Founder of Blue Rider Press (and longtime publisher at Simon & Schuster before that) David Rosenthal has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as editor at large. Svp and publisher Bruce Nichols said, “I have known and admired David for many years, and I am thrilled that he will bring his creativity, keen editorial eye, and astonishing list of contacts to HMH.”
Simon & Schuster has restructured its sales division, including the following promotions and hires: Paula Amendolara has been promoted to vp, director of national accounts, adding responsibility for sales to mass market retailers and airports, as well as the key distributors that service them. Wendy Sheanin is joining the sales division in the newly created position of vp, independent retail sales, responsible for managing the field sales, telemarketing and telesales organizations that service the independent bookstore channel. Nicole Vines Verlin has joined as vp, special sales; she was previously director, special sales, mass market and export sales at Sterling. Eileen Gentillo becomes vp, director of sales operations. Jisoo Leones moves up to manager, sales operations and client publisher services, while Andres Feliciano has been promoted to coordinator, client publisher services. Lis Kingren-Hawkins will move over from children’s sales to become sales operations coordinator.
Ruth Pomerance has launched INKubator Enterprises, a book packager focused creating and producing “books with timely and gripping story ideas…conceived and marketed with an eye to making a successful transition to screens, stage, games and more.” The company aims to generate 10 books a year across all genres, including YA, women’s fiction, science fiction. INKubator will work in partnership with Folio Literary Management, which will represent rights.
Founding partner and managing director Pomerance has hired Adam Wilson as director of content. Most recently he was a senior editor at Gallery Books, where he co-launched the graphic novel imprint and helped launch the Pocket Star digital imprint.
At Bonnier Books UK, Kate Parkin has been promoted to managing director of adult trade; Jane Harris was made managing director of children’s trade; and James Horobin moves up to group sales, marketing and publicity director of trade. All three report to ceo Perminder Mann.
Kate McCune at HarperCollins has won the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association’s Voice of the Heartland Award. It’s given to “outstanding individuals who uphold the value of independent bookselling and who have made a significant contribution to bookselling in the Midwest.” They noted, “There are few sales reps that more fully embody this, and have garnered more respect, in this industry than Kate McCune. Her advocacy on behalf of the books published by HarperCollins is legendary.”
Kerry Cullen has been promoted to assistant editor at Henry Holt.
Hallie Stebbins has joined Princeton University Press as editor for computer science and neuroscience. Previously she was editor for linguistics and communications studies at Oxford University Press. Jessica Yao moves into the new role of associate editor, physical sciences.
Kirsten Kim has joined Sanford J. Greenburger Associates as a scout. She was previously an associate editor at Skyhorse.