Jackie Williams has joined The Knight Agency as associate agent, seeking fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, contemporary, and young adult. She was previously with Chronicle Books.
Ewan Turner has been promoted to managing editor of Philip Turner Book Productions. A fiction writer (and son of the founder), he heads up a new division, New Stories, devoted to cultivating new work in fiction, memoir, and essays.
Kajal Mistry has been promoted to publisher of Hardie Grant Books UK. Eve Marleau moves up to commissioning editor.
Layoffs
UK bookseller Waterstones will layoff an unspecified number of employees at its headquarters, as sales remain lower than before the lockdown. The company said, “It is with great regret that Waterstones is to make a number of head office redundancies and is currently in consultation with those whose Piccadilly-based roles are affected. These are part of a number of measures undertaken to align the overheads of the business to the level of sales now being achieved.”
The company notes, “As for almost all high street retailers, sales are lower than before the pandemic, notably in our city-centre shops. Notwithstanding the strong online performance of Waterstones.com, it is necessary to reduce the cost base of the business to reflect the new reality of our overall trading.”
CAA has laid off 90 agents and executives “from across the company,” and furloughed 275 assistants and other support employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline reports that the furloughed positions comprises assistants, receptionists, and mailroom workers. In April, the agency had cut salaries to reduce the impact of the pandemic but, they say in a statement, “with greater visibility into the COVID-19 challenges of fiscal year 2021, we have made the difficult decision to implement workforce reductions, in addition to our ongoing cost-saving measures.” They continue, “This is a painful and unprecedented moment, and words are insufficient. Today, we simply say that we extend our sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude to our departing colleagues.”
Distribution
Hallmark Publishing will move their distribution from Two Rivers to Simon & Schuster as of October 1.