Marianne Velmans, publishing director at Doubleday UK, will retire in April, after 31 years with the imprint. She will be succeeded by Kirsty Dunseath who joined as publishing director in March. Transworld manager director Larry Finlay told The Bookseller, “Not only is Marianne a wonderful editor and publisher but she is also a lovely, warm, supportive person. It has been a huge pleasure to work with her for so long. She is smart, dedicated, and a fabulous champion both of her authors and her colleagues. So many have benefitted from her wisdom and care over the years. We will all miss her enormously.”
Laura Minchew has promoted to svp, children’s and gift group publisher for Harper Christian and Harper Focus, responsible for the overall strategy for all children’s and gift books for both companies. She reports directly to Mark Schoenwald.
Diana Griffin has been promoted to publicity manager for the Workman imprint. Bruce Tracy, senior editor at Workman Publishing, returns to freelance as of November 27, following nearly 9 years with the company.
Iris Blasi has joined the Carol Mann Agency as literary agent. She was previously marketing director and senior editor at Pegasus Books.
Erin Files has been promoted to foreign rights associate at Aevitas Creative Management.
Sandford J. Greenburger Associates is now scouting for Tiandi Press in China.
Forthcoming
Michael di Capua Books/Harper Children’s will publish a new picture book written and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, SMART GEORGE, on June 2, 2020. It features the cast of characters from Feiffer’s Bark, George, published in 1999, about a dog who can’t bark
Bookselling
The Drama Book Shop will reopen next March in a new location on West 39th St. in Manhattan, one block south of its old location. Lin Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton” director Thomas Kail, lead producer Jeffrey Seller, and theater operator James L. Nederlander bought the store in January, when the previous owners couldn’t afford a rent hike.
New bookstore Charm City Books has opened in the Pigtown neighborhood of Baltimore.
Financing
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is offering $350 million in senior secured notes due 2025, as part of the package needed to refinance their outstanding $766 million due in a term loan, which matures in May 2021. The notes are one part of the broader refinancing, which includes an amended and restated senior secured term loan facility, and an amended and restated senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility.