Tara Gavin has joined Kensington as executive editor. She spent the past 30 years at Harlequin, most recently as senior executive editor. Ron Longe recently started his own boutique PR firm, Ron Longe Public Relations, specializing in food, lifestyle, and illustrated books. He can now be reached at ron@ronlonge.com. He was with Media Masters Publicity for six years. At P.S. Literary Agency, Amanda Schiffmann has been promoted to the newly created role of digital and social Media coordinator. Market Partners International celebrated their 25th anniversary at an event Monday night — and toasted one of the founding partners, Connie Sayre, who […]
Distribution
Paula Deen Books to Return This Fall, Distributed By HBG
Paula Deen returns to book publishing this fall, issuing her titles through Paula Deen Ventures, the company she launched in early 2014 with backing from Najafi Media. The company announced an agreement with Hachette Book Group to sell and distribute her titles throughout the world. The first planned new title is Deen Cuts the Fat, for publication September 8, and PDV plans reissues of at least some of Deen’s previous titles, including The Lady & Sons, A Savannah Country Cookbook, and The Lady & Sons, Too! Deen tells People Magazine the book has “200 amazing light recipes.” She notes, “I cut the calories […]
Announcements: Quarto Buys Ivy; Maya Angelou Postage Stamp; Kindle Scout Launch List; and More
Quarto Publishing has agreed to acquire The Ivy Press for up to £1.3 million plus the assumption of up to £200,000 of debt, pending approval from the press’s lender. The unit will become part of Quarto’s international co-editions division. Founded in 1996, Ivy Press has been distributed by Thames & Hudson since 2012. Co-founder and co-owner Jenny Manstead used to work for Quarto, and is married to one of Quarto’s non executive directors, Bob Morley. Manstead says, “This is exactly the right move for Ivy at the right time. Becoming part of Quarto gives us a solid, secure platform from which to develop our publishing program with […]
People, Etc.
Kirkus Media has promoted chief operating officer Meg LaBorde Kuehn to the newly created position of ceo, continuing to report to president and publisher Mark Winkleman and co-owner Herb Simon. Winkleman said in the announcement: “It’s been five years since Herb Simon and I bought Kirkus Media, and no one has been more important to the company’s turn-around than Meg. [She] has been an extraordinary leader for Kirkus, someone who inspires our staff and brings innovative ideas that have rejuvenated an 82-year-old institution in publishing.” At Yale University Press London, publisher for trade books Heather McCallum will take over as […]
Sterling to Move Distribution to Donnelley
RR Donnelley announced Tuesday in what looks like a standard press release a multi-year agreement to provide warehousing, distribution and book fulfillment services to Sterling Publishing, with no indication of when that agreement begins. The significant news is not in the announcement: Sterling has run its own warehouse and distribution services up until now, so presumably their longstanding distribution center in Edison, NJ will be vacated, and current Sterling warehouse and distribution jobs are likely on the line. Sterling leases approximately 230,000 square feet of distribution center capacity at their New Jersey facility, and the publisher had continued to run their own distribution, […]
People, Etc.
In the UK, Foyle’s ceo Sam Husain, 67, will retire in April, the Bookseller reports. Former toy retailer Hamley’s coo Paul Currie will take over the leadership for the bookseller, and Husain will stay on as a non-executive director. Also in the UK, Kieron Smith, who had been managing director of bookseller Book Depository before its sale to Amazon, has been hired by Blackwell’s as digital director, starting in February. He fills the slot vacated by Matthew Cashmore. Smith’s recent project, the online Best Little Bookshop, has closed. Hanna Masaryk is joining Greenburger Associates as children’s/YA scout. She was previously an agency assistant at Curtis […]