Amazon Publishing announced a number of new hires across various editorial lines. Eoin Purcell will join the company to lead its London editorial office as of September 15. Previously he was editorial director of New Island Books in Dublin. Tara Parsons joined the New York office in July as editorial director, fiction, including Little A and the Day One literary journal. Previously she was editorial director at MIRA. Merideth Mulroney has been named art director for the NY-based imprints, including Two Lions picture books. Finally, Adrienne Lombardo will join the company on September 1 as an acquisition editor for 47North. Previously she was an editor at Brilliance Audio.
Phaidon has hired Cecily Kaiser as publishing director, Children’s Books and Meagan Bennett as art director for the division, both reporting to Deb Aaronson out of the company’s New York offices. Kaiser was most recently publisher of Abrams’ Appleseed imprint, while Bennett was associate art director for the imprint. “Cecily and Meagan bring experience, enthusiasm, and a true commitment to their young audience,” said Aaronson in the announcement. “We look forward to expanding Phaidon’s program under their leadership, for children in the U.S. and worldwide.”
Penguin Random House UK chair Gail Rebuck has been appointed to the House of Lords as a Labour peer. She told the Bookseller she was “looking forward to championing issues including investment in the arts” and ensuring “the life-changing power of reading is available to all”. Rebuck added: “I feel very privileged to be joining the House of Lords as I have always seen politics and Parliament as vital forces shaping our national and global lives.”
Matthew West has left B&H Publishing, where he was most recently vp, sales operations and data strategy. He may be reached at matthewlwest@gmail.com.
Suspense novelist Dorothy Salisbury Davis, 98, died August 3 in Palisades, NY. The author of more than 20 novels, Davis awarded the Grand Master designation by the Mystery Writers of America in 1985, and the following year helped to found Sisters in Crime. A memorial service will be held at the Palisades Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 6 at 11 AM.
Former TIME correspondent and editor Jim Frederick, 42, died July 31 in Oakland, CA from cardiac arrest. He was the author of BLACK HEARTS: One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness in Iraq’s Triangle of Death (2010).