Former ceo of Bantam Books Oscar Dystel, 101, “widely acknowledged as one of the great architects of modern trade publishing”, died Wednesday morning. As chief executive and publisher of Bantam from 1954 through 1978 (with another two years as chairman) Dystel was responsible for some of the most successful paperbacks in the 20th century including EXODUS by Leon Uris; JAWS by Peter Benchley; and Jacqueline Susann’s VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. In a statement Random House paid tribute to Dystel as “a mentor and muse for innumerable authors and past and present colleagues of ours throughout publishing. He was a giant, […]
Distribution
People, Etc.
In agency news, Stephanie Kip Rostan has been made at partner at Levine Greenberg, and the agency has officially changed its name to the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She has been with the agency for 13 years. Jim Levine says in the announcement, “We know why Stephanie’s clients love her. She’s smart as can be, with a sense of strategy that is only equaled by her sense of humor.” Daniel Greenberg adds, “She’s both a leader and a team player, and we’re delighted to have her as our partner.” Their web domain is also changing, to lgrliterary.com, but emails to the previous […]
Globe Pequot Press Sold to Rowman & Littlefield
The Globe Pequot Press has been sold to Rowman & Littlefield, for undisclosed terms, by parent company Morris Publishing. R&L has purchased the imprints that published as Globe Pequot Press, Lyons Press, Falcon Guides, Knack, Two Dot, and Insiders’ Guide. Morris Publishing will retain the Milepost, Skirt, Pop Out, and Western Horseman Books imprints, and the U.K.-based Footprint Guides. R&L’s National Book Network will take over distribution of the purchased imprints as well as the retained lines “sometime in August or September.” NBN will also take over sales and distribution responsibilities for Globe Pequot’s own 18 distribution clients. Morris Publishing’s Springfield, TN distribution facility […]
People, Etc.
Jennifer Gonzalez will take on the responsibilities of the open role of vp, adult merchandise sales at Macmillan formerly held by Steve Kleckner. At the same time, Gonzalez will retain her current role as vp, children’s sales — taking the new title of vp, merchandise and children’s sales. President of the sales division Alison Lazarus says, “Jenn has done a phenomenal job with our children’s books for MCPG, Tor and our distribution clients and has already been overseeing sales of those titles into the merchandise channel. Adding our adult books to her role is a natural fit and allows us to have one point of sales management […]
Perseus to Launch Client Services Division for Academic Publishers
Perseus is launching a new client services division, Perseus Academic, dedicated to university presses and other scholarly publishers, under the direction of Sabrina McCarthy. The service, set to begin in May 2015, has already signed on Princeton University Press and University of California Press as new clients, joining such current Perseus Distribution clients as Columbia University Press, among others, which will move into this new division. Perseus Academic will also offer a menu of other service options including the Constellation digital services platform (which comprises print on demand, short print runs, ebook distribution, and various marketing tools). Princeton and the University […]
Corporate News: A Food52 Imprint, F+W Rebrands, Time Home Entertainment Sales Go In-House
Food52, the social website for cooks founded by Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, will set up a cookbook imprint at Ten Speed Press called Food52 Works. Hesser and Stubbs will be involved “in shaping the development and direction” of the line, for which Ten Speed associate publisher Hannah Rahill will be general editor. The initiative delivers on the promise the site made a year ago to “expand our publishing platform through an innovative partnership with Random House Inc.,” after Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments was a significant contributor to a $2 million financing round for Food52. The line expects to publish […]