The Crown Publishing Group announced that as part of its “long-term growth strategy for its religious publishing program,” they “have made the difficult business decision to no longer acquire additional new titles for the Image Books publishing program, which we will discontinue as a frontlist imprint.” The company pledges to “continue to maintain and nurture the deep…backlist” of the Catholic-interest publishing imprint, and will “publish with full enthusiasm and support all Image books under contract.”
As a result of that decision and the recent separation of Convergent books from Waterbrook Multnomah, vp, president, associate publisher, WaterBrook Multnomah, Convergent, and Image Books Carie Freimuth will leave the company in April and her position will be eliminated. Image associate editor Amanda O’Connor will stay on for some months but her position is also being eliminated; senior editor Gary Jansen will transition to Convergent. Publicist Katie Moore will continue at the company through the end of the year to execute the campaigns for remaining books under contract.
Publisher of Crown Christian Publishing Tina Constable praised Freimuth for “bringing exceptional passion, commitment, and energy to bear in support of countless successful publications. We would like to express our deepest respect and appreciation to Carie for her many significant contributions to WaterBrook Multnomah, Image, and Convergent, as well as our gratitude for her dedicated service to the Crown Publishing Group.”
Constable indicates in her memo that “with this simplified and tightly focused structure now in place, we are poised for significant growth in the evolving Christian publishing arena, which remains a core focus of the Crown Publishing Group.” In promotions at Waterbrook Multnomah: Laura Barker moves up to vp, editorial director, reporting to publisher Alex Field. Debbie Mitchell has been promoted to vp, director of operations, and Beverly Rykerd moves up to publicity director, both also reporting to Field. Susan Tjaden has been promoted to editor and Kendall Davis moves up to assistant editor, both reporting to Barker.
Finally, Ginia Hairston rejoins Waterbrook Multnomah as vp, director of marketing on April 6. Previously she was vp, marketing at David Cook, and was previously at Waterbrook Multnomah from 1997 through 2008. Newly reporting to Hairston are Johanna Inwood, who has been named executive marketer; Chris Sigfrids, senior manager, Community Operations; Amy Haddock, senior manager marketing; and Jessica Gingrich, marketing associate. Also reporting to Hairston will be Sara Selkirk, manager, general market sales support.