Editor-in-chief of Ace and Roc Books Ginjer Buchanan announced that she will retire in March 2014, exactly 30 years after she was hired by the Berkley Publishing Group, now a division of Penguin Random House. Berkley president and publisher Leslie Gelbman notes: “During her thirty years with Ace and Roc, Ginjer was essential in growing our science fiction and fantasy list and launching the careers of several bestselling authors. Her love for the genre and books in general and dedication to her authors is unparalleled, and she’s a key reason Ace/Roc is one of the preeminent science fiction-fantasy publishers.” Cara Bedick has joined […]
Distribution
Penguin Random House Will Close the Two Penguin Warehouses By June 2015
Penguin Random House leaders Markus Dohle and Madeline McIntosh announced Wednesday afternoon that the company will “regrettably” close two of their four current warehouse/operations centers by June 2015, in Pittston, PA and Kirkwood, NY. They describe it as part of “the difficult, yet necessary, decisions we have made regarding our future warehouse network.” “Additionally, several support and distribution functions for Penguin currently performed in Pearson’s Cranbury, and Old Tappan, NJ offices will be relocated during this same time frame, as will Penguin’s Inside Sales department.” As a result, all US fulfillment operations will be merged into the Westminster, MD and […]
Specialty Distributor HDA Suspends Business to Restructure
St. Louis-based specialty distributor of books and magazines HDA Inc. has abruptly suspended business, apparently due to a credit squeeze. Many book publishers use the company for distribution to such retailers as Lowe’s Home Improvement (where they are the exclusive category manager for books, magazines and maps); Menard’s hardware stores; Bed Bath and Beyond; Michael’s; Dollar General and other stores. They distribute magazines to those outlets as well, and also publish their own home plan books and magazines. Reportedly, employees were locked out on Monday and given letters indicating their employment was terminated. HDA ceo Bob Ketterer told consultant Linda […]
People
On the events calendar, the Association of American Publishers announced some of the speakers for their annual meeting on March 19 in New York, focused on The Next Chapter in Protecting IP: Policy, Disruption, Innovation and Sustainability. Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Rep. Jerry Nadler will discuss Congress’s first comprehensive review of copyright law since 1976 with AAP ceo Tom Allen. Author Jaron Lanier will speak, as will Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey, with a keynote speaker still to be named. Kim Hovey has been promoted to svp, deputy publisher for Ballantine […]
People, Etc.
At Crown Archetype, Mary Choteborsky has been promoted to senior editor. At Touchstone, Lauren Spiegel has been promoted to senior editor. At Holt, Allison Adler has been promoted to associate editor and Leslie Brandon has moved up to publicity manager. Elsewhere at Macmillan, Kelsey Albertson has been promoted to sales coordinator, and Hannah Braaten is now assistant editor. At The Lisa Ekus Group, Sally Ekus has been promoted to agency manager. Penguin Random House chairman John Makinson speaks to The Times of India about the merged company. Asked, “What does that scale allow you to do?,” he answers: “It puts us […]
People, Etc.
In the Random House Special Markets Group, Christine Dillon has been promoted to senior sales director, premium and proprietary sales. Cathy Serpico moves up to imprint sales manager, and Lauren Helman has been promoted to sales manager, specialty retail. At Transatlantic Literary Agency, Stephanie Sinclair and Amy Tompkins have been promoted to associate agent. The Oscar nominations were announced Thursday morning. Among the book-based films in contention for top honors, Philomena, 12 Years A Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street were all nominated for best picture, and Dirty Wars is nominated for best documentary. Also announced Thursday morning were […]