Grand Central’s romance imprint Forever and their companion digital imprint Forever Yours will expand to publish 120 titles in 2013 and more than 190 titles in 2013 — up from 64 titles in 2012 — as part of a “major initiative” celebrating the imprint’s 10th anniversary. Forever will also add editorial and marketing staff. Founding editor of the imprint and vp, digital and paperback publisher Beth de Guzman said of the expansion: “From the beginning, Forever has always been dedicated to publishing the highest quality romance books. With the romance audience more robust and diverse than at any other time, we are thrilled to expand our program to match the insatiable demand in the marketplace for romance books in every format available.” GCP president and publisher Jamie Raab added: “We’ve always held a deep belief in the importance of the romance genre to our publishing program and Hachette Book Group is giving its full support to the expansion of Forever and Forever Yours. What we’ve accomplished in the last 10 years is remarkable and I’m sure will be even more impressive moving forward.”
Avideh Bashirrad has been promoted to vp, associate publisher for the Random House and Dial Press imprints, reporting to Susan Kamil. Bashirrad, who recently returned to the company after maternity leave, will focus on the imprints’ fiction lists, while deputy publisher Tom Perry will concentrate on nonfiction, as well as his role of publisher of the Modern Library.
Leigh Merchant has been promoted to director of marketing for Random House, Spiegel & Grau, Dial Press, and the Modern Library, working on both hardcover and trade paperbacks. Merchant will continue in her dual role as Associate Publisher, Spiegel & Grau.
Phaidon managing director Amanda Ridout “announced her decision to leave the company” in mid-March “to pursue personal projects,” following the recent sale of the company to the family of Leon Black. Ridout joined Phaidon two and a half years ago, and the company says it “has enjoyed significant revenue growth worldwide” in that period.
The Frankfurt Book Fair has hired Michelle Turnbach as sales manager for English-language world, based in New York. She was previously with Baker & Taylor, working on their European and Southeast Asian retail opportunities. Also, NY-based director of the German Book Office Riky Stock will add responsibility to managing the Literary Agents and Scouts Centre at the book fair to her role.
Al Greco has been promoted to ceo of educational publisher Carson-Dellosa Publishing. He joined the company in 2011 as svp of sales, promotions and marketing. He takes over from Judy L. Harris, “who expressed a desire to spend more time with her family.”
At Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint, Giselle Regus has been promoted to assistant editor.
Mystery writer Robin Hathaway, 79, died on February 16 in Reston, VA from cancer. Hathaway wrote eight novels, all published by Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press, with THE DOCTOR DIGS A GRAVE (1998) winning the Malice Domestic Prize for Best Unpublished Traditional Mystery and then, after publication, the Agatha Award.