Former longtime Harper One svp and publisher Mark Tauber, who left the company at the end of 2017 “to pursue other interests,” has joined Chronicle Books as managing director of a new, to be named imprint. Launching in fall 2019 and aiming to publish 6 to 8 books a season, the line will focus “on narrative and inspirational non-fiction in subjects ranging from health, wellness, and lifestyle to creative business, sports, memoir, and reference.”
Chronicle president Tyrrell Mahoney says in the announcement, “We are thrilled to welcome Mark Tauber to Chronicle Books. His extensive publishing acumen and deep experience identifying talent and cultivating bestsellers will enable us to publish an even wider range of content to complement our already exceptional book and gift program and serve our mission to spark the passions and interests of our loyal customers around the world.”
Tauber adds, “I have been a great fan, a devoted consumer, and a happy neighbor here in San Francisco for many years. I look forward to building this new imprint and working with the smart, creative Chronicle Books team as I blend my own experience with their high-quality, high-impact, award-winning, and distinguished tradition of success. And I can hardly wait to jump back in again working with all my agent and industry colleagues to discover, develop, and publish leading, authentic, and enduring authors and projects.”
Elsewhere, Mandy Archer joins Bloomsbury Children’s UK on September 18 to lead the Harry Potter team in the new role of editorial director and head of brand, reporting to Rebecca McNally. She was previously a freelance publishing consultant, and collaborated with Bloomsbury on the 2017 Harry Potter History of Magic books and exhibition at the British Library.
Malcolm Gladwell‘s fascination with podcasts is only growing, as chairman and editor in chief of the Slate Group Jacob Weisberg announced on Twitter: “After 22 years I’m leaving Slate to launch a new audio company with Malcolm Gladwell.” (They were housemates together in Washington, DC in the mid-80s.) They NYT says the company “will be funded by Gladwell and Weisberg at the outset. It will focus on creating new podcasts, audiobooks and short-form audio content.”
Forthcoming
St. Martin’s announced that it will publish Stormy Daniels‘ memoir FULL DISCLOSURE on October 2 in the US, with Pan Macmillan publishing in the UK, Australia, South Africa and India, and Droemer Knaur publishing in Germany. They say that she “shares everything about how she came to be a leading actress and director in the adult film business, the full truth about her journey from a rough childhood in Louisiana onto the national stage, and the events that led to the nondisclosure agreement and the behind-the-scenes attempts to intimidate her.”
Events
The ABA announced the full program for Winter Institute, which will take place in January in Albuquerque. Keynote speakers include: Hanif Abdurraquib, Margaret Atwood, Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff, Erin Morgenstern, and Reshma Saujani.
Film/TV
Leah Koch and Bea Koch, the sisters who co-own romance bookstore the Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles, have signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures TV to “develop projects based on their close relationship with romance novel authors and readers.” Lauren Stein, evp drama development for Sony Pictures Television said, “They have fantastic taste and a distinctive perspective on the romance genre. We are thrilled to have them in our family.”
Bookselling
The Barnes & Noble on Route 9 in Howell, NJ will close by the end of the year when the lease expires, though an exact date has not been announced. Chuck Lanyard president of commercial real estate brokerage The Goldstein Group said the store is up for lease: “Barnes & Noble has elected to not renew their lease at this location.”