Emily Meehan joins Sterling Books as chief creative officer & publisher, leading what Barnes & Noble calls a “relaunch” of their publishing division. She was most recently publisher at Disney Book Group. She takes over from Sterling president Theresa Thompson, who is apparently excused from duty. Meehan calls it an “exciting new chapter not only for me, but for Sterling and Barnes & Noble. There is a lot of opportunity to publishing in bigger, forward-thinking ways with a keen eye for the best quality in editorial, design, and production.”
Avideh Bashirrad has been promoted to senior vice president, deputy publisher at Random House.
Amara Hoshijo has joined Saga Press as an editor. She was previously with Soho Press.
Carly Watters has been promoted to the newly created role of senior advisor at P.S. Literary.
Imprints
Welbeck is launching a new list called Welbeck Children’s Classics built around the newly-acquired backlist of children’s illustrator Robert Ingpen. Launching later this year as an imprint of Welbeck Children’s, the list will be “dedicated to publishing and celebrating the finest books for children of all ages.” In addition to backlist titles, it will also feature new titles, including a new book illustrated by Ingpen.
Awards
Melinda Gates is donating $250,o00 to the recently-established Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, which honors excellence in fiction by a woman writer in the US or Canada. The first $150,o00 prize will be awarded in 2023.
The Double X Economy by Linda Scott (Farrar, Straus) won the Porchlight Business Book of the Year Award for 2020.
Forthcoming
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart‘s first children’s book, MARCUS MAKES A MOVIE, will be published by Crown Children’s on June 1.