Senior marketing manager at Grove/Atlantic and Mysterious Press Jason Pinter will leave the company on July 19 to launch Polis Books, a digital publishing startup focusing on new and backlist fiction from contemporary authors in crime fiction, science fiction & fantasy, and romance/erotica/commercial women’s fiction. Pinter told us Polis Books will formally debut next month (and is looking to hire an additional acquiring editor) and publish its first list this fall. Polis will offer authors “modest advances to begin with,” as “it’s important that our writers know we are investing in them” and royalties beginning at at 40 percent of […]
Agency News
People, Etc.
Former vp, director of publicity at Simon & Schuster’s adult trade imprint Tracey Guest has joined Penguin as advising director of corporate communications. In her new role she will work closely with Stuart Applebaum, head of Global Communications for Penguin Random House, and Claire Von Schilling on integration and related matters. Christine Ball, who previously held the advising director position on an interim basis, will be returning to her full-time position as vp, associate publisher of Dutton. Erica Glass remains senior manager, corporate communications at Penguin. Emma Parry has joined Janklow & Nesbit as a literary agent, five years after […]
People, Etc.
Julie Trelstad has joined Writers House as director, digital rights. Previously she was an independent consultant and founder of Plain White Press. At Harlequin, Emer Flounders has been named publicity manager, fiction. Previously he was a senior publicist at Simon & Schuster’s adult trade imprint. In addition, Lauren Jackson recently joined as associate publicist. Previously she was a publicity assistant at Tarcher. At eBound Canada, Krystyna Ross has been appointed Interim chief executive officer, replacing Robert Hayashi who left the organization earlier in the year. Most recently an independent publishing consultant, Ross has held executive positions with McClelland & Stewart […]
Gelfman Schneider Joins ICM In Latest “Strategic Alliance”
In another move that signals the growing consolidation of literary agencies, ICM Partners announced a new strategic alliance with Gelfman Schneider, who will now do business as Gelfman/Schneider/ICM (but will still retain their Seventh Avenue offices.) ICM says the partnership “increases the footprint…of the publishing unit and solidifies its status as a market leader among the talent and literary agencies.” Clients on the Gelfman Schneider list include Jeffery Deaver, David Rabe, Lauren Weisberger, Chris Bohjalian, and the estate for Evan Hunter/Ed McBain. Last November, ICM set up a similar strategic alliance with the Washington, DC-based Sagalyn Agency. In addition, Curtis […]
People, Etc.
Tim Ditlow has left Amazon Children’s, where he was associate publisher (after working for Amazon-owned Brilliance Audio since 2008). Michelle Nagler will join Random House Children’s Books on July 15 as associate publishing director for the Random House/Golden Books group, reporting to Mallory Loehr. Nagler is currently editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s. Editorial director for Stepping Stones Jennifer Arena; executive editor Shana Corey, and associate editor and Chelsea Eberly will report to Nagler going forward. Harper Christian has created a Zondervan Gift Books unit, which “indicates Zondervan’s intention to place a strong focus on inspirational gift books, devotionals and journals. […]
Canada’s McArthur & Company to Close; Founder Creates New Agency
Another independent Canadian publisher is exiting the business. McArthur & Company, which has been facing financial problems, announced Friday it will close. (Their last reported deal at PM was in mid-2011.) Founder Kim McArthur is partnering with Miron Blumental (who was an attorney and film/tv producer for the late Maeve Binchy) to create a literary and creative agency, McArthur Blumental Creative, the Toronto Star reports. McArthur called her time as an independent publisher “a mostly grand 15-year run.” She told the newspaper, “We are hoping to make this as seamless a transition for the authors as possible, as we did […]