Judith Haut has been promoted to evp, deputy publisher at Random House Children’s Books. Newly reporting to her is Tom Russell, vp and publisher, The Princeton Review and Sylvan. RHCB president and publisher Barbara Marcus said, “Throughout her 25-year career with RHCB, Judith has played a critical role in building and growing the division. Her passion for placing diverse and quality content into the hands of young readers and her strategic focus and understanding of the children’s industry have been key to her and our success. Judith will continue to work with me and our senior team to set long-term publishing strategy and identify growth opportunities for our business.”
Marie Pantojan will join the Random House as editor on September 16, reporting to Andy Ward. She was most recently at Liveright. Katy Nishimoto will join Dial as senior editor, reporting to Whitney Frick. She was an agent at William Morris Endeavor.
Publisher at Bonnier Books UK’s Echo Publishing (and publisher of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris) Angela Meyer is leaving at the end of October to pursue a career in writing and freelance editing.
Forthcoming
Emma Cline‘s story collection DADDY has been announced for publication in 2020 by Random House (and Chatto & Windus in the UK). The publisher bought three books by Cline when they acquired THE GIRLS in 2014. The stories “consider the dark corners of human experience, exploring the fault lines of power between men and women, parents and children, the past and the present.”
Obituary
Biographer of Saul Bellow and the Delmore Schwartz and publisher of series including Eminent Lives and Great Discoveries, James Atlas, 70, died Wednesday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. His wife, Dr. Anna Fels, said the cause was the escalation of a chronic lung condition.
Friends of the late George Hodgman remind the community that he will be celebrated at a memorial service on September 26, at 6:30 PM, at The Friends Meeting House, 15 Rutherford Place, just off Stuyvesant Square at 15th Street, between 2nd & 3rd Avenues.
Bookselling
Womrath Books in Bronxville, NY (around the corner from PL’s worldwide HQ) has been sold to Barbara and Morin Bishop. Wanda and Gene Sgarlata, the owners for the past 35 years, are retiring.
Charm City Books will open in Baltimore’s Pigtown neighborhood on October 5.
A new book store, Sidekick Coffeee & Books, is planned for Iowa City. The store will focus on YA and children’s books, and also carry some adult titles.
Seattle’s University Book Store will close its Mill Creek store October 19 after more than 15 years in business, facing a “significant rental increase.”