The well-regarded editor of the New York Times Book Review since mid-2022 Gilbert Cruz is leaving his position for another job at the newspaper. Tina Jordan will serve as interim editor while the paper looks “for the next editor of The Book Review in the coming months.” Cruz is taking new, and new-fangled, role of Canon Editor. “Gilbert will build a team dedicated to expanding our embrace of those moments when we invite experts and readers alike to help us declare the definitive works in a given discipline. While The Times will continue to publish an array of news-driven lists throughout […]
Imprints: Penguin Workshop’s Tinker
Penguin Workshop will launch Tinker, a new publishing program, starting with six titles in spring 2027. Publisher Daniel Moreton and editorial director Nick Magliato will lead the line, with art direction by Lynn Portnoff. Tinker will publish “commercial design-forward board and picture books ‘built for play’ for readers ages 0-10,” featuring everything from “accordion die-cuts to pop-up alphabet books—to books that transform into steering wheels, where the book itself becomes the toy.”
Literary Arts Fund Names First Recipients of $7.7 Million In Grants
The Literary Arts Fund announced the first 40 literary arts organizations and publishers to receive $7.7 million in unrestricted general operating grants. The recipients “organize local book festivals, present readings and conversations with authors, host writing workshops, offer writers’ retreats and residencies, and are responsible for a vast amount of poetry and works in translation published each year.” Over half of the recipients have annual budgets of under $1 million. The full list is posted here. The fund’s next grant opportunity—supporting new, one-time innovative projects—opens on June 8, when they will post guidelines for applying. Announced last October, the fund […]
Obituary: Gilbert Perlman, 72
Longtime publishing and distribution executive Gilbert Perlman, 72, died on May 26, “suddenly, but on his own terms,” his children write. “He spent his final moments outside on a beautiful day, sitting in an Adirondack chair in the yard he loved so much. For someone who adamantly didn’t want to waste away or make things ‘harder’ on his family, this was fitting.” Perlman was an executive at Random House in the 1990s, including serving as evp of Ballantine and the Randomsoft software line, before setting up the first Random House Client Services distribution division in 1997, where he was president. […]
Wiley Buys Emerald Publishing for $452 Million
Wiley announced the significant purchase of UK-based Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group in a cash transaction valued at £337 million, or $452 million. The deal brings Wiley over 480 journal brands—giving them a portfolio of approximately 2,500 journals—along with 8,000 book titles and additional content. Wiley indicates it brings additional depth particularly in economics, business, finance, accounting, management, strategy, education, engineering, information and knowledge management, operations, public policy and environmental management. CIG acquired Emerald in 2022, prior to which the publisher was a private, family-run business. Wiley touts the deal as value at seven times adjusted ebitda, inclusive of […]
Storytel Acquires Overamstel
Storytel has acquired Overamstel, based in The Netherlands and Belgium, which they call “one of the company’s core markets.” Founded in 2007, Overamstel had sales of €17.4 million in 2025. Current ceo Martijn Griffioen will continue in his role following the acquisition. Though Storytel’s core business is audio publishing, their book publishing division had record sales for 2025 of SEK1.274 billion, or approximately $130 million.