Shawn Foster has been promoted to executive director of children’s sales for Hachette Book Group. At Orbit, Ellen Wright has been promoted to associate publicity director. Sarah Stanton has joined Shambhala Publications as editor. Previously she was executive editor at Rowman & Littlefield. Noted Bertelsmann’s Offset Paperback Manufacturing facility in Wilkes-Barre, PA was evacuated Tuesday morning, “when employees fell ill from the release of a chemical commonly used in the printing industry.” Eleven employees went to the hospital with reportedly minor symptoms “in an abundance of caution.” The building was cleared for reopening later that day. Harper Lee‘s will was […]
Archives for February 2018
IACP Rescinds Awards Given to CEO; Parragon Books Plans to Close Worldwide
The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) announced their annual cookbook awards across 20 categories on Sunday (plus five books that were named “culinary classics”) — and then rescinded two awards, including “cookbook of the year,” given to Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables, by Joshua McFadden with Martha Holmberg. Holmberg is ceo of the IACP, and apparently no one thought it was unseemly that she was participating until her book won top honors, which provoked a quick backlash. A statement from board chair Adam Salomone said in part: “We’re extremely concerned by what we see now as an appearance of impropriety, […]
People, Etc.
At Basic Books, Ann Kirchner has been promoted to designer; Connie Capone to associate publicist; Brian Distelberg to senior editor; and Carrie Napolitano to assistant editor. Justin Lovell and Miriam Riad have both been promoted to assistant editor at Da Capo Press. At Running Press and Black Dog & Leventhal, Jessica Schmidt has been promoted to vp, associate publisher for Running Press; Frances Soo Ping Chow to creative director for all Running Press imprints; Frank Sipala to senior production manager and manager of product development; Shannon Connors Fabricant to senior editor; Amy Cianfrone to marketing and publicity manager; and Kara Thornton to senior publicist, focusing on Black Dog & Leventhal. Rosie Welsh, previously of the Jonathan Clowes Literary Agents and The Wylie Agency, will join Eccles […]
Michelle Obama’s BECOMING to Publish November 13
Per in house reports for some time, Michelle Obama’s memoir will be published first by Crown rather than former president Barack Obama’s book. Titled BECOMING, Mrs. Obama’s book was announced for global publication in 24 languages on Tuesday, November 13. (Sorry, Bernie.) She will read the audio edition as well. Tour details will be announced later. In the release she says that it will “honestly reflect on the unexpected trajectory of my life. In this book, I talk about my roots and how a little girl from the South Side of Chicago found her voice and developed the strength to […]
People, Etc.
Group ceo of Bonnier Publishing Richard Johnson is stepping down immediately, an abrupt move announced by the company on Friday. He has run the fast-growing division for the past nine year. COO and CFO of parent unit Bonnier Books Jim Zetterlund will serve as acting CEO. In headline results for 2017 released on February 12, Bonnier Group noted that, “Our UK-based book publishing house Bonnier Publishing has had several years of great expansion and acquisition, but during 2017 sales lagged and write-offs affected profits.” It was one of two “business areas that performed weaker than expected.” The company added that, “After […]
Briefs
Bookselling Seattle’s Elliott Bay Book Company will open a location at Sea-Tac Airport in 2019 in association with the Hudson Group. Located on Concourse C, the store will feature Northwest authors, as well as staff picks, bestsellers, and new releases. Children’s bookstore The Brain Lair will open in South Bend Indiana in November. Owner Kathy Burnette plans to “look to smaller publishers with diverse lists, like Lee & Low Books and Akashic Books, as well as larger publishers that have diversity-specific imprints.” In addition to titles for young people, the store will carry select adult titles and some gifts. Awards The Columbia Graduate School of Journalism […]