Tara Parsons will join Touchstone as editor-in-chief on January 4, reporting to Susan Moldow. Previously she was editorial director, fiction at Amazon Publishing. Moldow said in the announcement: “Tara’s range of commercial acquisitions combined with the unique experiences she has gained from working within an array of publishing models will make her a valuable and dynamic leader of the Touchstone editorial team.” Sally Kim had been editorial director at Touchstone until leaving for Putnam earlier this year. It’s the first time Touchstone has used the title editor-in-chief for a number of years.
Mark Tavani will join Putnam as vp, executive editor on February 8, reporting to Sally Kim. Most recently he was editorial director, fiction at Ballantine. Kim said in the announcement: “I know I’m among many people in the industry who have wanted to work with Mark for years now. He’s been long-admired and much-respected for his eye for blockbuster hits, and also for the high level of quality that runs through every book he’s published. We welcome his deep experience and fresh perspective as we look to build on Putnam’s strengths and expand them for the future.”
At Penguin Random House, Alyssa Awe has been promoted to the “broader role” of vp, strategic operations & projects, still reporting to US coo Nihar Malaviya, now that her work as integration director for North America is “nearly complete.” She will continue to oversee the Strategic Projects Group while adding “oversight of our full portfolio of strategic projects and be responsible for driving acceleration, alignment, and communication across our teams.”
Sarah Dickman has been promoted to senior manager of business operations at Barnes & Noble’s Nook Press, their self-publishing platform.
In Canada, Deanna McFadden has joined Joe Books as associate publisher. Previously she was director, digital product development at Harper Canada. In addition, Paul Taunton has joined as senior editor, responsible for the company’s fiction program. Most recently he was senior editor at Knopf Canada.
Longtime Penguin distribution executive Carl L. Jolley, 70, died December 14 at his home in Pennsylvania. Jolley worked at Penguin for nearly 30 years, retiring in 2009 as vp, corporate director, distribution. He was instrumental in the planning, construction and operation of the company’s distribution center in Pittston, PA, as well as the modernization and reorganization of distribution centers in Kirkwood, NY, and Rugby, England. Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002; or the Geisinger Health System Foundation Neuromuscular Disease Fund, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822.
Among the latest Best of… books lists, add the San Francisco Chronicle‘s top 10 and 100 recommended books, plus a round-up of New Yorker staff picks. And looking ahead to 2016, the Huffington Post is already collecting over a dozen film adaptations of books to have on your radar.