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
PEOPLE
Bob Miller, founder, president, and publisher of Flatiron Books is leaving the company. Celadon president and publisher Deb Futter will be Miller’s replacement and will now be president and publisher of Celadon Books & Flatiron Books.
At Simon & Schuster, Eliza Kirby has joined Weldon Owen as editor. She was formerly editor at Rebel Girls. Ashley Herzig has joined as national account manager for Amazon. Alex Yokom, formerly buyer at Browser Bookshop, is joining as telesales account manager for the western region. Jerry Jensen, national accounts manager has left the company.
Hachette Book Group, Sophie Cottrell, SVP of corporate communications will leave the company at the end of August after working for the company for the past 35 years. Raquel Pelzel will join Voracious as editorial director on September 3rd, reporting to Michael Szczerban. She was previously editorial director for cooking at Clarkson Potter. Mollie Weisenfeld, associate editor, is leaving the company.
Open Road Media sees Christine Gillespie as SVP and publisher reporting to CEO David Steinberger, overseeing their publishing catalog, co-publishing partnerships, and initiatives in audio and licensing. Mara Anastas will now be VP, special projects, reporting to Steinberger.
Words Without Borders has announced Elisabeth Jaquette as the new executive director. Jaquette is the first professional literary translator to serve as executive director. She will begin her new role on September 1, 2024. Jaquette currently serves as the executive director of the American Literary Translators Association, an organization she has led since 2017.
At Penguin Random House, Gillian Arthur has joined Crown as proofreader and copy editor. Mia Gelb has joined Random House Children’s Books as marketing assistant for licensed and proprietary brands.
At Macmillan Publishers, Alexis Neuville is joining St. Martin’s Publishing Creative Studio as manager for audience experience. Mac Nicholas is joining as manager for audience development. Macey Best has joined as inventory analyst for supply chain. Jasmine Cabrera has joined as inventory specialist. Kemdi O’koro as senior finance analyst. Kylie Thalheimer has joined as sales assistant. Hallie Young has joined as assistant for academic and library marketing. Anaka Allen has joined as a contracts associate.
At Sourcebooks, Corrin Bronersky has joined as publishing marketing assistant. Shaina Olmanson has joined as senior editor for Bloom Books.
Created by Humans sees Mark Bryant, formerly editor at large at Scribd, join as author relations lead. Matthew Moore has joined as general counsel.
At PJ Library, Brian Buerkle has been named global publisher relations manager. He will still continue to act as buyer for international and domestic titles.
Tattered Cover, CFO Brad Dempsey and COO Jeremy Patlen have left the company. Derek Holland has been named managing director, responsible for all book selling operations. He will also be the senior store manager at the Colfax location. Individual store managers have also been confirmed: Katie Bierzychudek at Colfax; Scott Patnesky at Aspen Grove, and John Michael Wolter at Stanley Market Place.
At Stanford University Press starting September 1s the press will be represented wholesale and trade retail by the Columbia University Press Sales Consortium. Ingram Academic and Professional will continue to handle distribution and fulfillment.
Interlink Publishing, founders Michel and Ruth Moushabeck have transferred ownership of the company to their three daughters Leyla, Hannah, and Maha, and son-in-law Harrison Williams
At Kirkus Reviews, John McMurtie became nonfiction editor on August 1st, reporting to editor in chief Tom Beer. He was senior editor at Zyzzyva and was previously the books editor at the San Francisco Chronicle until 2019.
In Agency News…
Taryn Fagerness Agency sees Christine Perry join as an associate agent. She was previously a senior scout at Barbara Tolley and Associates.
PROMOTIONS
At Simon & Schuster, Doug Stambaugh has been promoted to SVP for corporate development and business operations. Amy Rohn has been promoted to national accounts manager.
