Abrams announced a series of changes to its editorial and art & design departments, which will now be spearheaded by svp, publisher Steve Tager. Deborah Aaronson has been promoted to associate publisher, adult trade, with responsibility for Abrams’ adult editorial resources and the adult art and design department. Both Aaronson and publishing director for lifestyle Leslie Stoker will report to Tager. Jennifer Levesque moves up to editorial director, reporting to Aaronson, where she will oversee Abrams Image.
Adam Silverman is joining Monsoon Commerce as general manager of Alibris. CEO Brian Elliott says “his appointment reinforces our commitment to developing the Alibris Retail arm of Monsoon Commerce.” Silverman was worked at Wet Seal, Target, and Musician’s Friend, where he was director of marketing.
Former deputy chairman of Hodder & Stoughton Mark Hodder-Williams, 72, has died. He spent 30 years at the company before leaving in 1991, when he founded e-commerce company First Edition EDI Services which was eventually bought by Book Data and is now part of Nielsen.
Bookseller obit
Bonnie Nazdam has won the Flaherty-Dunnan Prize for Debut Fiction for LAMB (Other Press), awarded at a dinner held by the Center for Fiction Tuesday evening. At the same time, Scribner editor-in-chief Nan Graham was presented with the organization’s Maxwell Perkins Award for distinguished achievement in the field of fiction. Graham was saluted in introductions by Jeannette Walls and Don DeLillo.
David Guterson has won the Literary Review’s annual Bad Sex Prize for his novel ED KING.
Canada’s OwlKids will move to UTD Distribution as of January 1. They are currently distributed by Raincoast Books. Independent sales agency ampersand inc, formerly known as Kate Walker & Company, will represent them.