Penguin Random House Australia conducted “a review of our structure ” and found they “no longer require the role of publishing director-Penguin Random House Literary” (comprising Hamish Hamilton, Vintage, Knopf, Viking and Penguin). As a result, Penguin veteran Ben Ball has left the company. The team for the Literary division (created last year) will now report to group publishing director Nikki Christer. Fairfax Media reports that “the immediate departure of Ball has created shockwaves in the Australian literary community, with authors, colleagues, booksellers and agents left in disbelief.” Four-time Miles Franklin Award winner Tim Winton said he was “deeply wounded by […]
Our Big Buzz Books Fall/Winter Sampler, Just in Time for Book Expo
With Book Expo just two weeks away, today we launch Buzz Books 2018: Fall/Winter and the companion Buzz Books 2018 Young Adult: Fall/Winter. As usual, the samplers are the best way to prepare for the season ahead, with substantial pre-publication excerpts from major authors, as well as breakout and discovery books from across the publishing landscape. The consumer editions are available for download now for Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple’s iBooks (where they are being promoted on a number of high-profile pages), Google Play, and Kobo, among other online retailers, with click-throughs for preorders. (Also all linked at our main […]
People, Etc.
Samantha Fabien has joined Laura Dail Literary Agency as international rights manager. Former associate publishing manager at Viking Children’s Leila Sales has relocated to Austin, TX, where she will continue to edit select projects on Viking’s list, along with working on other editorial and writing projects. Awards The British Book Awards were presented on Monday, honoring both the trade and authors, with Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine named both debut of the year and book of the year. Launching Otto Penzler has started a new company, Penzler Publishers, now announcing its first imprint, American Mystery Classics. The line will focus […]
Harassment Files: Bryce Milligan Accused Of Misconduct, And More
San Antonio author and publisher of Wings Press Bryce Milligan has been accused of sexual misconduct by Hailey Laine Johnson, his student from 2000 to 2002. In a Facebook post, Johnson alleges that when she was 14, a freshman at North East School of the Arts, Milligan made sexual comments to her on multiple occasions and sexually assaulted her. She writes in part: “he’d kiss my neck when no one was looking, he’d have me sit on his lap while he graded homework.” Johnson goes on, “I did not have the strength to tell him no or to stop because of […]
People, Etc.
Atria executive editor Johanna Castillo will “return to her roots” and join Writers House as a senior literary agent on June 6. (Prior to her long career at Atria, Castillo worked at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.) Castillo says: “After working closely with a wonderful roster of authors and colleagues for nearly fifteen years, I wanted to go back to being a literary agent and be able to find new talent authors and nurture writers’ literary careers long term. I have always said that if I ever decided to get back to being an agent, my dream would be to do so at […]
Harassment Files: Diaz Steps Down As Pulitzer Chair, As Board Investigates; More from Naffis-Sahely
Following recent allegations, Pulitzer Prize board administrator Dana Canedy released a statement about Junot Diaz, who had been elected chairman at the April meeting. The board is conducting “an independent review of allegations of misconduct” and in the meantime, Diaz has “asked to relinquish” his role as chairman, though he remains on the board. The full statement: “The Pulitzer Prize Board has authorized an independent review of allegations of misconduct against one of its own members, Junot Diaz. Mr. Diaz said he welcomed the review and would cooperate fully with it. Mr. Diaz was elected incoming chairman at the board’s […]