Ira Silverberg will leave the National Endowment of the Arts, where he has been director of literature since October 2011, on July 11 and return to New York City, saying in a statement “the demands of family are such that I must return.” Literature program officer Amy Stolls has been appointed acting director of literature until a permanent hire is in place.
At the Random House Speakers Bureau, Caitlin McCaskey has joined as agent direct. Previously she worked at the HarperCollins Speakers Bureau. In addition, Jayme Boucher has been promoted to senior agent.
Lynda Zuber Sassi will rejoin Chronicle Books as associate director, mass markets. Previously she was director of wholesale at DwellStudio; she was last at Chronicle in 2010. In addition, Erynn Im-Sato has been named associate manager, mass markets. Previously she was a sales representative, special markets at HarperCollins.
In the UK, Michele Young will join Macmillan Children’s Books on September 2 as international rights director. She is currently senior rights manager at Quercus.
In an email to customers BookCourt indicates that, despite the slow progress of their IndieGogo campaign, their plans to purchase the Catskills-based BiblioBarn remains on track. Manager Zack Zook says the store is in the process of securing a loan “that will allow us to move forward with our plans to purchase, preserve, and enhance our beloved barn.”