At Harlequin, Mira executive editor Valerie Gray will retire at the end of March after more than 13 years with the company. As a result, Tara Parsons will move into the role in addition to her duties as executive editor for HQN and Luna. Also at Mira, Nicole Brebner has been promoted to senior editor, while both Leonore Waldrip and Michelle Venditti move up to assistant editor (Waldrip will also work on HQN titles.) In addition, Susan Swinwood has been promoted to executive editor, HQN and Luna, while Margo Lipschultz moves up to senior editor. Finally, Emily Martin has been promoted to director of overseas publishing for the company.
At Pippin Properties, Elena Mechlin has been named literary agent and will continue managing the agency’s foreign
and audio rights.
In other agency news, Andrew Lownie Literary Agency in the UK has set up a digital publishing program under the name Thistle, the Bookseller reports. Like Curtis Brown UK, they are using Amazon’s White Glove program for agents (KDP plus some extra services. The agency’s David Haviland is overseeing the initiative, which is focused on titles for which ebook rights are not controlled by a publisher. The agency charges their usual commission, and is paying for some publicity and cover design costs.
At Chronicle Books, Kesha Seeley has been named digital production lead.
BEA announced the remaining speakers for its Author Breakfasts. Chelsea Handler will serve as master of ceremonies for the Thursday author breakfast (and promote her upcoming book, still untitled) which will also include Wally Lamb (We Are Water). Octavia Spencer (Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit) will emcee the children’s breakfast on Friday, while Diana Gabaldon (Written in My Own Heart’s Blood) will take part in Saturday’s breakfast.