Parenting Press is being acquired by Chicago Review Press (which already distributes the press through its IPG unit) effective January 1, and will continue as an imprint of its new parent company. Chicago Review Press publisher Cynthia Sherry will oversee the list from the 37-year-old practical parenting and children’s book publisher. Parenting Press president and founder Elizabeth Crary plans to retire from publishing but will continue her work as a parent educator and author, and none of the company’s staff will stay on after the acquisition.
“The acquisition of Parenting Press by Chicago Review Press is a dream come true for a small publishing house whose owners are ready to retire,” Parenting Press publisher Carolyn Threadgill said in the announcement. “Chicago Review Press is a compatible home for the Parenting Press list of skill-building books for parents and children and those professionals who work with them. We know, too, that the Parenting Press authors of the past and the future will be well looked after by Chicago Review Press staff.”
In other acquisitions, Hachette Livre has taken a majority stake in London-based mobile app company Brainbow, makers of the self-improvement app Peak. CEO Arnaud Nourry says in the announcement: “After Hachette UK acquired Neon Play in June 2016, the acquisition of Brainbow is another step in Hachette Livre’s mobile strategy. The co-founders are talented experts who will bring new skills to Hachette Livre.”
Jane Chelius is closing her eponymously named literary agency and retiring at the end of the year. Chelius said in the announcement: “Thanks to all of the wonderfully talented writers and fellow editors and agents I’ve worked with over the years; you made my career interesting and worthwhile. Now I’m looking forward to seeing more of the world and its birds, playing with my grandkids and reading lots more books.”
Bookigee will cease operations as of December 23. The company, founded in 2011 as a consumer-based book discovery tool, pivoted later that year to focus on its book marketing database WriterCube, and its ceo and founder Kristen McLean left in 2014.
Galleycat is closing, noted on the site in a farewell message.
Updating our story from earlier in the month on Abrams’ winding down their publishing of Bad Little Children’s Books, following our query the ebook edition of the book has been withdrawn from the market.