Paul Whitlatch will join Crown as executive editor, starting July 29 and reporting to Gillian Blake. He was most recently at Hachette Books. In addition to acquiring and editing nonfiction for Crown, he will also contribute to the Currency imprint.
Caitlin O’Shaughnessy has joined Holt as director of brand strategy.
Paul W. Morris, vice president of programming & outreach for the Authors Guild since 2016, is leaving the organization this week. He will expand his role at literary nonprofit House of SpeakEasy, becoming executive director.
American Booksellers Association cfo Robyn DesHotel will leave her position in August to join the National Co+op Grocers and relocate to Minneapolis. The organization is looking for an interim cfo to serve through February 2020, so that the new incoming ceo following the planned retirement of Oren Teicher can oversee the selection of a new cfo.
At Cinco Puntos Press, John Byrd was promoted by his parents from marketing director and CFO to president. Lee Byrd continues as publisher and editor-in-chief and Bobby Byrd takes the new role of publisher emeritus.
Michelle Betters has been promoted to assistant publicist at Beacon Press. Jennifer Canela becomes sales development coordinator and Emily Powers moves up to marketing manager.
Candidate Book Earnings
Joe Biden got rich from writing and speaking, earning $15.6 million in 2017 and 2018 along with his wife according to his recently released tax returns. Because much of that income flows through S-corporations, there was not an exact amount disclosed for unearned book advance. But his separate financial disclosure form shows that paid book tour events alone yielded a little over $1.8 million in earnings.
Obits
Jim Bouton, 80, former New York Yankees pitcher and author of Ball Four, has died.
Laura Cerwinske, 72, author of Tropical Deco, died on July 5.
Distribution
Casemate Group will distribute Ireland’s Mercier Press in North America.