The Romance Writers of America (RWA) revised its procedures for evaluating bias in judging for the RITA awards, adopted at their July board meeting and effective in 2019. The changes are in response to charges of prejudice, especially complaints that diverse and queer books have been given low scores or erroneously rated “not a romance.” RWA said in a release, “the Board passed a new policy that we hope will allow patterns of biased judging to be identified and for actions to be taken against those judges if deemed necessary.” One new measure allows authors who are concerned about “invidious discrimination against […]
People, Etc.
Nancy Sheppard will join Basic Books on August 13 as marketing director. Most recently, she was marketing director at St. Martin’s. Matt Ortile has joined Catapult as digital managing editor. Ortile was most recently the global publishing lead for BuzzFeed International and the founding editor of BuzzFeed Philippines. Farin Schlussel has been promoted to assistant marketing director at Avery and Tarcher Perigee. Loyola Press executive editor, trade Joe Durepos will retire at the end of October after nearly 17 years with the publisher. He said, “I’ve had the best job in the world, working with an incredibly talented team and the finest […]
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Jenn Gonzalez has been promoted to executive vice president, director of sales at Macmillan, taking over as longtime president of sales Alison Lazarus moves to Hachette Book Group. Gonzalez joined Macmillan in 2012 as vp of children’s sales and most recently served as svp, trade sales. Macmillan president Don Weisberg writes: “Jenn has a great passion for books, deft business sensibilities, and a superb rapport with colleagues, customers, and authors. The growth in children’s books and merchandise sales have been spectacular. I am confident that Jenn, with the terrific support of her first-rate team, is the right person to lead not only our […]
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Lynn Kovach has been promoted to vice president, director of national accounts, Random House Adult, newly overseeing sales for the division and PRH Audio to Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble. Stephen Hull will join the University of New Mexico Press as director on September 17, also serving as a professor of practice in publishing for UNM’s College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences. Previously he spent nine years at Dartmouth College as editor and publisher at the University Press of New England. Zoe Nelson will join Janklow & Nesbit UK in September as rights director, after eight years at Rogers, Coleridge and […]
Moore’s She Would Be King Tops September Indie Next List
The ABA named She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore as its No. 1 pick for September. Also on the list is Rebecca Serle’s The Dinner List, which is excerpted in our Buzz Books 2018 Fall/Winter sampler and available for download now, as well as French Exit, by Patrick deWitt, included in our Buzz Books 2018 Spring/Summer sampler. The rest of the picks: Whiskey When We’re Dry, by John Larison Vox, by Christina Dalcher The Winter Soldier, by Daniel Mason Lake Success, by Gary Shteyngart Ohio, by Stephen Markley Severance, by Ling Ma The Silence of the Girls, by Pat Barker One Person, […]
September Buzz Books Monthly
With summer winding down, we’re turning our attention to fall titles, beginning with September Buzz Books Monthly, available now on Amazon, iBooks, and NetGalley. In this edition, you’ll find exclusive excerpts of seven titles due for publication during September. Fiction selections for the month include Jude Deveraux’s departure from romance, A WillingMurder; Lynne Hugo’s The Testament Of Harold’s Wife; New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pinborough’s psychological thriller Cross Her Heart; Walter Mosley’s John Woman; and television and YA writer Rebecca Serle’s adult novel, The Dinner List. Rounding out this monthly are two debuts: Imogen Hermes Gowar’s historical novel The Mermaid And Mrs. Hancock, which has already […]