Earlier this week Michelle Barron, owner of The Book House in St. Louis, learned that the developer who purchased the historic Victorian property where the independent bookstore has been located since 1980 planned to demolish it this coming July and replace the building with an industrial storage facility. But Bill Barron, who represents the Great Northern Developments company that now owns the building, told the St. Louis Dispatch he’s pledging to help Barron find a new home. “We don’t want her on the street,” he said. “We want to work with her.” Barron said the company “is considering several options, […]
Bookstores
People, Etc.
Michael Cairns is joining Publishing Technology as chief operating officer of their online solutions division, replacing Louise Russell. His responsibilities include their pub2web hosting platform and the ingentaconnect portal. Most recently Cairns has been a consultant and served as chief revenue office for SharedBook, focused on their Academic Pub platform. Greenhouse Literary Agency has hired Polly Nolan head up the UK side of their business representing children’s and YA authors. Currently associate publishing director, fiction, at Macmillan UK Children’s, she will start her new job on June 3. Amber Morley has joined Chronicle Books as marketing coordinator for their children’s division. […]
People, Etc.
David Fickling will leave Random House Children’s UK after more than 12 years in order to launch his existing children’s imprint, David Fickling Books, as an independent venture in July. Fickling will be chairman of the new company, and author and editor Simon Mason will take on the role of managing director. The venture will continue to be based in its existing Oxford office and plans to publish 25-30 books a year. After a period of transition, DFB backlist titles, including Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped […]
People: Sontz Takes Over As Powell’s CEO
Powell’s Books longtime chief operating officer Miriam Sontz will take over as the bookseller’s ceo, as Emily Powell relinquishes that title to “step fully into her role as the owner of Powell’s Books, focusing on the stewardship of Powell’s long-term future, health, and vitality.” She wrote in a memo to employees: “In Miriam’s 28 years at Powell’s she has held many roles — from Beaverton store manager to co-CEO. Powell’s owes much of its arc through life to Miriam — to her persistent, loving dedication to Powell’s, to bookselling, and to integrity.” Sontz says, “We are well-positioned to continue efficiencies […]
People: A New Chief Editor for OED
Chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary John Simpson will retire in October 2013, a position he has held since 1993–the seventh OED editor since Sir James Murray’s appointment in 1879. Under his leadership, over 60,000 new words and meanings were added to the dictionary. Time has a lengthy interview with Simpson on his tenure. Current editorial project director Michael Proffitt will take over as chief editor on November 1, and principal etymologist Philip Durkin will move up to join Edmund Weiner as deputy chief editor. Chief executive of Oxford University Press Nigel Portwood said: “John Simpson has made a truly outstanding contribution to […]
Bookselling: Closures, and More
Murder By the Book in Portland, OR has failed to execute a deal with a new buyer so, as warned in January, the store will close for good this Saturday. Co-owner Barbara Tom indicates “several people with good hearts expressed interest,” but nothing was finalized. The Oregonian adds: “Good hearts were everywhere in the weeks leading to the closing. Longtime customers offered to donate money; one sent a care package from California with pocket-sized packs of Kleenex for when the employees needed to cry. Seattle author Kevin O’Brien sent a box of chocolates. Many other authors, local and national, sent […]