Sheila O’Shea will join Farrar, Straus as svp and director of marketing and publicity, starting November 18. Most recently, she was senior executive director, marketing communications at Hearst, which she joined in 2014 after 17 years at Penguin Random House. Director of publicity Sarita Varma will report to O’Shea. Publisher Mitzi Angel says in the announcement, “Sheila’s love of books, her enthusiasm, and her wide-ranging experience in both publicity and marketing will be invaluable. She will make a vital contribution to FSG as it looks to the future.”
Joanna Pinsker joined Atria Publishing Group this week as deputy director of publicity, reporting to Kristin Fassler. She was most recently at Hachette Book Group.
James Melia will move over from Flatiron Books to join Holt as a senior editor on November 6.
Jennifer Jackson joins Celadon Books as senior director, consumer marketing, overseeing content marketing, social media strategy, and analytics. Previously, she was vice president, content strategy at Open Road. Rebecca Ritchey joins the line as social media manager.
Caitie Flum has been promoted to associate agent at Liza Dawson Associates.
Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs has joined the Deborah Harris Agency as literary agent. Previously, she was an assistant editor at the Wall Street Journal book review. Geula Geurts has been promoted to literary agent, in addition to her role as foreign rights agent.
Navah Wolfe reported on Twitter that Saga Press has eliminated her position as senior editor.
In the UK, Headline associate publisher Leah Woodburn is leaving the company, after a “realignment of reporting lines.” She can be reached at leahwoodburn@gmail.com.
Audio
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group has launched an audiobook line, expecting to publish 35 audio titles in 2019, and 50 audio titles in 2020. The company is “working with Findaway to produce most of its initial audiobook titles.”
Awards
Canada’s Governor General’s Awards were presented in seven categories, with the fiction prize going to Five Wives by Joan Thomas.
Call for Previews
Once again we are finalizing our latest Buzz Books 2020: Spring/Summer sampler, with include extensive seasonal preview/overview listings of notable titles on the way. We compile these big roundups by looking at publisher catalogs, our own comprehensive monthly lists of significant forthcoming books; hints from our substantial flow of deal reports; aggregation of “anticipated books” lists from other publications; word-of-mouth within the industry; and more.
If you have notable spring/summer titles you would like to have considered for the preview list — particularly ones you are concerned we might have missed from the regular signals, along with drop-ins and rescheduled releases — now is your chance to let us know. Please email us your suggestions no later than November 5, and make sure to include author, title, imprint, and pub date. Send to Erin Somers (erin@publishersmarketplace.com).