Publishing Trends

People Round Up, Early August 2024

August 5, 2024

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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

Ghana International Book Fair

Aug 8-11

Accra, Ghana

World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon)

Aug 8- 12

Glasgow, UK

Edinburgh International Book Fair

Aug 10-25

Edinburgh, UK

Feira do Livro do Porto

Aug 23- Sep 8

Crystal Palace Gardens, PT

Posted in Book View • Tagged Alexis Neuville, American Literary Translators Association, Anaka Allen, Bloom Books, Bob Miller, Brad Dempsey, Brian Buerkle, Browser Bookshop, Celadon, Celadon Books & Flatiron Books, Christine Gillespie, Clarkson Potter, Columbia University Press Sales Consortium, Corrin Bronersky, Created by Humans, Crown, David Steinberger, Deb Futter, Derek Holland, Elisabeth Jaquett, Eliza Kirby, Hachette Book Group, Hallie Young, Ingram Academic and Professional, Interlink Publishing, Jasmine Cabrera, Jeremy Patlen, John McMurtie, John Michael Wolter, Katie Bierzychudek, Kemdi O’koro, Kirkus Reviews, Kylie Thalheimer, Mac Nicholas, Macey Best, Macmillan Publishers, Mark Bryant, Matthew Moore, Michael Szczerban, Mollie Weisenfeld, Open Road Media, PJ Library, Random House Children's Books, Raquel Pelzel, Rebel Girls, Scott Patnesky, Scribd, Shaina Olmanson, Simon & Schuster, Sophie Cottrell, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Publishing Creative Studio, Stanford University Press, Tattered Cover, Tom Beer, Voracious, Weldon Owen, Words Without Borders, Zyzzyva

People Round Up, July 2024

By PT Editors

July 23, 2024

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PEOPLE

Hachette announced a series of promotions and realignments on July 15th that included: Running Press and Workman will combine into Workman Running Press Group as of January 1st, 2025. Workman’s Algonquin Books imprint will become part of Little, Brown, reporting to Sally Kim; and Algonquin Young Readers will become part of Little, Brown Children’s, under Megan Tingley. Additionally, Hachette Books and Hachette Go– both nonfiction lines – have been eliminated. Titles will be reassigned to other Grand Central Press imprints. Layoffs includes Mary Ann Naples, whose last day is August 2nd.

Running Press publisher Kristin Kiser will become president of that new division at that time. Susan Weinberg will retire from her role as publisher of Workman at the end of this year. Thereafter, she will work for Hachette in a part-time capacity. Shannon Kelly, senior editor, will now oversee the gift and stationary line RP Studio and the self-help and wellness vertical RP Inspires at Running Press. Michael Barrs is joining Little, Brown and Company as VP, associate publisher. Karen Kosztolynik becomes VP executive editorial director for fiction and will report to Colin Dickerman.

At Penguin Random House, Samantha Endres has joined as business intelligence analyst. Batya Rosenblum, formerly executive editor at The Experiment, has joined TarcherPerigee as senior editor. Farrin Jacobs, most recently VP and editorial director at Little Brown Books for Young Readers, will join Random House Studios as executive editor on July 29th.

At Simon & Schuster, Francesca Carlos has joined Simon Element as marketing manager. Selene Covarrubias has joined as sales development manager for latinx market.

Abrams has Nicole Valdez joining as marketing director at Abrams ComicArts. She was previously the senior publicity manager at Simon & Schuster. Phil DiSanto, previously VP of technology and CIO at Allstar Innovations has been named VP of technology development.

At Astra House, Tara Sharma, formerly assistant editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has joined as associate editor. Maya Raiford Cohen has joined as associate editor. She was previously associate editor at Zando.

At HarperCollins, Jack Countryman, publisher emeritus at HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s Nelson Gift division, has retired. Stephanie Duncan Smith joined HarperOne as senior editor on July 15th. She was previously executive editor at Baker Books. Gretchen Schmid, previously editor at HarperVia marketing team as marketing manager.

At Amazon Publishing, Elizabeth Agyemang, formerly senior editor at HarperCollins has joined 47North as editor.

Scholastic, Kelly Carbone joins as inventory analyst.

At Sourcebooks, Timothy Fosczcz has joined as sales associate. Rebecca Johnson has joined as director of human resources. Benjamin Sherrard has joined as developer.

Chronicle Books has Linette Kim join as senior manager for school and library marketing and children’s publicity. Meghan Clarke has joined as controller.

Richard Dobbs, senior book buyer at the International Center of Photography, has left the company.

At Open Road Integrated Media, Michael Tolchinsky has joined as marketing analytics coordinator.

At Amazon Publishing, Elizabeth Agyemang, formerly senior editor at HarperCollins has joined 47North as editor.

Candlewick Press has Jaclyn Withers join as sales coordinator. Neda Kamalhedayat has joined as consumer marketing coordinator. Caitlyn Davis has joined as trade marketing assistant. April Li is joining as editorial assistant.

At Tiny Onion, Harley Salbacka, previously sales lead at Boom! Studios has joined as community and events manager.

At Catapult, Ashley Kiedrowski, formerly marketing manager at Hachette Books and Hachette Go is joining as digital marketing manager.

