Becky Kraemer will join Tin House as publicity director starting December 1. She most recently led her own book publicity firm, Cursive Communications & Marketing.
Elizabeth Breeden has been promoted to associate director of marketing at Simon & Schuster.
Obituaries
Sharon Propson, 44, a publicist for Random House for more than 20 years, died on November 7 of cancer. Random House Publishing Group president and publisher Gina Centrello writes, “Sharon was a consummate collaborator. She shared some of her most special gifts with her colleagues — her passion, generous heart, boisterous laugh, her patience, and unwavering attention as she mentored and supported junior staff and colleagues. A steadfast cheerleader, her excitement and incredible energy were contagious. She was an essential member of the Integrated Marketing PR Department and will be deeply missed.”
Joan Drury, 75, owner of the Drury Lane Books bookstore in Grand Marais, MN, author of three mysteries, and former owner and publisher of Spinsters Ink, died Monday of kidney disease.
Awards
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize announced this year’s winners: Alice Hoffman‘s The World that We Knew (fiction) and Chanel Miller‘s Know My Name (nonfiction).
Distribution
Starting January 1, Southern Territory Associate will represent Baker & Taylor Publisher Services‘ publisher clients in the Southeastern US as well as select Southern states.
Bookselling
Owner of Minneapolis’ DreamHaven books Greg Ketter and one employee were attacked and robbed on the evening of November 9 as they closed the store. Ketter wrote in a Facebook post: “Ryan and I were just beaten and robbed tonight as we were closing the store. Ryan took some serious punches. I must have been hit in the head but it happened so fast that all I remember is being on the floor as the two assailants kicked, punched and scattered books and shelves. Somewhere along the way they did get my wallet (I think it fell out of my pocket as I was fighting them off) and the days total cash.” Ketter says he chased the assailants off with a baseball bat, but they got away in a waiting car, and he did not get the license plate number. He added in a comment on the post, “We have some shelves to fix up and books to sort out but it’s mostly minor stuff. It’s mostly emotional damage for me–I’m just so tired of this stuff.” The store is open today.
DreamHaven was looted and damaged in late May, during demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd, prompting Ketter to raise money for repairs with a crowdfunding campaign.