Following the success of their line of Poetry Speaks books, Sourcebooks is moving to dominate–and more importantly grow–the poetry “vertical” with their PoetrySpeaks.com web site. While the beta version of the site has just launched, it represents over five years of development work and an estimated $250,000 of investment from Sourcebooks. As ceo Dominique Raccah says, “When I did Poetry Speaks [the book] I honestly didn’t know if I was going to sell 2,000, 20,000 or 200,000 copies. What I see as an entrepreneur is that engagement drives sales. And if we get people excited and participating, we’ll find a […]
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Dyssegaard New Hyperion EIC and More People News
Executive Editor of Smithsonian Books Elisabeth Dyssegaard will join Hyperion as editor-in-chief on November 16, reporting to Ellen Archer. Archer says in the announcement, “Given Elisabeth’s history of acquiring terrific fiction and narrative nonfiction, and her ability to collaborate with offsite partners, she’s a perfect fit for Hyperion and our multi-platform publishing program.” Dyssegaard adds, “I love the wide-ranging nature of the list and own food-spattered copies of most of the cookbooks. I have long admired the company’s ability to make bestsellers, and I look forward to working with such a dynamic and enormously talented team.” TechCrunch reports that an […]
Seattle's Bailey-Coy Books to Close Shortly
Owner of Baily-Coy Michael Wells told staff on Saturday that the store will close at the end of November after selling off stock. In a press release he notes: “This has not been an easy decision for us. We have struggled, along with independent bookstores across the country, for the last decade to keep our bookstore profitable and healthy. The economic downturn of the past year, combined with the rapidly changing world of bookselling, has led us to believe that this is the most responsible decision.” They add that “the recent news that Elliott Bay Book Company is considering moving […]
People and Awards
At Rodale Books, Julie Will has been promoted to executive editor. He projects include having overseen their Biggest Loser books. Columbia University Press has hired Richard Gehringer as cfo. He spent over two decades at Oxford University Press, rising to svp and cfo, and more recently he has been Controller for The New York Foundation for the Arts. Publishing Technology has hired Martin Borbone and Anna Lister Cheese for their client management team, in the US and UK respectively. Liaquat Ahamed‘s LORDS OF FINANCE: 1929, The Great Depression, and the Bankers Who Broke the World won the Financial Times and […]
Steve Rubin to Lead Holt
Former Doubleday Broadway publisher and then publisher-at-large for Random House Inc. Steve Rubin will take over as president and publisher of Henry Holt on November 2, reporting to Macmillan ceo John Sargent. Dan Farley, who has run Holt since early 2008, will focus exclusively on his other job as president and publisher of the recently-formed Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, also still reporting to Sargent. Sargent says in the announcement: “I have long admired Steve and what he has accomplished at Doubleday. He is a rare publishing talent. With Holt’s long and prestigious history and Steve’s remarkable taste and track record […]
People and Distribution News
At the Simon & Schuster imprint, both Kerri Kolen and Sarah Hochman have been promoted to senior editor. Both started at S&S as editorial assistants, Kolen in 2002 and Hochman in 2004. As publisher David Rosenthal notes, “That each has risen through the ranks here is a tribute to the strength of this imprint, and its collegiality. It is also, of course, a recognition of the diligence and creativity of Kerri and Sarah – I am very proud of their growth as editors and publishers, their contributions to our list.” At Adams Media, Chelsea King is moving over to become […]