Pearson has sold their Family Education Network — the group of websites for kids that includes Poptropica and Funbrain — to UK-based private equity company Sandbox Partners for undisclosed terms. Founded last year, Sandbox is run by former president of Pearson English Bhav Singh. Pearson spokesperson Brendan O’Grady said the sale is part of a “shift to focus on the Pearson products and services with the biggest potential impact on learning outcomes.” But he noted Pearson will still use Poptropica characters in a number of their English-language learning products. Author Jeff Kinney, who co-founded Poptropica while working at FEN and continues as Poptropica’s creative […]
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Martin Barabas has joined Regan Arts as publicity manager. Most recently he worked at Ingber & Associates Talent Agency. Debra Woodward will join Red Wheel/Weiser as sales manager on June 8. She was most recently the New England sales representative for Candlewick Press. At Soho Press, Amara Hoshijo has been promoted to assistant editor. At Sourcebooks, Becca Smith is being promoted to publicity & marketing specialist. In addition, Ami Vanderhoof has joined the e-commerce department as brand marketing manager. Previously she was marketing manager at Fannie May Confections Brands. Finally, Imani Mixon has joined as ecommerce copywriter/storyteller. Distribution The Brookings […]
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Rob Kirkpatrick will join Dey Street Books as senior editor on May 18. Previously he was senior editor at Thomas Dunne Books. Emily Cunningham will join Penguin Press as editor on June 9. Previously she was an editor at Harper. At Penguin Random House Children’s sales group, Jacqueline Engel has been promoted to vp, group sales director and director, field sales & business development, Penguin Young Readers. In addition, Mark Santella moves up to vp, group sales director and director, mass merchandise sales, Random House Children’s Books. Both Engel and Santella will report to Felicia Frazier. Nick Elliot has joined […]
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Bloomsbury UK has had to “restructure and reduce the costs of its trade editorial department” due to “the changing publishing environment,” and senior commissioning editor Bill Swainson‘s job is being eliminated at the end of June. Former longtime Barnes & Noble staff member, most recently as vp, books and digital strategy and chief product officer for digital education Jade Roth has joined UK-based Kortext as senior vice president. She will “use her extensive experience in the North American higher education market to support the team’s international expansion.” Dean of Library Services at Austin (Texas) Community College Julie Todaro, PhD. has been elected […]
Scribd Adds Penguin Random House…For Audio
Up until now Penguin Random House has not participated in any of the major ebook subscription offerings, but the publisher has a new exclusive with Scribd for audiobooks. [N.B.: Scribd described the deal as exclusive, but PRH noted after this ran “that Scribd is not the only retailer offering audiobooks on a subscription basis. Our audio titles have been available for a number of years via a multiple retailers with various subscription models, including Audible, Audiobooks.com, and Overdrive in the library market, among others.”] PRH is making available more than 9,000 audio titles for unlimited listening as part of Scribd’s subscription program (which […]
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At the Crown Publishing Group, Nidhi Berry has been promoted to associate manager, foreign rights for the Ten Speed, Clarkson Potter, Potter Style, Potter Craft, and Pam Krauss Books lists. In addition, Courtney Snyder moves up to associate director, domestic rights. At Orbit, Laura Fitzgerald has been promoted to online marketing manager and Lindsey Hall has been promoted to assistant editor. At Yen Press, Stephanie Lee has been promoted to assistant editor. At the Fischer Harbage Agency, Christopher Hermelin has been promoted to associate agent. Former vp, director of subsidiary rights at Crown Linda Kaplan has launched Readmore Literary Management, […]