Agency News
Writers House is closing its London office, and managing director of Writers House UK Angharad Kowal has left the company as a consequence. Peggy Boulos Smith joined Writers House in New York as UK rights director, representing adult clients, and director of children’s subsidiary rights Cecilia de la Campa is handling the UK children’s business. Smith was previously global rights director at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.
Meredith Miller has joined United Talent Agency as an agent and will direct their foreign rights department. Previously, she was associate director of foreign rights at Trident Media Group, where she worked for 6 years.
Erin Young has been promoted to agent at Dystel, Goderich and Bourret.
Erin Reback and Amanda Lang have each been promoted to publicity manager for Simon & Schuster.
In the UK, Lucas Alexander Whitley is co-locating with TV and digital agency Factual Management, planning to “work very closely together” without actually merging for now. Factual Management will move into LAW’s office. LAW managing director Philippa Milnes-Smith tells the Bookseller: “Both LAW and FM will continue to operate in their own fields of excellence but they are now working very closely together. We have great complementary skills.” Also, founder of Factual Management Sophie Laurimore will become a director of LAW.
Awards
A Horse Walks Into a Bar by Israeli author David Grossman, translated by Jessica Cohen, won the Man Booker International Prize.
Distribution
Quarto will provide sales and distribution for young adult publisher Zest Books beginning July 1 in North America, and January 2018 in the UK and Ireland.
Lerner Publishing Group will distribute Full Tilt Press beginning August 1.
In the UK, Unicorn Publishing Group has signed a deal with the Royal Armories to distribute the titles from its three museums.