Following the announced departure of Dutton publisher Ben Sevier to Grand Central, Penguin Publishing Group president Madeline McIntosh told staff today that deputy publisher Christine Ball is being promoted to senior vice president, publisher, Putnam Dutton Berkley, reporting to Ivan Held. Ball “will now work even more actively and directly with Ivan and the imprint editorial teams under him to shape the lists and the editorial strategy as a whole,” while continuing to oversee the marketing and publicity teams for all three imprints and lead efforts with the sales department. But Putnam editorial director Sally Kim, Berkley editor-in-chief Claire Zion, and associate publisher, paperbacks Ben Lee […]
Agency News
People
Eric Lupfer is joining Fletcher & Company as an agent, moving over from William Morris Endeavor, where he has been for fourteen years. Lupfer specializes in non-fiction ranging from history, science, and economics, to narrative journalism and current affairs. At Trident Media Group, Alexa Stark has been promoted to literary agent, focusing primarily on literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Mary Austin Speaker joins Milkweed Editions as art director on January 17. Franco Alvarado is leaving FW Media, where he was senior technical production specialist for three years, to launch Franco Alvarado Consulting, providing ebook development and QA, print book design, […]
People: Pallante to Head AAP, and More
Former Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante will join the Association of American Publishers on January 17 as the new president and ceo of the organization, taking over following the planned retirement of Tom Allen. She says in the announcement: “I am deeply inspired by the values of the American publishing industry. Publishers promote literature, literacy, education, and research around the world, while advocating for free speech, creating jobs, and making considerable contributions to the global marketplace. It will be a privilege to represent these interests in matters of policy, trade and business.” AAP board chair YS Chi comments, “Maria is […]
People, Etc.
Dean Koontz, who has been without representation in his primary markets for years now, selected new literary agents a couple of months ago — now announced via Deadline: Richard Pine and Kim Witherspoon at Inkwell Management will serve as his primary agents, with Jon Liebman and Missy Malkin at Brillstein Entertainment representing his books for film and television. Koontz continues his longtime relationship with attorney Richard Heller at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. In the UK, Diana Beaumont is leaving UTA and will join Marjacq Scripts, which completes the emptying out of UTA’s London office. The agency tells the Bookseller it is “pivoting its strategy in […]
People
Libby McGuire has joined The Gernert Company as an agent. Most recently she was publisher at Ballantine Bantam Dell, which she left a year ago. David Gernert said in the announcement: “Having worked with Libby for years I have no doubt that she will be a terrific, and terrifically successful, agent. And her vast experience in publishing will be helpful to us in a variety of ways.” McGuire added: “I have long admired the talent and strategy of The Gernert Company, so when I made the decision to become an agent, they were my first choice. I am thrilled to […]
People
Mary Pachnos, who has worked in association with Aitken Alexander Associates for the last 20 years, retired at the end of 2016. Her next phase will include volunteering as a guide at London Zoo. Marilyn Dahl has retired as editor of Shelf Awareness for Readers after twelve years with the publication. Dahl is succeeded by Stefanie Hargreaves as editor, effective Tuesday. Greaves has worked as an editor, bookseller, and reviewer for Ballantine, Girl Friday Productions, HarperCollins, Amazon.com and Book Page. Robbin Brosterman is joining Bright USA on January 9 as an agent in in the company’s New York office. Most recently […]