its trade publishing arm, Sundance-Newbridge, its K-8 education business and National Book Network (NBN), or its trade distribution business. 

Florence Minor, best known for numerous picture book collaborations with her husband, illustrator Wendell Minor, died on May 21 after a battle with ovarian cancer; she was 74.

Polis Books – the New York based indie press has closed its doors after 11 years. The press maintained a backlist of 171 books over its tenure which has now been dispersed amongst Bloodhound Books, Open Road Integrated Media, and Datura Books.

EVENTS

May 31st- June 16th

Madrid Book Fair

Madrid, SP

June 5-9th

Bronx Book Festival

Bronx, NY

June 9th

Albany Comic Con

Albany, NY

June 13-16th

Nantucket Book Festival