Kate Napolitano has joined Dey Street as executive editor. She was previously senior editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Educator and author Alina Mitchell has joined MacGregor & Luedeke as literary agent.
Sera Rivers is joining Martin Literary & Media Management as senior literary manager starting April 26, and representing middle grade, young adult and graphic novels.
Kathy Andrews, 84, co-founder of Universal Press Syndicate and former vice chairman of Andrews McMeel Universal, ceo of Andrews McMeel Publishing, and founding director of The Andrews Family Foundation, died on April 16. Chairman emeritus John McMeel writes, “Kathy was just outstanding – with tremendous insight as a shrewd and savvy chief executive, and as a compassionate, thoughtful leader. I am honored to call her my business partner, and my dear friend, of more than 50 years. She was a very special human being – and we will miss her wise counsel and dry wit very much.”
Cathy Guisewite, creator of the comic strip Cathy, recalls: “My career as a cartoonist began at Kathy Andrews’ kitchen table the night her husband, Jim, brought my submission home and asked her if she thought it was sellable. The blessing she gave my work that night launched my comic strip. Her great, generous heart helped hold me together in the beginning years. Her devotion to her own family and to the corporate family she helped wrap around all of us lucky enough to be with Universal Press Syndicate (now AMU) helped sustain me for all the years that followed. She was a rock of security, a trusted sounding board, and a dear friend.”
Distribution
German-based TeNeues books and stationery will be sold and distributed by ACC Art Books New York in North America starting in July.
Controversies
Producer Scott Rudin said in a statement: “Much has been written about my history of troubling interactions with colleagues, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior caused to individuals, directly and indirectly. After a period of reflection, I’ve made the decision to step back from active participation on our Broadway productions, effective immediately.”
As the Hollywood Reporter adds, however, “It remains unclear what Rudin means by ‘active participation.’ A representative for the producer did not elaborate on the phrase. A number of former staffers dubbed the gesture as hollow” and also raised questions about his extensive film and TV projects.
The Office
Talent agency UTA is the first to declare it will allow/welcome vaccinated employees back to their offices — on a voluntary basis — starting in June for some locations (and September 7 for New York City).
Streaming
Television is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Season 7 of the show Younger debuted last Thursday — but only on Paramount+ and Hulu, with open viewing on TV Land to come later this year.
Nonspecific Deals
“People are saying” in Politico that Bill Barr and Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently made book deals, as did former US attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman. Peter Navarro insists that he, too, has “a major publishing agreement with an attractive advance” for publication this fall