The Kirkus Prize announced its finalists in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature, with the winners to be announced on October 25. A modest number of nominees overlap with the National Book Awards longlists, including Lauren Groff and Nafissa Thompson-Spires in fiction; Rebecca Solnit and Sarah Smarsh in nonfiction; and Elizabeth Acevedo in young people’s literature. The complete list: Fiction Halsey Street, by Naima Coster Florida, by Lauren Groff Mourning, by Eduardo Halfon Severance, by Ling Ma Heads of the Colored People, by Nafissa Thompson-Spires Tell the Machine Goodnight, by Katie Williams Nonfiction American Prison, by Shane Bauer Heavy, by Kiese Laymon […]
People, Etc.: Macrae to Retire from Holt
Jack Macrae is retiring from Holt after more than 35 years there. Holt president Steve Rubin writes, “Hugely well-regarded within the publishing community, Jack is known for his sharp wit, winning personality, and deep knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.” His authors at Holt include two-time Booker Award-winner Hilary Mantel. He spent 15 years at Dutton, the “family business” (his grandfather bought the house) where he published Jorge Luis Borges among others, before joining Holt. “We thank him for his sterling contributions over the years and wish him happiness and good health in his well-earned retirement.” For another appreciation of Macrae’s career, see […]
People, Etc.
Dana Spector has joined CAA as agent in the books department, based in Los Angeles. She was previously in the media rights department at Paradigm. Berrett-Koehler founder Steve Piersanti, who serves as both president/CEO and an editor, announced that he will relinquish his executive positions in mid-2019. He will continue as a full-time acquiring editor, though, “which is the role I have always believed I was best at performing and which has given me the greatest satisfaction.” Caroline A. Hayes has joined Norton as metadata operations manager. Awards The National Book Awards announced its 5 Under 35 honorees, including Nana Kwame […]
People, Etc.
Kim Anderson will re-join Chronicle Books as vice president of sales & marketing, overseeing the marketing, domestic sales, international sales, and subsidiary rights teams. Previously, she worked in the Chronicle Books sales department from 2003 to 2013, and has spent the past five years as a sales and marketing consultant for such companies as Insight Editions, Mrs. Grossman’s, becker&mayer, and Galison. Steve Marshall joined Ingram Content Group as vp, IT services. Prior to Ingram, Steve was the vice president of infrastructure at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Keene, NH. Claire McGinnis has been promoted to associate director of publicity at Riverhead. At Thames & […]
People, Etc.
Eamon Dolan will join Simon & Schuster Publishing Group as vice president and executive editor starting October 1. Dolan was most recently with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where he ran his own imprint, Eamon Dolan Books, which was shut down in July. Simon & Schuster president and publisher Jonathan Karp says, “Eamon will continue to do what he has done so brilliantly for years: Identify, edit, and publish some of the best writers and thinkers in the culture – authors whose works are relevant to understanding our times and how they are changing, and capable of being just as meaningful in the […]
Ian Buruma Leaves NYRB
Ian Buruma is leaving his position as editor of the New York Review of Books, confirmed Nicholas During, a publicist for the magazine. Buruma had succeeded the late co-founder Robert B. Silvers in May 2017. His exit follows the controversial publication online by the Review last week of an article written by Jian Ghomeshi, called Reflections from a Hashtag, and a subsequent interview Buruma gave to Slate’s Ian Chotiner, in which he defended his decision to publish the piece. (The print version of the issue has not landed yet.) Buruma commented to Dutch outlet Vrij Nederland, that he was not fired by […]