Doubleday is adding titles on wellness and self-help, with a new initiative led by Todd Doughty, senior vice president and deputy publisher, and Kristine Puopolo, vice president, editorial director, nonfiction. Publisher and editor-in-chief Bill Thomas writes in the announcement, “By building bestselling authors and launching landmark publications over the years, we have developed a powerhouse nonfiction platform and are now ready to expand into the wellness and self-help sphere.”
Thomas notes that all Doubleday editors are invited to contribute titles, and they expect to start publishing in 2021. “For all readers looking for guidance on change from a prominent expert, illumination on a subject from a top authority in the field, or connection through a talented writer’s personal journey, Doubleday will publish insightful books with a strong prescriptive focus designed to accomplish those goals.”
Amy Jackson and Alexandra Derdall have each joined Sourcebooks as marketing associate.
Penguin Random House Canada announced a number of changes to the sales team: Lavanya Narasimhan has been promoted to director, special markets and new business. She will report to vp of sales Charidy Johnston and lead a newly formed team of four, including Aleks Wrobel, who is stepping into the role of comics and graphic novels specialist. Mary Giuliano has been promoted to senior director, independent, library and academic sales, and Brent Richard has been promoted to director, sales management.
Ellen Whitfield has been promoted to publicity director at Books Forward.
At Curtis Brown, Jazmia Young and Nicole Eisenbraun have each been promoted to associate agent.
At Westwood Creative Artists, Bridgette Kam is moving from the rights department to become a literary associate, working with Jackie Kaiser and Hilary McMahon. Caroline Vassallo has been promoted to international rights associate and film/tv Aasociate. Briar Jones has joined as Office Manager.
Peter Kraus vom Cleff has been named managing director of Germany’s publisher and bookseller association Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels. He will start January 1, 2022 and succeeds Alexander Skipis. Vom Cleff has worked at Holtzbrinck for over 20 years, serving as commercial director of Rowohlt since 2008. and he is currently president of the Federation of European Publishers as well.
Awards
The Whiting Foundation announced the winners of its $50,000 Whiting Awards:
Fiction
Steven Dunn, Potted Meat (Tarpaulin Sky Press)
Tope Folarin Fiction, A Particular Kind of Black Man (Simon & Schuster)
Nonfiction
Joshua Bennett (Poetry and Nonfiction), Being Property Once Myself (Belknap Press), The Sobbing School (Penguin Books)
Sarah Stewart Johnson, The Sirens of Mars (Crown)
Poetry
Marwa Helal, Invasive species (Nightboat Books)
Ladan Osman, Exiles of Eden (Coffee House Press)
Xandria Phillips, Hull (Nightboat Books)
Drama
Sylvia Khoury, Selling Kabul
Donnetta Lavinia Grays, Where We Stand
Jordan E. Cooper, Black Boy Fly