Amazon made a declaration of support for a lawsuit filed by the Washington state attorney general in Federal Court looking to overturn President Trump’s recent executive order limiting immigration from seven countries as unconstitutional. The first state to file suit, Washington is also seeking a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order. Amazon indicated it was aware of 49 US-based employees who are from one of the countries targeted by the president’s order. In an email to employees, ceo Jeff Bezos noted, “We are working other legal options as well.” Bezos told staff, “This executive order is one we do not […]
Free
People
At Picador USA, Anna DeVries has been promoted to executive editor. Susan Hawk will move to Upstart Crow Literary as an agent on February 1. She has been at The Bent Agency. Christina Jeffries has been promoted to vp, director, national accounts, mass merchandise sales at Random House Children’s. Former HarperCollins India publisher V.K. Karthika has joined Westland as publisher. Amazon bought control of the company last October. A spokesperson told HuffPost India she will “head a newly-formed division at Westland, focusing on literary and mainstream fiction and non-fiction.” Oprah Winfrey is returning to network television — as a special contributor to […]
People, Etc.
At Portfolio and Sentinel, Bria Sandford has been promoted to senior editor. Former longtime chairman of Canongate for 22 years (and stepfather of Jamie Byng) Christopher Bland, 78, died on Sunday of prostate cancer. He also had served as chair of the BBC board of governors and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and published two novels in the past few years. The UK’s Women’s Prize for Fiction is looking for a new sponsor after Bailey’s said it had “regretfully decided to make way for a new sponsor” after this year’s award. They took over sponsorship of what had been the Orange Prize in 2014. Chief […]
People, Etc.
At Chronicle Books, Madeline Moe has been promoted to production developer, food and lifestyle. Bernd Leukert has joined the supervisory board of Bertelsmann. He is the executive board member at SAP responsible for products and innovation at SAP. Chairman Christoph Mohn notes in a statement: “He is a digital thought leader with outstanding professional expertise, especially in the areas of innovation management, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. As a member of the executive board of an important global software group, he will be able to give Bertelsmann excellent advice and support in the identification of new opportunities for growth […]
People: Lorena Jones Imprint Ready to Launch, and More
Ten Speed Press formally announced the launch of Lorena Jones Books, the cooking and lifestyle imprint overseen by vp, publisher Lorena Jones, who rejoined the imprint in September 2015 to begin work on the new line. Set to begin publishing in April will publish 6 to 8 titles annually in the areas of cooking, work life, and health. Initial launch titles include Tartine All Day by Elisabeth Prueitt; Peppers of the Americas by Maricel Presilla; and Cheers to the Publican, Repast and Present by Paul Kahan. Ten Speed Press publisher Aaron Wehner said in the announcement. “Shaped by Lorena’s creative vision, […]
People
At Rodale, Susan Turner has been promoted to senior manager of communications and Suzee Skwiot has been promoted to online editor for books and RodaleWellness.com. At Penguin Press, Caitlin O’Shaughnessy has been promoted to assistant marketing director, and Grace Fisher has been promoted to marketing coordinator. At Random House, Barbara Fillon has been promoted to vp, deputy director of media coaching and publicity reporting to Theresa Zoro. Emily Isayeff has been promoted to publicist, and Danielle Siess moves up to social media publicist. Janea Brachfeld is being promoted to trade and special sales manager for Storey Publishing and Timber Press. At Canada’s Joe […]