HarperCollins has unceremoniously realigned Ecco and its leadership. Founder of Ecco in 1971 and president and publisher since it joined HarperCollins in 1999 Daniel Halpern “will be transitioning” to editor-at-large “immediately.” Ecco will “be more closely integrated into the Harper Group” with vp and editorial director Helen Atsma overseeing the imprint and reporting to svp and publisher Jonathan Burnham. Halpern will “continue to edit a number of his longstanding authors.” Burnham writes, “Under Dan’s direction, Ecco has grown into one of the most respected imprints in the industry: a byword for literary distinction and editorial integrity.” At Quarto, Polly Powell […]
Bookstores
Daunt Says Digital Audio Platform and Improved Distribution Are On the Way
On Friday afternoon, Barnes & Noble ceo James Daunt engaged in a video conversation with BISG executive director Brian O’Leary as part of the organization’s virtualized annual meeting. Some of Daunt’s most interesting remarks came at the end of the session, responding to audience questions. He acknowledged that the chain is far behind in playing a role in digital audio, and is working to catch up: “We should have an audio proposition…. We’ve done a lot of work on it, and we need to launch it and have it fully operational…. It has to be as good as the industry […]
People, Etc.: Howard to Retire from Doubleday
Gerald Howard, vice president, executive editor, Doubleday, is retiring at the end of the year, after working at the house since 1998. Publisher and editor-in-chief of Doubleday Bill Thomas, writes, “Gerry has decided to spend more time with his wonderful wife, Susanne, travel and work on his biography of the legendary editor Malcolm Cowley for Penguin Press, which, amusingly to some of us, is overdue.” Thomas adds, “‘Legendary editor’ is an appellation that applies to Gerry just as well. The range and quality of the books he has edited, published and championed over his forty-six-year career is simply breathtaking…. He […]
People, Etc.
Andrea Joyce has joined Duckworth Books to handle its North American rights sales. She was most recently rights director at Canongate. Shanna Hogan, journalist and true crime author of books including Dancing With Death and Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story, died on September 1, following a tragic accident. (She suffered brain damage after stumbling, hitting her head and falling into the family’s pool last week.) Hogan was working on a new book at the time of her death. Her editor Charles Spicer said “Shanna Hogan was an intrepid journalist, a talented writer, a natural podcast star – and an […]
People, Etc.
Dawn Davis, founder and publisher of 37 Ink, is leaving Simon & Schuster to become editor in chief of Bon Appetit magazine. She succeeds Adam Rappaport, who resigned in June after photos surfaced of him in an offensive Halloween costume in 2004. Canadian independent publishers ECW Press and Annick Press will begin a partnership in January, in which majority ownership of Annick Press will transition over five years from publisher Rick Wilks to ECW co-publisher David Caron. The companies will “remain separate entities, with staff, brands, finances, and editorial mandates unchanged, but will embark on a new collaboration between the […]
People, Etc.
Will Murphy has joined the ghostwriting and publishing services firm Kevin Anderson & Associates as senior executive editor-at-large. He was previously executive editor at Random House. Kim Daly has been promoted to copy chief at Workman Publishing. Awards Dutch author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld‘s The Discomfort of Evening (Graywolf) won the International Booker Prize. At 29, they are the youngest author to ever win the prize. They will split the £50,000 prize with translator Michele Hutchison. Bookselling The Barnes & Noble store in Roxbury, NJ closed yesterday after 26 years, as part of a redevelopment of the mall where they were housed. […]