At Tor/Forge, Alexis Nixon has been promoted to publicist and Leah Withers moves up to associate publicist. In addition, Cassie Ammerman, most recently publicist, has been named digital marketing manager for the imprint. At Kids Can Press, Yvette Ghione has been promoted to editorial director and Karen Li moves up to senior editor. In addition, Allison MacLachlan has been named assistant, brands & new business. Barnes & Noble romance buyer Jules Herbert will contribute monthly recommendations and point to store promotions and other offers on Random House’s romance website Romance@Random, the site spearheaded by former Borders romance buyer Sue Grimshaw. […]
Agency News
eNews: Bedford Square, Nelson, Book Baby and Author House
Ed Victor’s Bedford Square Books–which has been controversial for splitting proceeds with its authors rather than just taking a standard agency commission–already has its first success story. Tesco buyer Garry Blackman read about Bedford Square’s plan to publish Louise Fennell‘s debut novel DEAD RICH in the Evening Standard and asked to see the manuscript. The chain placed an order “understood to be taking tens of thousands of copies” and Victor sold the rights to Simon & Schuster UK (after reportedly having been rejected by 17 publishers in his original submission). Evening Standard In a follow-up post, agent Kristin Nelson clarified […]
People, Etc.
At McGraw-Hill Professional, Knox Huston has been promoted to senior editor in the Business Group. The Bent Agency is opening a UK branch, run by Molly Ker Hawn, who will be representing authors of YA and middle grade fiction exclusively for both the UK and US markets. She has had editorial roles at Chronicle and Dial and was national programs director for the Children’s Book Council. Rachel Fershleiser has joined Tumblr, where she specializes in outreach to authors, publishers, and literary organizations. She was previously community manager at Bookish. Anne Tyler has won the 2012 Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence, […]
AAR Advises Agents Engaging In ePublishing
After a year in which a number of agents began helping their clients epublish directly and through non-traditional intermediaries, the Association of Authors’ Representatives has begun the new year by underscoring a few core principles to their members in an e-mail sent last week. AAR vp (and head of DeFiore and Company) Brian DeFiore tells us that “what was sent to member agents was a clarification to answer some questions that have come up.” As a matter of policy, their basic position is that “the fiduciary responsibility of the member to the client does not change” and the canon as […]
People: Chase, Farley, Ditlow, Deen and More
Farley Chase has formed Chase Literary Agency after nearly eight years as a literary agent with the Waxman Literary Agency. He will continue to represent the foreign rights for The Waxman Literary Agency. Former president and publisher of Macmillan Children’s Dan Farley is joining education technology platform startup SwoopThat as a principal and evp, business development. SwoopThat aims to increase textbook affordability for students and enhance college bookstore revenues by helping them adjust to the quickly changing coursebook market. “This is a venture that can, proverbially, make a difference. And, it’s fresh, exciting, and full of opportunity,” Farley said in note to colleagues. He […]
People, Etc.
Author Russell Hoban, 86, died on Tuesday. His most recent book, ANGELICA LOST AND FOUND, was published by Bloomsbury in November 2010. Editor David Lloyd, who was with Hoban recently, posted a short note. “We took it in turns to read to him at the end…. The world will sound so different without him.” Guardian Posted note Publisher of Waldman House Press Ned Waldman, 78, died Tuesday at a care center near his home in Wisconsin. Waldman and cousin Norton Stillman “were known nationally as owners of Minneapolis-based The Bookmen, the Midwest’s biggest book distributor” (no longer in business). He […]