Edward Benitez has joined HarperCollins’ Spanish language publishing program as senior acquisitions editor for Harper Espan͂ol, Grupo Nelson and Editorial Vida, reporting to Larry Downs and working out of the company’s offices in Nashville. Most recently, Benitez served as the director for US Spanish language sales for Penguin Random House.
Richard Callison has been appointed director, international online & digital sales, Penguin Random House international sales and marketing. He previously was an associate publisher at Random House.
Jade Yeung has joined little bee books as production coordinator. Previously she was a production associate at Norton.
Courtney Miller-Callihan has opened her own agency, Handspun Literary Agency, based in San Diego, California. Most recently she was an agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Asssociates.
Ryann Stevenson Wahl has joined Holloway Literary as foreign rights manager and literary agent. Previously she was a literary scout with Jane Starr Literary Scouts.
Katharine Leck joins Parragon as president, publishing, overseeing all imprints including children’s, license and lifestyle. Most recently she was managing director at Insights Guides-Berlitz publishing. In addition, Gavin Wolf has been named chief financial officer of Parragon and Wild & Wolf. Previously he was cfo at the Royal Canin UK and Ireland pet food division of Mars Inc.
YA author Louise Rennison, 63, has died, with longtime publisher Harper UK announcing: “Nobody wrote for teenagers like she did, she understood them, their lives and their extraordinary and powerful friendships.”
Distribution
Photography art book publisher Aperture will move sales and distribution to Ingram Publisher Services as of July 30. Executive director Chris Boot says in the announcement: “We’re a growing publisher. We’re where we are today because of the work of the incredible team at DAP, who have been a great distributor for us for the last decade. We truly appreciate the role they’ve played in our history and development. But as we contemplate the challenges and opportunities ahead of us, in a changing retail environment, and with a strong niche list, we are thrilled to begin working with the Ingram team.”
Richard Gregg joins Aperture as sales director, books (he was director of retail sales operations at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and, before that was at Phaidon Press).
Bookselling
Minnesota mystery bookstore Once Upon A Crime has been sold to Dennis Abraham and Meg King-Abraham, who will take over from Pat Shulze and Gary Frovarp on April 1, the store’s 29th anniversary. “They seemed the most excited about the idea,” Shulze told the Star-Tribune. “Plus their daughter [Devin, who will operate the store] is young, she can carry the store for many years.” Shulze and Frovarp put Once Upon a Crime up for sale last July after owning the store since 2002.
Seattle Mystery Bookstore has reached its fundraising goal of $50,000, reports the Seattle Times, which will go to paying off debts, getting up to date on the rent, and building inventory.
Initiatives
Random House Children’s Books will donate 50,000 new Dr. Seuss books to First Book to commemorate the author’s 112th birthday.