Annette Pollert-Morgan joins Bloomsbury Children’s as editorial director. She was editorial director at Sourcebooks Fire. Distribution Hopkins Fulfillment Services, a distributor for university presses and non-profit institutions, will begin distributing Wesleyan University Press in January 2019. Ingram Publisher Services will distribute science fiction and fantasy publisher Grim Oak Press. Bookselling Tara Goldberg-DeLeo and Kristy Bodnar have purchased the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA near Pittsburgh. They plan to expand the children’s section and increase the store’s online presence. Run for Cover Books & Cafe is set to open in San Diego, CA later this year. Bronx River Books will […]
Bookstores
People, Etc.
At Workman Children’s, Pam Bobowicz joins as senior editor; previously she was with Abrams. Maria Elias joins as associate art director; previously she was with Disney Publishing Worldwide. Katie Saunoris will join Penguin Random House Canada in the newly created position of director, communications, reporting to report to Beth Lockley, vp, marketing and communications. She was most recently manager, communications and media relations for Soulpepper Theatre Company in NYC. Rachel Diebel has been promoted to assistant editor at St. Martin’s. Karen Auerbach, director of publicity at Kensington, will be leaving on August 16 after 11 years with the company to pursue “new adventures.” In the […]
Barnes & Noble’s Second Time Explaining, Any More Charming?
Barnes & Noble chairman Len Riggio spoke with the NYT as well as the WSJ (which we covered on Friday). We know what you think about how these reports sound, worried that the bookseller is “mired in a leadership crisis” and that the turnaround now rests on Riggio’s “‘5,000’ ideas for how to lure customers back to Barnes & Noble.” But as bad as these interviews might sound to you, financial markets are unfazed: The stock inched up Friday and again this morning. (That might also be telling us something is underway that we don’t know about yet.) The NYT […]
Riggio and Mantel Try to Mollify Publishers; CEO Search Could Go to Year-End
Barnes & Noble’s executive chairman and largest shareholder Len Riggio had some private meetings with top publishing executives in the wake of the abrupt dismissal of ceo Demos Parneros, the WSJ reports. Chief merchandising officer Timothy Mantel joined Riggio at the meetings, and he is seen as “on the rise at the company, the people said.” (Remember that the last ceo search was not a real search at all; in fact all but one of the recent ceos has been an internal promotion: Parneros was hired in as chief operating officer while the search was underway, and then promoted to ceo. […]
People, Etc.
MacGregor Literary, run by Chip MacGregor, now operates as MacGregor & Luedeke. Amanda Luedeke, who has worked with MacGregor for ten years, becomes a partner in the agency. Barnes & Noble filed a general release and waiver with the SEC outlining the termination terms for retiring chief digital officer Fred Argir. (who receives cash severance of $500,000 over the next year, along with other benefits). Bookselling Hudson Group has won the contract for the expanded and “reimagined” Terminal B at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which will open in stages beginning this fall. That contract includes partnering with New York bookstore McNally Jackson, […]
Bookselling Round-Up, and More
On Indigo’s investor call, cfo Hugues Simard clarified that they had a total of 16 superstores under renovation in the just-reported quarter. Two renovations were completed in that period, and another 12 will be finished “between now and November.” Additionally, the timeline on their first US store in Short Hills, NJ has slid just a little. Previously pointed towards opening in “late August, early September,” now, “It’ll be most probably a late-September opening.” As Ann Arbor bookseller Aunt Agatha’s, prepares to close on August 31 after 26 years of operation, owners Robin and Jamie Agnew “weren’t expecting [the] outpouring of support […]