Sourcebooks announced this morning it has acquired “certain assets” of Nashville-based Cumberland House, best known as the publisher of Gregory Lang’s Why a Daughter Needs a Dad series of gift books, said to have sold more over 3 million copies. Sourcebooks publisher Dominque Raccah says “the addition of Cumberland House provides us with the opportunity to add a remarkably talented publisher to our team as well as significantly expanding our gift and regional titles.”
Cumberland will remain as an independent imprint, and founder Ron Pitkin joins Sourcebooks as executive acquisitions editor. Sourcebooks is acquiring approximately 90 backlist and forthcoming titles. Cumberland vp of sales and marketing Chris Bauerle joins Sourcebooks as director of mass market and specialty retail sales, and Paul Mikos stays on as acquisitions editor for the Cumberland House imprint. (The implication is that other staff is being let go.)
Pitkin says “Dominique and I have been friends for many years, and I am so pleased to be able to be able to join with her and make my own contribution to the ongoing success of one of the most exciting independent publishing companies in America.”