Publisher of the Red Wheel/Weiser imprints since November 2000 Jan Johnson is stepping aside from day-to-day management responsibilities to become publisher emerita. Johnson says, “I’ve worked in book publishing since 1972, which kind of seems like the dark ages now. There have been so many exciting and unforeseeable changes over the past four decades. I’m looking forward to discovering new ways of doing things and finding new projects to pursue.” President Michael Kerber “will be taking a more direct role in the publishing program, along with Caroline Pincus and Greg Brandenburgh, associate publishers, who will continue and expand their roles […]
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Douglas Preston’s Authors United is taking their complaints over Amazon’s negotiation tactics with Hachette to the etailer’s board of directors, which accomplishes the primary goal of putting authors’ objections back in the headlines. The new letter notes: “Russell Grandinetti of Amazon has stated that the company was ‘forced to take this step because Hachette refused to come to the table.’ He has also claimed that ‘authors are the only leverage we have.’ …Amazon was not ‘forced’ to do anything. This is an obvious fact. We all have choices. Amazon chose to involve 2,500 Hachette authors and their books. It could […]
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Simon & Schuster Australia managing director Lou Johnson has resigned from the company in order to “seek challenges in her career outside of Simon & Schuster, and potentially beyond the traditional publishing environment,” the company said in the announcement, though she will stay “for the foreseeable future” to ensure a smooth transition as a search for her successor begins. Johnson joined S&S Australia in 2008 and has been managing director for the past four years, during which time responsibility for Australia shifted from the US to Simon & Schuster UK. CEO of S&S UK and International Ian Chapman said: “Lou and her […]
People: New CEO for Andrews McMeel, and More
Andrews McMeel Universal has hired Andy Sareyan as president and CEO, effective November 3, reporting to chairman John McMeel and vice chairman Hugh Andrews. After relocating to Kansas City, Sareyan will oversee all AMU operations, comprising Universal Uclick, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and AMUSE. Sareyn was most recently president of National Journal Group and executive vice president at Atlantic Media. Prior to that he was president and chief brand officer at Meredith Corporation, after 18 years to Time Inc. in positions including president of Entertainment Weekly and founding publisher of Real Simple. McMeel says in the announcement, “His exceptional experience and understanding of the worlds […]
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At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Jenica Nasworthy has been promoted to assistant managing editor. Ireland-based eBook distributor ePub Direct has opened a New York office, where they have hired Leana Rivera as account manager. She was at Penguin Random House Children’s. Fantasy author Graham Joyce, 59, died Tuesday from complications of lymphoma. His most recent novel was THE GHOST IN THE ELECTRIC BLUE SUIT, published by Doubleday last month.
People: Wolff Starts HMH Business Line, Richter Turns Agent, and More
Rick Wolff will join Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on September 15 as senior executive editor, to launch a line of business books. The founder of Warner Business books and then the Business Plus imprint at Grand Central (until it was eliminated earlier this year) will edit and publish approximately 10-15 titles per year. HMH general interest publisher Bruce Nichols says in the announcement, ““I have long wanted to expand our business publishing here at HMH, and Rick is the perfect person to lead that effort. His experience is unparalleled, and his track record speaks for itself.” Co-founder of start-up Ruckus Media […]