Tina Pohlman will join Open Road on March 5 as publisher, filling the position vacated by Brendan Cahill last year, though the job itself has expanded with company’s recent hiring of multiple editorial specialists. She’ll report to ceo Jane Friedman and is charged with “lead[ing] Open Road’s editorial services, expansion into new verticals, and acquisition of new titles.” Friedman says the company has published over 2,000 titles since April 2010, and under Pohlman and the expanded editorial staff they will add “a minimum of 1,000” more titles by the end of 2012. Pohlman was formerly publisher of trade paperbacks at Crown. She […]
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Robie Rogge, who has spent 42 years “generating income for The Metropolitan Museum of Art through innovative publishing and new lines of products, such as Color Magic and Flash from the Past Flashdrives,” is setting up her own company to help other clients in developing new products, reinventing existing ones, and extending successful lines. At Little, Brown Children’s, Elizabeth Bewley has been promoted to senior editor. She joined their Poppy imprint in 2008. In the UK, Dan Shepherd will Hachette Children’s Books on May 1 as deputy managing editor, a newly created position within the company. He has been group sales […]
eNews: Bedford Square, Nelson, Book Baby and Author House
Ed Victor’s Bedford Square Books–which has been controversial for splitting proceeds with its authors rather than just taking a standard agency commission–already has its first success story. Tesco buyer Garry Blackman read about Bedford Square’s plan to publish Louise Fennell‘s debut novel DEAD RICH in the Evening Standard and asked to see the manuscript. The chain placed an order “understood to be taking tens of thousands of copies” and Victor sold the rights to Simon & Schuster UK (after reportedly having been rejected by 17 publishers in his original submission). Evening Standard In a follow-up post, agent Kristin Nelson clarified […]
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Betsy Mitchell will work for Open Road as strategic advisor for sci-fi and fantasy, and will “spearhead” their acquisition and publishing of backlist sci-fi and fantasy titles. Mitchell retired from her position as editor-in-chief at Ballantine Bantam Dell’s Del Rey Spectra in December. She started her own editorial services company. At Norton, Alane Mason has been promoted to vp, executive editor. She has been an editor for the company since 1999. Barnaby Dawe, marketing communications director at News International, is moving over to corporate sibling Harper UK, in the new position of chief marketing officer. He will report to Victoria […]
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Tin House Books editor and associate publisher Lee Montgomery is “leaving to pursue independent book projects and resume her own writing career.” She has been with Tin House enterprises since 2001. Editor-in-chief and publisher of Tin House magazine Win McCormack and magazine editor since Tin House’s inception in 1999 Rob Spillman will oversee the book program during the transition. The company promises that Tin House Books “will continue and expand its commitment to publishing the high-quality and unique books for which it has become known.” Loren Chaves will join Simon & Schuster on January 17 as national account manager for Levy […]
People: Chase, Farley, Ditlow, Deen and More
Farley Chase has formed Chase Literary Agency after nearly eight years as a literary agent with the Waxman Literary Agency. He will continue to represent the foreign rights for The Waxman Literary Agency. Former president and publisher of Macmillan Children’s Dan Farley is joining education technology platform startup SwoopThat as a principal and evp, business development. SwoopThat aims to increase textbook affordability for students and enhance college bookstore revenues by helping them adjust to the quickly changing coursebook market. “This is a venture that can, proverbially, make a difference. And, it’s fresh, exciting, and full of opportunity,” Farley said in note to colleagues. He […]