At Macmillan Publishers, Megan Lynch has been promoted to EVP and publisher of Flatiron Books, reporting to Futter. Ana Couto has been promoted to marketing associate at St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Stephen Erickson has been promoted to marketing manager at St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Angela Hinck has been promoted to associate manager for marketing and sales operations. Kukuwa Fraser has been promoted to editor at Flatiron Books. Cristina Cushing has been promoted to associate sales director. Christine Jaeger has been promoted to VP for merchandising and distribution.
HarperCollins, Edie Astley has been promoted to associate editor at Harper. Katie O’ Callaghan has been promoted to executive director of marketing at Harper. Amanada Pritzker is being promoted to executive director of marketing at Harper. Tom Hopke has been promoted to director of marketing at Harper. Jessica Gilo has been promoted to director of marketing at Harper. Becca Putman has been promoted to director of marketing at Harper. Lindsey Reeder has been promoted to marketing director at Harlequin Trade Publishing. Julie Paulauski has been promoted to assistant director of publicity at the Morrow Group. Robby Imfeld has been promoted to senior marketing director at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Taylan Salvati has been promoted to senior publicity manager. Anna Ravenelle has been promoted to publicist. Abby Dommert has been promoted to publicist. Lisa Calcasola has been promoted to senior marketing associate for the teen team at HarperCollins Children’s Books.
At Penguin Random House, Rob Valois has been promoted to VP, associate publisher, and editorial director of Penguin Workshop. Sydney Collins has been promoted to associate editor for Ballantine.
Girl Friday Productions has promoted Dave Valencia to co-owner and COO.
Yale University Press has promoted Adina Popescu to executive editor.
DULY NOTED
The IBPA Book Award for it’s 37th year has announced seven new categories recognizing marginalized communities, namely: AAPI, Black/African American, Disabled, First Nations/Indigenous, Latina/o/e, LGBTQIA2+, and Neurodivergent. The entry deadline is September 30 for books published January-September 2024, and December 16 for books published October-December 2024. More details at https://www.ibpabookaward.org/
East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, CA was destroyed due to a fire. A GoFundMe has been set up to help rebuild the store. The fundraiser has a goal of $200,000, with more than $36,000 raised in the first 24 hours.
Sweet Valley High creator Francine Pascal, 92, died on July 28th.
Irish author Edna O’Brien, 93, died on July 27th. She won the Irish PEN lifetime achievement award in 2001 and the PEN/Nabokov award for achievement in international literature in 2018.
EVENTS
Bienal Internacional do Livro de São Paulo
Aug 6- 15
São Paulo, BR
Aug 8-11
Accra, Ghana
World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon)
Aug 8- 12
Glasgow, UK
Edinburgh International Book Fair
Aug 10-25
Edinburgh, UK
Aug 23- Sep 8
Crystal Palace Gardens, PT
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 Booker Longlist Has Arrived Who Made the Cut?
Salman Rushdie and His Thoughts on Censorship in America
Will You ‘Publish or Perish’ in New Academic Publishing Game?
First Ladies Off to The Publishing Races
Did You Know Poetry Used to Be an Olympic Sport?
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 Thrill of Poisoned Pages and The Poison Project
Dems Decide and Kamala Harris’ Book Sales Soar
Fourth Wing Wins Big at BookTok Awards
Are Audiobooks Helping Sales? – Spotify CEO Remains Optimistic
Researchers Find Ai Boosts Creativity but at What Cost?
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.
PEN America’s Union Reaches Agreement
How a NYC Bookseller is Preventing “Book Deserts”
Literary Adaptations Lead The Way in Emmy Nominations
Are Authors Writing For Readers or Watchers?
Discussing Debuts- How Three Novelists’ Stories Came Together
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.
Do Americans Still Care About Authors?
From ‘Bridgerton’ to ‘Ripley’- How Netflix Boosts Book Sales
The Roadtrip to Reads- Hundreds Line Up for Used Books
How an Author Found His Voice Through a Narrator
Booktopia Closes Its Doors- What does This Mean for Australian Publishing?
