Imprints Macmillan Children’s is launching Neon Squid, a new imprint “dedicated to publishing gift nonfiction books that make complex topics – from medicine to archaeology – accessible and exciting for children.” Joanne Clark, Fiona Macdonald, and Sam Priddy will serve as co-publishers, based in London and reporting to Sally Poulson, global operations director at Priddy Books. The first list will launch in winter 2021. Audio Serial Box has been renamed Realm and is expanding to release original audio shows for free as ad-supported podcasts, as well as adding a subscription option. Previously, its audio stories were available to purchase a […]
Audio
Digital Briefs: Costco Audiobooks, AAP Opposes Library eBook Legislation
Costco started selling value-priced collections of digital audiobooks recently, playable through their own audiobooks app. For now they offer approximately 175 different collections to members. As Maryland (and other states) considers legislation that would require ebook publishers to also “license the book to public libraries in the state on reasonable terms,” the AAP explains in opposition that such state laws are invalid. “Federal copyright law prohibits this type of regulation of copyrights by state governments,” the organization writes. And such legislation also “raises significant Commerce Clause and Due Process Clause concerns and would likely be found to violate the U.S. […]
People, Etc.
At Quirk Books, Brett Cohen has resigned from his position as president and publisher after 20 years with the company. Quirk Books founder and owner David Borgenicht will return to his role as president. Jhanteigh Kupihea has been promoted to publisher and will lead the creative group. Nicole De Jackmo has been promoted to the new role of svp, sales, marketing, and publicity. Additionally at Quirk, Megan DiPasquale has been promoted to vice president of finance; Andie Reid to art director; Jane Morley to managing editor; Mandy Sampson to senior production and sales manager; and Kelsey Hoffman to senior publicity […]
People, Etc.
At Bloomsbury, Morgan Jones has been promoted to associate editor; Elizabeth Ellis to assistant editor; Mia Kwon to associate designer, adult trade; Nicole Jarvis to marketing director, adult trade; and Emily Fishman to associate publicist. At Tom Doherty Associates, Laura Etzkorn and Libby Collins have each been promoted to senior publicist, and Giselle Gonzalez has been promoted to assistant publicist. Marc Visnick has joined TKO Studios in the newly-created position of vp of sales and business development. Previously, he worked at Ingram as senior business development manager. Colleen Lindsay joins the company as senior manager, marketing and social media, reporting […]
PRH Launches Voiceover Casting Platform to the Public
Penguin Random House Audio today launched a voiceover casting platform, Ahab, to make it easier for audio content creators to hire voice actors. Ahab was originally developed as an internal tool at PRH, first used in the US and then adopted by PRH audio teams internationally. Now its creators, svp of content production Dan Zitt and senior manager of digital production platforms Julie Wilson, are opening its use to the public. “Ahab has been an invaluable tool for our team, both to streamline the casting process and to expand our talent pool,” says Dan Zitt, co-creator of Ahab and SVP of content […]
Authors Guild Praises Audible Changes, Presses for More
The Authors Guild called Audible’s recent changes to its ACX policies, combined with the earlier decision to pay authors royalties on books returned after seven days, “a significant step in the right direction.” At the same time, the Guild notes the new policies “do not include all the changes that we, together with the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), were hoping for” and that “we will continue our dialogue and demands for changes on the substantive issue of returns discrepancies and other issues affecting authors, narrators, and content providers.” Susan May, an author who has […]