Vp, book production for HarperCollins John Vitale is leaving the company on August 24 after more than 44 years in the business (he began at Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., which was acquired by Harper & Row in 1977.) Replacing him is Tracey Menzies, who is being promoted to vp, production and creative operations and will oversee all print production for the publisher.
Also at Harper, Kristine Macrides returns to the sales department as director of sales and retail marketing, overseeing day-to-day operations for the mass merch, club and ID sales channels (she has been director of marketing for Avon). Lillie Walsh has been promoted to assistant manager of sales and retail marketing; Eric Lovaas has been promoted to manager, sales operations; and Rachel Levenberg takes on additional sales responsibilities for BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s.
At Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Andrea Spooner has been promoted to editorial director, while Erin Stein moves up to editorial director, brand, licensed, and media tie-in publishing.
Mystery bookstore Partners & Crime, based in Greenwich Village, will close on September 20 after more than 18 years in business. On the bookseller’s Facebook page they write: “We’ve had a great run and have enjoyed helping a generation of readers find the books they love. We’ve had a lot of fun, learned a tremendous amount, and enjoyed our time with all of you – customers, authors and publishers.” (On a personal note, I feel especially sad about this news as my first job in the book business was working part-time at Partners & Crime more than a decade ago.)
Military historian John Keegan, 78, died Thursday at his home in Kilmington, England after a long illness. Keegan was the author of more than 20 books including THE FACE OF BATTLE (1976) and THE HISTORY OF WARFARE (1993).
NYT Obit
Canadian cookbook specialist publisher Whitecap Press has been acquired by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, as of July 31. Michael Burch and Nicholas Rundall will continue in their roles at Whitecap on an interim basis, and the Whitecap offices will remain in British Columbia. Whitecap publicist Jeffrey Bryan told Quill & Quire the publisher will operate “business as usual” after the sale: “That is the plan right now, to keep moving ahead,” says Bryan. “[Fitzhenry & Whiteside] doesn’t have a lifestyle/cookbook arm, so they’re interested in keeping us doing the same thing we have been doing.”
Q&Q