In a long-overdue move, the two separate PEN chapters in the US — PEN America, based in New York, with over 5,700 members, and PEN Center USA, based in Los Angeles, comprising about 900 members — will merge into a single entity going forward under the PEN America name. Suzanne Nossel, director of the New York office, will lead the newly-combined PEN America, while Michelle Franke will continue to direct the Los Angeles office. The current board of trustees, overseen by Andrew Solomon, will incorporate PEN USA’s board of directors, including chair Marvin Putnam, vp Jamie Wolf, and director Franklin Leonard. […]
Awards
People, Etc.
Penguin Random House announced a number of recent promotions in the sales department. Julie Black has promoted to senior vice president, sales strategic planning, while Tom Cox moves up to svp, mass merchandise & sistributor sales. In addition, Kim Shannon is promoted to svp, retail sales, and Jeff Weber moves up to svp, online & digital sales. Isabelle Bleecker and Jennifer Thompson are launching Nordlyset Literary Agency (which means The Northern Lights in Norwegian), a new agency offering full rights services for independent publishers and agencies, as well as author representation worldwide. Previously they worked together for fifteen years handling […]
Cantu’s The Line Becomes a River Tops February’s Indie Next List
The ABA named Francisco Cantu’s The Line Becomes a River as their No. 1 pick for February. Mira T. Lee’s Everything Here Is Beautiful also makes the list, and is available to sample now in our Buzz Books 2017 Fall/Winter collection. The rest of the picks: The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah How to Stop Time, by Matt Haig An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones I Am, I Am, I Am, by Maggie O’Farrell Only Killers and Thieves, by Paul Howarth Red Clocks, by Leni Zumas Need to Know, by Karen Cleveland Eternal Life, by Dara Horn Heart Berries, by Terese Marie Mailhot […]
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Natalie Grazian has joined Martin Literary & Media Management as associate literary manager. Previously she was a sales representative for Norton. At Putnam, Carolyn Darr and Madeline Schmitz have each been promoted to associate publicist. The LA Times names Kima Jones as a 2018 “literary breakthrough.” She is the founder of Jack Jones Literary Arts, an LA-based book publicity firm that focuses on representing women of color. “With her discerning eye for literature, keen awareness of what makes a successful book in the digital age and drive to empower writers who have been marginalized in publishing, Jones is an important new […]
January Barnes & Noble Picks
Barnes & Noble‘s top fiction list for January joins everyone else in recommended The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (also excerpted and available to sample now in Buzz Books 2017 Fall/Winter). The rest of their picks: Unbound, by Stuart Woods The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Munich, by Robert Harris Fall From Grace, by Danielle Steel Blood Fury, by J.R. Ward Iron Gold, by Pierce Brown Still Me, by Jojo Moyes Fools and Mortals, by Bernard Cornwell The Girls in the Picture, by Melanie Benjamin Blood Sisters, Jane Corry The Largesse of the Sea Maiden, by Denis Johnson Eternal Life, by Dara Horn It Occurs To Me That I Am America, edited by Jonathan Santlofer
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At Random House Children’s, Kristin Schulz has been promoted to manager, school & library marketing. Emily Petrick has been promoted to assistant manager, school & library marketing. Joyce Lin has joined Chronicle Books as food and lifestyle publicist. Previously she was a culinary publicity associate at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. PEN America announced longlists for their 2018 Literary Awards. Prizes include the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize For Debut Fiction, the PEN Open Book Award, the PEN Translation Prize, and four other awards, with ten finalists in each category.