Senior marketing manager at Grove/Atlantic and Mysterious Press Jason Pinter will leave the company on July 19 to launch Polis Books, a digital publishing startup focusing on new and backlist fiction from contemporary authors in crime fiction, science fiction & fantasy, and romance/erotica/commercial women’s fiction. Pinter told us Polis Books will formally debut next month (and is looking to hire an additional acquiring editor) and publish its first list this fall. Polis will offer authors “modest advances to begin with,” as “it’s important that our writers know we are investing in them” and royalties beginning at at 40 percent of […]
Archives for July 2013
Amazon Publishing Adds Another Imprint — For Comics and Graphic Novels
Amazon Publishing continues to expand their roster of imprints focused on genres and niches with the launch of Jet City Comics. Alex Carr is senior editor of the new line, and says in the announcement, “We’re working with an incredible, hand-picked team of comics professionals, writers, artists, and translators, who have done an amazing job developing and expanding these inventive stories.” Their publishing program begins today with “Symposium #1” by Christian Cameron and illustrator Dmitry Bondarenko, the first in a line of six comics from The Foreworld Saga, the alternate history series that began with The Mongoliad (a serialized novel […]
People, Etc.
Sydny Miner has left her position as executive editor at Crown, and is “looking for new opportunities.” She can be reached at sydny.miner@gmail.com. At Macmillan, Erin Coffey has been promoted to the newly created role of vp, internal communications, event and community services. Colin Bettam has joined Kobo as chief marketing officer, reporting to Michael Serbinis. He was formerly vp, marketing at LG. Bettam will “be responsible for building and expanding the Kobo brand internationally,” with stores “expected to launch this year…[in] countries like India, Russia and Philippines.” Separately, Kobo announced the release of their app for the disappointing new […]
Lynch Resigns from Barnes & Noble; Is Replaced By No One In Particular
After presiding over losses of hundreds of millions of dollars with a device-focused strategy that ended in tatters the past holiday season, Barnes & Noble ceo William Lynch has resigned effective immediately. Announced after the close of market on Monday, the official remarks made it sound as if Lynch was asked to leave; he says “I appreciate the opportunity to serve as CEO of this terrific company over the last three years.” Just four months ago in early March the company had amended and extended Lynch’s employment agreement to award him a cash bonus of $1.8 million for the Microsoft and Pearson […]
Legal: Penguin Drops Several Author Lawsuits; McIntosh & Otis Sues Pinkus
As noted last fall, Penguin filed multiple lawsuits to recover advances from over a dozen authors whom the publisher says never delivered their manuscripts. With the merger with Random House completed last week, we wondered about the status of these lawsuits and discovered Penguin dropped more than half the complaints “with prejudice” – meaning each side was responsible for any legal fees incurred. (When reached for comment a Penguin spokesperson said “As was Penguin’s desire, many of the lawsuits have been settled amicably.”) New Yorker staff writer Rebecca Mead was sued for $20,000 over a 2003 deal to collect her […]
People, Etc.
Former vp, director of publicity at Simon & Schuster’s adult trade imprint Tracey Guest has joined Penguin as advising director of corporate communications. In her new role she will work closely with Stuart Applebaum, head of Global Communications for Penguin Random House, and Claire Von Schilling on integration and related matters. Christine Ball, who previously held the advising director position on an interim basis, will be returning to her full-time position as vp, associate publisher of Dutton. Erica Glass remains senior manager, corporate communications at Penguin. Emma Parry has joined Janklow & Nesbit as a literary agent, five years after […]