Margaret Mahy, 76, author of more than 120 books for children and winner of numerous awards, including the Carnegie Medal and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, died Monday in Christchurch, NZ after a brief illness. NZ Herald obit Left-wing journalist, editor of Counterpunch and author Alexander Cockburn, 71, died Saturday in Bad Salzhausen, Germany after a two year battle with cancer. NYT obit At Penguin Children’s UK, Eric Huang has been promoted to new business and IP acquisitions director, reporting to Francesca Dow. Paul Biba has resigned from TeleRead after more than five years as contributor and then editor of […]
Authors
People: Wright to Take Over from Hayes at Viking Children’s; Naples, Ballenger Join Zola Books
Longtime president and publisher of Viking Children’s Books Regina Hayes will relinquish that position and serve as editor-at-large, just as she celebrates her thirtieth anniversary at Penguin. Writers House agent Ken Wright will take over as vp and publisher of Viking Children’s on August 27, reporting to Penguin Children’s president Don Weisberg. Weisberg says in the announcement, “Ken Wright is respected among the industry for his literary and commercial sensibility. His fantastic nose for new talent and respect for the classics make him the perfect candidate to helm and grow Viking’s celebrated list.” Wright notes, “Let’s face it, it’s one […]
People: Peeters to Leave Perseus, McCarthy Rises; Corey to Leave Random; Keating and Brick House Form New Agency
Perseus Books Group executive Clare Peeters, who has been with the company eight years and is currently vp, corporate strategy & business development, is leaving the company on August 1. She is joining investment firm Axel Johnson as vp, managing director. As coo Joe Mangan notes, “Clare has played an integral role in publishing initiatives, joint ventures, strategic business transactions, and many of our most critical operational issues.” With Peeters’ departure, Sabrina McCarthy is being promoted to the new position of president, Perseus Distribution Client Services and is taking on executive leadership of Argo Navis. Greg Anastas is being promoted to […]
People: Obits for Stephen R. Covey, Donald J. Sobol
Stephen R. Covey, author of the 1989 self-help bestseller 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, died early Monday at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls from the residual effects of a bicycle accident in April, his family said. He was 79 years old. 7 HABITS and additional follow-up titles have sold more than 20 million copies in over 38 languages. Simon & Schuster ceo Carolyn Reidy said in a statement the publisher was “deeply saddened by Covey’s passing” and the company “is honored to have had a long lasting, company-wide and close association with Dr. Covey and […]
People, Etc.: Marion Cunningham Dies
Marion Cunningham, 90, author of cookbooks such as LEARNING TO COOK and THE FANNIE FARMER COOKBOOK, died Wednesday in an assisted-care home in Walnut Creek, CA from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Her longtime editor at Knopf Judith Jones said in a statement that Cunningham “epitomized good American food…She was someone who had an ability to take a dish, savor it in her mouth, and give it new life. At a time when Americans were embracing all kinds of foreign cuisine, Marion Cunningham’s love and respect for American food helped The Fannie Farmer Cookbook once again earn a place in kitchens […]
Authors, Etc.: Englander Wins Frank O’Connor Prize; Dagger Awards; And More
Nathan Englander has won the 2012 Frank O’Connor Short Story Award for his collection WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK (Knopf). The Guardian reports the prize money dropped to €25,000 this year from €35,000 in previous years, with funding not yet confirmed for future years. The CWA announced the longlists for three of its Dagger Awards for crime writing as well as the winners in three additional categories: Ellis Peters Historical Dagger: Aly Monroe, ICELIGHT CWA International Dagger: Andrea Camilleri, THE POTTER’S FIELD Dagger in the Library: Steve Mosby In author news finally making way to […]