Twelve editorial director Sean Desmond has been promoted to publisher of the imprint, as Paul Samuelson moves up to publicity director.
Brooke Parsons joins Public Affairs and Nation Books on May 15 as a publicity manager. Previously, she was senior publicist at the Penguin Press.
Dori Weintraub will head a new independent bookseller initiative for St. Martin’s, formally serving as independent bookseller liaison in addition to her current role as vice president of publicity. The position includes spearheading their work with Indie Next selections, as well as attending bookseller trade shows.
Stefanie Rosenblum has been promoted to publicity manager at Portfolio.
Sabrina Annoni will become editorial director for Harper Italia on June 1, reporting to managing director and publisher Laura Donnini. Previously, she held editorial roles at The Walt Disney Company, Mondadori, RCS Libri and Fabbri.
Christina Loff will join Chronicle as marketing director for adult trade on June 6. Ahe was senior artist relations manager at Minted.
PRH Australia is putting their literary imprints (the Australian divisions of Hamish Hamilton, Vintage, Knopf, Viking and Penguin) into a Penguin Random House Literary division as of June, led by publishing director Penguin Australia Ben Ball, who becomes publishing director of the new division. He will report to PRH Australia group publishing director Nikki Christer.
Bookselling
A new bookstore in downtown Bridgeport, CT, Academy Books & Records, will open on Saturday. Owner Mike Roer said the inventory will include contemporary books, as well as Bridgeport memorabilia and vinyl records.
Bay Area bookstore Book Passage has filed a lawsuit over the state’s new regulation of the sale of signed merchandise. The bill, which went into effect earlier this year, requires all autographed materials costing more than $5 to come with a warranty and certificate of authenticity. Booksellers are unsure how the bill will affect them, and concerned that the restriction will cause authors to cut back on appearances. Book Passage owner Bill Petrocelli said, “I don’t know whether we’re subject to the law right now and I don’t want to wait to find out if someone will sue us.”