Diverse Editions, which dressed twelve classic books from Penguin Random House in new dust jackets featuring typically white characters reimagined as people of different races, was “suspended” following a quick wave of online criticism and accusations of “literary blackface.” Comprising such titles as Moby Dick, Romeo and Juliet, and The Secret Garden, the new covers were scheduled to launch Wednesday evening at the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue in NYC. A panel discussion as part of that launch, including manager, business development and business department at the Fifth Avenue store Cal Hunter and assistant marketing manager at Penguin Random […]
Archives for February 2020
People, Etc.
Jessica Friedman has joined Sterling Lord Literistic as agent. She was previously at The Wylie Agency. Sara O’Keeffe has joined Aevitas Creative Management UK as an agent, based in London, representing literary and commercial fiction, along with some middle-grade and YA fiction. She was previously publishing director of Corvus. Megan Fishman has been promoted to vp/associate publisher, publicity for Catapult/Counterpoint Press/Soft Skull. At Random House, Cindy Murray has been promoted to senior publicity director, Christian Publishing/Forum. Jordan Pace and Erin Richards have each been promoted to associate publicist. Imprints Emily Books is shutting down after their final title publishes on March […]
AAP November 2019 Stats Show Weak Sales
As we explain regularly, AAP StatShot data can vary widely from month to month (and that does not seem to be an indicator of anything significant). And we already know how 2019 trade print sales turned out from a unit perspective from NPD Bookscan. With all of that in mind, the AAP November 2019 data is markedly lower for both adult and children’s trade books, only in part owing to a particularly strong comp year. Adult print sales totaled $304 million, compared to $466 million in November 2018. (November 2018’s updated reporting was only slightly lower than the $473 million […]
Latinx Activists Met With Macmillan Executives, Say They Agreed to Action Plan
Latinx activist from #DignidadLiteraria and Presente.org met with Macmillan leadership on Monday afternoon to discuss the controversy about representation in publishing sparked by Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt. A panel of authors including David Bowles, Myriam Gurba, and Roberto Lovato spoke with Flatiron Books president Bob Miller, Macmillan president Don Weisberg, as well as representatives from other Macmillan imprints. Two representatives for Oprah and O Magazine listened remotely. In a press conference afterward in Zuccotti Park, Matt Nelson, executive director of Presente.org said they got “substantial commitments across the company for them to do better.” Gurba said, “Our goal here is […]
People, Etc.
Otto Penzler has taken sole ownership of the Mysterious Press, after nine years of operating as an imprint at Grove Atlantic. The line will publish 10 books through Grove Atlantic in 2020, and starting in 2021 the Mysterious Press will be distributed by Norton. (Norton already distributes Penzler Publishers two other imprints.) Penzler said in the announcement, “Working with Morgan Entrekin at Grove Atlantic has been one of the singular pleasures of my career. He has been enormously supportive and generous throughout our years of working together. There is no greater gentleman in the world of publishing than he is, […]
Alice Mayhew Dies at 87
Simon & Schuster announced “with great sadness” that renowned vp and editorial director Alice Mayhew, 87, died peacefully at home earlier today. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. She joined Simon & Schuster in 1971 (following editorial positions and Harper & Row and Random House). CEO Carolyn Reidy writes that, “In her nearly fifty years here she established herself as a true mainstay of our publishing efforts, editing a distinguished list of writers in history, biography, journalism, politics, contemporary affairs and popular culture. Four authors published by her were awarded the Pulitzer Prize—Taylor Branch, […]