Margaret Ferguson will join Holiday House Publishing in May as publisher of a Margaret Ferguson Books imprint, reporting to editor-in-chief Mary Cash. It's the first time Holiday House has created an eponymous imprint. Ferguson was publisher of a Margaret Ferguson Books at Farrar, Straus Children's. Ferguson says in the announcement, "This is a wonderful and unique opportunity for me to be involved with a small publishing house that is on the move and expanding their publishing program in interesting ways."
Chris Kepner has launched The Kepner Agency, after nine years with Victoria Sanders & Associates as an agent and director of international rights.
Authors
John Grisham will visit bookstores in 12 cities in the Eastern US to support his June 6 release, Camino Island. It is billed as his "first bookstore tour in 25 years." Each event will be limited to 200 people, the visits will feature a "discussion/q&a session" along with signings.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's most recent tax returns show another advance payment of $218,000 from HarperCollins for his 2014 memoir All Things Possible -- bringing his total advance to date to $783,000.
Bookselling
New Dallas independent bookstore in the works Interabang Books -- reported on in January, under the direction of former Brazos Bookstore manager Jeremy Ellis-- turns out to be backed by Nancy Perot, daughter of Ross and Margot Perot. Book critic Lori Feathers in also involved, with the store now expected to open at the end of June.
Nolo Press is closing their longtime bookstore in Berkeley, CA on April 28, but will continue selling their books online.
