Jennifer M. Brown will join Random House Children’s Books on August 24 as vp, publisher Knopf Books for Young Readers, reporting to Barbara Marcus. Brown, who will “oversee the direction and lead the long-range and daily activities” at the imprint, spent the past eight years as children’s editor for Shelf Awareness and also serves as director of the Center for Children’s Literature at the Bank Street College of Education.
“Her background and experience give her, and us, a truly unique point of view that perfectly positions her to lead the gifted Knopf editorial team into the future,” Marcus said in the announcement. “Her extensive knowledge, network, and genuine passion for authors and illustrators will ensure Knopf maintains its track record of publishing high-quality, literary and commercial books, while also enabling her and her staff to forge new paths for the imprint.” Brown added: “It is a once-in-a career opportunity to join this legendary imprint at Random House Children’s Books. To have the chance to work with the talented editorial team at Knopf and to build on its unbelievably strong foundation is truly a dream come true. This position allows me to unite all of my lifelong passions and professional experiences, and I greatly look forward to our collaboration.”
Elsewhere, Linda Kaplan is joining DeFiore and Company as director of foreign rights, as well as launching a new version of her service to offer foreign rights representation to small agencies and publishers, called Kaplan/DeFiore Rights. Previously she was principal at Readmore Literary Management, also providing foreign representation, and before then, vp, director of subsidiary rights at Crown. In addition, Adam Schear has been promoted to the new position of director, business affairs.
Mensah Demary will join Catapult as assistant web editor on August 3. He is currently publisher of Specter Magazine, literary editor of Fourculture Magazine, and music columnist for The Butter.