Following yesterday’s news of severe staff reductions at Key Porter Books, chairman of parent company HB Fenn confirmed that 11 of 17 employees have been laid off–with the just one editor remaining, editor-in-chief Linda Pruessen. Fenn said in an interview, “We acquired Key Porter in July 2004 and over the years have invested financially and administratively in trying to developing a publishing program that is profitable. But looking at the fiscal year that began May 1, we’re not seeing that improvement. It’s come to the point where we can no longer support the current structure at Key Porter the size […]
International News
People, Etc.: Reichl Joins Random House As Editor-at-Large, and More
Former Gourmet Magazine editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl is joining Random House as an editor-at-large (and has sold three books to the house, to be edited by Susan Kamil). Noting that she “published a wide variety of writers who explored every aspect of food, from recipes to politics to culture” at Gourmet, the announcement says she will continue to acquire and edit “established and debuting authors who are expanding our food horizons.” At HarperCollins, Christine Maddalena has been promoted to senior publicist. Founder of Questia Media Troy Williams has joined Macmillan in the new position of vp and general manager, new ventures, […]
Canada’s Key Porter Books Lays Off 15, Closes Toronto Office
The National Post reports that Canadian imprint Key Porter Books “is drastically downscaling its operations” dismissing a “reported 15 or so employees” yesterday and transferring others to parent company HB Fenn’s offices in Bolton, Ontario. The line is closing their Toronto office. Now-former head of special and corporate sales Paula Sloss tells the paper, “Business has been very challenging right across the board for all publishers right now. There was concern. But it was a shock that it happened today, and a shock that it was so abrupt.” As they write, Key Porter “has traditionally been strong in Canadian-oriented non-fiction.”Article
People, Etc.
The Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association has hired Deborah Leonard as their new executive director, taking over from Jim Dana, who is retiring (and plans to work for the Peace Corps in Lesotho). Leonard was most recently a sales manager at Cengage Learning, and started her publishing career as a bookseller in Nashville, TN for ZIbart’s. Penguin UK digital publisher Jeremy Ettinghausen is leaving, to become a creative director at the advertising agency BBH. This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will include a Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon. Copyright Clearance Center has expanded its European presence and opened a […]
People, Etc.
Colleen Martin has joined the Johnson Literary Agency as rights manager. Nielsen has launched BookScan in India, estimating that they are covering “over 50 percent of organized book sales” there to start. It’s the tenth territory in which they operate a book sales tracking service, joining the US, UK, Australia, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and Denmark. Ingram Publisher Services announced that they will distribute for Zondervan, serving their field sales, gift and special market accounts starting November 1.
People, Distribution, Etc.
Black Dog & Leventhal has signed with the new Abrams and Chronicle Books London-based distribution service for export sales in the UK, Ireland, European export, Japan, Korea and “several other international markets” starting on January 1, 2011. Separately, they have signed with Murdoch Books for sales and distribution in Australia, also as of January 1. (They have been using Scribo/Bookwise in Australia.) At Bellevue Press, Erika Goldman has been promoted to publisher and editorial director, and Leslie Hodgkins has moved up to associate editor.