The NYT writes about another celebrity publishing side project: “X Artists’ Books, a small press that [Keanu] Reeves launched in Los Angeles with the visual artist Alexandra Grant, has been producing aggressively esoteric titles…. They don’t accept submissions and haven’t worked with agents, preferring instead to unearth what Grant calls ‘secret books’ — knotty concepts that might seem unpublishable.” From the other side of the spectrum, it’s Reading Month at YouTube Kids. Dolly Parton — whose Imagination Library recently celebrated giving over 100 million books to young children — introduces a video playlist of read-aloud books, including readalongs from Fallon, […]
Archives for August 2018
Penguin Random House Offers Early Retirement Buyout
Penguin Random House announced internally on Wednesday an early retirement buyout offer for veteran employees, described in a post from chief human resources officer Frank Steinert: “We are pleased to announce that we are making available a Voluntary Separation Offering (VSO) for a set of our long-tenured employees.” They suggest it “might be helpful” for employees “who are considering making a change in their personal or professional lives.” The offer applies to PRH employees in the US with 20 years or more of service at the company, who will be at least 60 years old by the end of the […]
Quarto Approves Taking On Still More Debt
At a special meeting, Quarto Group shareholders approved an amendment to the company by-laws so that they can take on still more debt (which stood at $64 million as of their last annual report). Just over 10 million shares, or a little over half of the shares outstanding, voted in favor of the proposal. Almost all of the other shares were not voted at all, suggesting that other holders knew that the alliance between co-founder and former ceo Laurence Orbach and Chuk Kin Lau of Lion Rock Group — who control 47 percent of the shares — would have their […]
People, Etc.
At Workman Children’s, Pam Bobowicz joins as senior editor; previously she was with Abrams. Maria Elias joins as associate art director; previously she was with Disney Publishing Worldwide. Katie Saunoris will join Penguin Random House Canada in the newly created position of director, communications, reporting to report to Beth Lockley, vp, marketing and communications. She was most recently manager, communications and media relations for Soulpepper Theatre Company in NYC. Rachel Diebel has been promoted to assistant editor at St. Martin’s. Karen Auerbach, director of publicity at Kensington, will be leaving on August 16 after 11 years with the company to pursue “new adventures.” In the […]
People, Etc.
Cheryl A. Young is retiring from her position as executive director of the MacDowell Colony, which she has held since 1997. Young will remain in her position until her successor is in place in early 2019. She said, “Not only has MacDowell been a home to me, it has been a great joy to be around such passionate people … the staff, board, volunteers, and donors. Everyone is devoted to helping artists make new work. MacDowell has been an exceptional organization since its pioneering beginning, and each generation has a role to play in safeguarding it.” Maris Kreizman has started contributing […]
Acquisitions: HBG Buys Worthy Publishing, As Insight Editions Buys Weldon Owen
Hachette Book Group has agreed to acquire the assets of Nashville, TN-based Christian publisher Worthy Publishing. When the deal is finalized, Worthy will become part of Hachette’s Nashville publishing division. Worthy publishes across categories including inspiration, fiction, Bible study, current events, devotion, leadership, biography, and personal growth. Their fall list includes Mike Huckabee’s new book, Rare, Medium or Done Well and a new fiction series from Jerry Jenkins. Hachette Nashville publisher Rolf Zettersten says in the announcement: “I have the utmost respect for the experience, instincts, and insights of Byron Williamson and his team, and I know that adding Hachette […]