Cristobal Pera has joined Vintage Espanol as publishing director, succeeding Jaime de Pablos, who has resigned. Previously, Pera was founding director of The Wylie Agency Espana since 2015. He will acquire and publish books in original Spanish, as well as Spanish translations. Additionally, Ingrid Paredes has been promoted to publishing manager for Vintage Espanol. Neal Porter will join Holiday House as vice president and publisher for Neal Porter Books on September 18, moving his imprint over from Roaring Brook Press. Jennifer Kurdyla will join The Experiment as editor starting July 25. Previously, she was assistant editor for Knopf. Tyler Freidenrich has been promoted to […]
Archives for July 2017
People, Etc.
LeeEric Fesko has been promoted to associate publisher for Harper Christian’s specialty division, which includes Thomas Nelson gift books, Zondervan gift books, Tommy Nelson children’s books, children’s Bibles, and new media. Emma House was promoted to deputy chief executive at the Publishers Association in the UK. Imprints Atria is adding a Skybound Books imprint, co-publishing sci-fi, fantasy and horror with Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead). The line will publish four to six titles a year, with Michael Braff as senior editor in LA, reporting to newly-promoted Skybound Entertainment svp, editor-in-chief Sean Mackiewicz. (Braff was at Del Rey.) Peter Borland and Jhanteigh Kupihea […]
People, Etc.
Library of America president Cheryl Hurley will retire at the end of 2017, and publisher Max Rudin will succeed her. Current cfo Daniel Baker will become chief operating officer, and lon-time editor-in-chief Geoffrey O’Brien will also retire at the end of 2017. He will continue as consulting editor, and the LOA will conduct a search for a new editorial director. At Norton, vp and senior editor Maria Guarnaschelli has retired after almost 17 years at the company. Barnes & Noble Education ceo Max J. Roberts will retire, effective September 19, after 21 years with the company. Current BNED executive chairman and former ceo […]
People, Etc.
Cristina Garces has joined Harper Design as editor. Previously, she was associate editor for Abrams. Sanford J. Greenburger has hired Mary Kate Skehan as senior scout (she has been assistant manager of sub rights at Norton), and John Bowers as scout (he was at The Bent Agency), with Hanna Masaryk promoted to senior scout children’s and YA. Edmison/Harper Literary Scouting will scout for Ambo Anthos in Holland starting August 1. Keanu Reeves is a co-founder of a new Los Angeles-based independent press, X Artists’ Books. Created with artist Alexandra Grant and designer Jessica Fleischmann, the press will be a “a small publisher of […]
Scholastic Finishes Good Year with Lower Quarter
Scholastic reported fiscal fourth quarter 2017 sales through May 31 of $499.6 million, down $14.2 million from a year ago, on lower sales in children’s publishing and distribution and international. Operating income for the quarter was $64.2 million, up $5.8 million on increased education sales and lower costs. Children’s trade sales were $43.3 million for the quarter (down $2.4 million from a year ago), though for the full year trade sales were $307.9 million on last year’s new Harry Potter books, compared to $211.7 million in fiscal 2016. The Potter gain comprised all of the year’s sales increase and then […]
Briefs: eBook Retailer Suit Rejected Again; Macmillan Learning Offers New Rental Options
Defunct ebook retailers BooksOnBoard and Diesel Books lost again in court, as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling dismissing their lawsuit alleging that publishers’ introduction of the agency model for ebook pricing put them out of business. The Appeals Court wrote: “Based on the undisputed facts in the record, the district court determined that BooksOnBoard faced strong competition from large retailers, that it contemporaneously viewed the adoption of agency pricing as a boon, and that its subsequent demise was not attributable to the unlawful conspiracy. We have carefully reviewed the summary judgment record, and we […]