Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, 82, “one of Africa’s most widely read novelists and one of the continent’s towering men of letters,” died after a brief illness, according to agent Andrew Wylie. His THINGS FALL APART is said to have sold over 8 million copies and been published in more than 50 languages. HarperCollins svp, publishing transformation Carolyn Pittis is leaving the company on March 29 after more than two decades to work as a private change management consultant. In her time at Harper Pittis served a number of roles, from book production, managing editorial, business development, and sales to consumer forecasting and supply chain management, […]
Awards
People, Etc.
Anthony Mattero has joined Foundry Literary + Media as an agent. Previously he worked with with Vigliano Associates and west-coast based literary and talent agency, Renaissance. Benjamin Alire Saenz has won the PEN/Faulkner Award for his short story collection EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS AT THE KENTUCKY CLUB (Cinco Puntes Press). Saenz will receive the $15,000 prize at an awards ceremony in Washington DC on May 4. Books editor at the Kansas City Star from 2000-2009 John Mark Eberhart, 52, died March 19 after a long bout with cancer. Eberhart also published two volumes of poetry, NIGHT WATCH and BROKEN TIME. […]
People, Etc.
Andrew Duncan will join Grand Central on March 25 as associate director, online marketing, reporting to Emi Battaglia. Duncan was most recently senior marketing manager at Viking. Megan Perritt joins Crown as senior publicist. She was previously a publicist at F&W Media. In addition, Rebecca Marsh has been named publicist, moving from Simon & Schuster. In the wake of Mark Suchomel’s abrupt departure earlier this month after more than 15 years as company president, IPG has made a number of changes to its senior management. Jeff Tegge has been promoted to executive vice president, where he will continue to coordinate […]
People, Etc.
Confirmed via Twitter though not officially announced yet by the ABA, Anthony Marra‘s debut novel A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA from Hogarth will be the No. 1 Indie Next pick for May. Marra was among the authors appearing at Winter Institute 8 and you can read a 20-page excerpt from the beginning of his book right now in the current edition of our packed free ebook BUZZ BOOKS 2013: Spring/Summer. It also includes a sample from No. 1 Indie Next April book Kate Atkinson’s LIFE AFTER LIFE, another April pick (Aleksandr Hemon’s The Book of My Lives), and more highly-touted […]
Awards: Story Prize, Man Asian, American Academy Honors, and the UK’s New Folio Prize
National Book Foundation “5 under 35” honoree Claire Vaye Watkins has claimed two new honors in the same week. She prevailed over Dan Chaon and Junot Diaz to win the Story Prize for her book BATTLEBORN, and she is also is receiving the American Academy of Arts and Letters award given to “a young writer of considerable literary talent for a work published in 2012.” The Academy named 19 recipients in all of a total of $175,000 in literature prizes this year. A new E.B. White Award for achievement in children’s literature has been given to author of TUCK EVERLASTING, […]
People, Awards, Etc.
Edward Necarsulmer IV and Eleanor Jackson have joined Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Necarsulmer was previously an agent at MacIntosh & Otis, and will focus on representing middle grade, YA, and adult literary fiction. Jackson was most recently an agent at Markson Thoma, which last week saw partner Geri Thoma move to Writers House. The UK’s Carnegie Medal for children’s literature features a powerhouse shortlist that includes Costa winner Sally Gardner, Printz winner Nick Lake and medalist Elizabeth Wein: THE WEIGHT OF WATER, Sarah Crossan A GREYHOUND OF A GIRL, Roddy Doyle MAGGOT MOON, Sally Gardner IN DARKNESS, Nick Lake WONDER, […]