In Agency News…

Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts, VP of international rights at HG Literary has left her position and will now work exclusively on domestic clients and will retain the title of VP. Julia Kardon has been promoted to VP. Ellen Goff has been promoted to agent and international rights manager for children’s and YA. Alex Reubert, previously an agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, has joined at agent and international rights manager for adult. Jonathan Cobb.

At Bindery Agency, Kesia Lupo, associate literary agent is leaving the company and contacted at keslupo@gmail.com.

Folio Literary Management has promoted Estelle Laure to agent and senior content development editor for Folio Jr..

PROMOTIONS

At Penguin Random House, Jeramie Orton is being promoted to executive editor at Pamela Dorman Books. Marie Michels is being promoted to executive editor at Pamela Dorman Books. Paul Whitlatch has been promoted to editorial director at Crown Currency as part of the expansion of the Crown Currency publishing program. Iris McElroy has been promoted to executive producer at Penguin Random House Audio. Brady Emerson has been promoted to executive producer at Penguin Random House Audio. Mollie Reid has been promoted to publicist at Penguin Press. Tia Resham Cheema has been promoted to assistant editor at Random House Children’s Books. Lisa Kwan has been promoted to assistant editor at Pantheon.

At Hachette, Oliver Wehner has been promoted to associate publicist at Orbit. Shannon Fabricant is being promoted to publisher at Running Press, effective Jan 1st, 2025. Betsy Hulsebosch is being promoted to VP and deputy publisher at Running Press, effective Jan 1st, 2025. Maria Simione has been promoted to assistant editor at Running Press. Gregg Kulick is being promoted to executive art director at Little, Brown and Company. Lia Ronnen is promoted to SVP publisher of Workman,Artisan, and Black Dog & Leventhal. The calendar group will move from Running Press to Workman. Stacey Lellos is promoted to SVP, Workman Kids. Colin Dickerman is promoted to SVP editor in chief.

At HarperCollins, Laura Gonzalez has been promoted to senior marketing associate at HarperOne Group. Makenna Holford is being promoted to senior marketing manager at HarperOne. Melinda Mullin is being promoted to executive director of publicity at HarperOne. Aly Mostel is being promoted to executive director of publicity at HarperOne. Julia Kent is being promoted to director of marketing at HarperOne. Andrew Arnold has been promoted to VP, publisher at HarperAlley. Rose Pleuler has been promoted to senior editor at HarperAlley. Maddy Price has been promoted to designer at HarperAlley. Sophie Schmidt has been promoted to assistant editor at HarperAlley.

At Simon & Schuster, Falon Kirby has been promoted to senior publicity manager at Atria Books. Morgan Maple has been promoted to publicity manager at Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Kristal Batanjany has been promoted to VP, financial planning & analysis. Paul Cronin has been promoted to senior business manager.

Macmillan Publishers, sees Kristin Sevick, formerly executive editor at Tor Publishing Group’s Forger imprint, join St. Martin’s Publishing Group/Minotaur Books as executive editor.

Abrams has promoted Ashley Albert to managing editor. Krista Keplinger has been promoted to associate managing editor.

World of Eric Carle has promoted Mary Ricardo to creative services designer.

Candlewick Press has promoted Rachel Kirby to senior publicist.

At InterVarsity Press, Makayla Payne has joined as publicity and social media coordinator.

Soho Press has promoted Steven Tran to director of sales.

BookSparks has promoted Rylee Warner to publicist.

DULY NOTED

Peter Jovanovich educational publisher died July 15th at 75. Over the course of his 32 year career he created himself a name for his significant work across school publishing. A service will be held July 31 at 11 AM at Rye Presbyterian Church in Rye, NY.

EVENTS

Hong Kong Book Fair

July 17-23

Hong Kong

Comic-Con International

Jul 25-28

San Diego, CA

Booker Prize Longlist Announced

Jul 30

Romance Writers of American Conference

Jul 31- Aug 3

Austin, TX

Steamy Lit Con

Aug 2-3

Anaheim, CA

Ghana International Book Fair

Aug 8-11

Accra, Ghana

Edinburgh International Book Fair

Aug 10-25

Edinburgh, UK

Posted in Book View • Tagged 47North, Abrams, Abrams ComicArts, Allstar Innovations, Amazon Publishing, Astra House, Atria Books, Baker Books, BookSparks. The Experiment, BOOM! Studios, brown and company, Candlewick Press, Catapult, Chronicle Books, Farrar, Farrin Jacobs, Hachette, Hachette Books, Hachette Go, Harlequin UK, HarperAlley, HarperCollins, HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s Nelson Gift, HarperOne, HarperOne Group, HarperVia, international Center of Photography, InterVarsity Press, Little, Macmillan Publishers, Manchester University Press, Michael Barrs, Open Road Integrated Media, Orbit, pamela dorman books, Pantheon, Paul Whitlatch, Penguin Random House Audio, Random House Children's Books, Running Press, Scholastic, Scholastic UK, Severn House, Simon & Schuster, simon & schuster children's publishing, Soho Press, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Publishing Group/Minotaur Books, Straus and Giroux, Tarcher/Perigee, Tiny Onion, Tor Publishing Group’s Forger, World of Eric Carle, Zando

People Round Up, Early July, 2024

By PT Editors

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