People, Etc. - Publishers Lunch

At the Penguin Random House US Finance Group, Justine LeCates has been appointed vice president, director of US finance. In the newly created position, she’ll be responsible for overseeing the US division’s financial planning & reporting, analysis and financial Systems. Yvonne Ricciuti has been promoted to senior director of financial systems.

In the Random House Publishing Group publicity department, Jennifer Garza has been promoted to director of publicity, Ballantine Bantam Dell; Greg Kubie becomes associate director of publicity; and Dhara Parikh moves up to senior publicist.

Emily Ritter has joined Simon & Schuster Children’s as digital & social marketing manager. She was most recently marketing manager at Bloomsbury Children’s.

Jonathan Shar has joined Barnes & Noble Education in the new position of svp, revenue & product development, reporting to ceo Mike Huseby. Most recently he was chief marketing officer, after spending almost 5 years at Nook, where he had been general manager of digital content.

Obituaries
Publishing veteran Judith Appelbaum, 78, died at home in Bedford, NY on Wednesday. She founded Sensible Solutions (run with partner Florence Janovic) and authored How to Get Happily Published, first published in 1998. A longtime Book Industry Study Group board member and committee chair, Applebaum was given the organization’s Lifetime Service Award (and she also won the Publishers Marketing Association’s (now IBPA) Lifetime Achievement Award. Janovic said, “Going to work every day with Judy meant you would be challenged, provoked and supported. There was never a petty, gossipy or cruel word. Her calm, clear-eyed vision of the world was nothing short of inspiring.”

Reveals
Roger Daltrey‘s forthcoming memoir will be titled Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite. Blink publishes in the UK on October 18, and Holt releases in the US on October 23.

Former Obama Administration aide Valerie Jarrett‘s April 2019 release will be titled Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward.

Book Fairs
The Jerusalem Book Fair has been renamed the Jerusalem International Book Forum, and the next gathering on May 12-15, 2019 will forgo the convention hall and focus on a “dynamic ‘forum’ at various Jerusalem locations for publishing professionals in [a new] collaboration with the International Writers Festival at Mishkenot Sha’aninim.” Organizers say “the heart of the new JIBF is a program of events including panels, discussion groups, interviews, presentations and informal gatherings in which new Fellows, alumni Fellows, and members of the Israeli and international publishing community can engage in a free exchange of ideas with their colleagues and enjoy networking opportunities.”