Veronica Jordan has been promoted to executive vice president, general counsel of Simon & Schuster, reporting to president and ceo Carolyn Reidy. She succeeds Hazel-Ann Mayers, who moved over in February to evp, chief business ethics & compliance officer at CBS Corporation.
Jennifer Weidman has been promoted to senior vice president, deputy general counsel. Reidy said, “It speaks volumes about Simon & Schuster and the overall strength of our legal department that in Veronica Jordan and Jennifer Weidman we have two such experienced, versatile and well-qualified attorneys in-house and at the ready to take on new and greater responsibilities in this critical foundation of our business. We look to them and the rest of our terrific legal team to provide the counsel that underpins our business initiatives and assure our immediate and long-term success.”
Jennifer Sterkowitz has been promoted to metadata strategy specialist at Sourcebooks.
Laurie Stark, vice president of publishing operations support, is retiring from Penguin Random House after 39 years. She can be reached at lstark53@gmail.com.
Picks
The New York Times/PBS NewsHour Book Club pick for April is Emily Chang’s Brotopia.
Bookselling
Branches Books & Gifts in Oakhurst, CA is for sale. Owner Anne Driscoll, who opened the store in 2013, said the store will stay open until they find a buyer: “My plan right now is to continue on with business as usual and events as planned while we search for the perfect person to take the reins of our beloved shop.”
The Book Shelf in Tryon, NC, which has been for sale since last September, has lowered its price to $70,000, which includes “the complete inventory (all books, greeting cards, yarn, etc.) as well as all vendor accounts, fixtures, furniture, equipment and seasonal goods and decorations.”
Imprints
Trigger Publishing is launching a children’s mental health and wellbeing imprint called Upside Down Books. The program will “focus on mental health issues while also promoting positivity, emotional intelligence, and wellness for children.” Marcus Leaver, chairman of Trigger, said: “Publishing books for children to help families start those conversations at an early age will help further reduce the stigma of mental health, something that we all feel passionate about at Trigger.”
Distribution
Virginia-based Books International has acquired UK-based Marston Book Services and its subsidiary, Orca Books Services. Commercial Director of Orca Martyn Chapman becomes group managing director responsible for all UK operations.