Group communications director for HarperCollins UK and International Siobhan Kenny is leaving the company after six years, with her last day after the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. “After almost six amazing years at HC, it is time for me to move on,” Kenny said in the announcement. “Publishing is always a fascinating business, but these last few years have been really transformational and I have learnt a huge amount being part of a business in rapid transition.”
At Public Affairs, Lindsay Fradkoff has been promoted to associate director of marketing, and Emily Lavelle moves up to publicity manager.
At NetGalley, Lindsey Rudnickas has been promoted to digital marketing manager, and Kristina Radke has moved up to publisher liaison and communications manager.
At Chronicle Books, Jenifer Savasta has been promoted to foreign rights manager, while Doya Anthony moves up to associate manager, subsidiary rights and Johan Almqvist has been promoted to international sales and subsidiary rights director.In addition, Elizabeth Yarborough has been promoted to assistant editor.
Jillian Verrilllo has joined Harper as assistant editor. Previously she was an editorial assistant at Knopf Doubleday.
Leighton Gage, 71, author of the Mario Silva crime novels set in Brazil, died July 27 in Brazil. His final book, THE WAYS OF EVIL MEN, will be published next January by Soho Press, who published his previous six books. In a statement Soho Press senior editor Juliet Grames called Gage’s work “quite unlike anything else being written or published, and time will only prove its mettle,” and praised him as “a backbone of the crime fiction community as well as the Soho Crime family.”
Ingram Publisher Services announced two new distribution clients. Maiden Lane Press is a “full service imprint” of literary agency Marly Rusoff & Associates which will publish “when special opportunities arise.” One of those opportunities is Cassandra King‘s MOONRISE — originally set for publication by Hyperion this July, and now coming instead from Maiden Lane in September after the sale of Hyperion’s list. Ingram is also handling sales and distribution for chef Adam Perry Lang’s APL Publishing.
In corporate news, Nielsen has launched Bookscan in Brazil, tracking print book sales. It is their tenth territory for the service (joining the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Spain and India).
As you would expect, American Booksellers Association ceo Oren Teicher has posted a letter to President Obama criticizing his Amazon appearance (while acknowledging that he has regularly praised and supported small businesses):
“At a time when Main Street retailers, including indie bookstores, show promise of recovering from the recession, we are disheartened to see Amazon touted as a ‘jobs creator and its warehouse facility used as a backdrop for an important jobs speech, when, frankly, the exact opposite is true.”