Nicole de Jackmo has been named publicity manager for Quirk Books. Previously she was a senior publicist for Running Press. Meghan Cassidy joins Free Press as senior publicist as of Monday, August 15. Previously she was a senior account executive at Widmeyer Communications. Joy Aquilino has joined Sixth&Spring Books as editorial director. Previously she was executive editor of Watson-Guptill/Potter Craft. At Phaidon Press, Peter Tittiger has been promoted to publicist. At Lonely Planet, Gary Todoroff has been promoted to v-p, sales, Brice Gosnell moves up to v-p, publishing, and publisher, Americas, Marc Visnick has been promoted to director of sales, […]
New Imprints
People: Welby and Martin to Run Putnam & Riverhead Publicity Departments
Alexis Welby will join Putnam as director of publicity and Jynne Martin has been named director of publicity for Riverhead, as part of “a new strategic publicity structure that focuses on the editorial strengths of each imprint” and creates two separate publicity teams. Welby was most recently associate director of publicity for Simon & Schuster, and Martin was associate director of publicity for the Random House Publishing Group. Both start on September 6, reporting to executive director of publicity Marilyn Ducksworth. Mih-Ho Cha will remain senior publicity director for both imprints, while Michael Barson will move into a new role as senior […]
Monacelli Press Buys Back Its Independence
Publisher and founder of The Monacelli Press Gianfranco Monacelli has led a buyback of the publisher of visual arts, design, and architecture books from Random House, which purchased the unit in early 2008. Terms were not disclosed, but Monacelli will become a sales and distribution client of Random House Publisher Services. Monacelli says in the release that his line’s sales “more than doubled” in the three years it was part of Random House. “As an independent company once again, we look forward to continuing to expand our distinctive and individualized publishing program.” The press’s staff will continue to use the […]
Rosetta Launches New Line of eBook Originals
Rosetta Books is launching a Crimescape digital imprint, featuring short-form true crime writing from established authors. They are starting with six titles, adding at least two new titles a month. All titles will be Kindle exclusives for one year. Running 10,000 to 20,000 words, the initial selections are all priced at $2.99. Founder of CrimeLibrary.com Marilyn Bardsley is overseeing the line for Rosetta, “focusing on writers she has worked with over the years” but also open to submissions. Rosetta founder Arthur Klebanoff sees it as “example of how an original ebook line can be established in an area of traditional […]
People: Sarah Odedina to Start New UK Children’s Publisher for Bonniers
Longtime publishing director of Bloomsbury Children’s in the UK Sarah Odedina will become managing director of “an entirely new children’s publishing company” in London as part of Bonnier Publishing. The line will launch in late 2011 or early 2012, focusing on children’s fiction across all age brackets. CEO of Bonnier Publishing Richard Johnson says in the announcement, “Bonnier is committed to grow in the English language and lead the way in quality children’s publishing and we could have wished for no one better than Sarah, one of the UK’s leading children’s publishers, to head this new initiative.” Odedina adds, “I […]
International News: PA and IPG Want to Block Amazon/Book Depository Merger; Competition Commission on the Pearson/REDGroup Case; and More
As expected, the UK Publishers Association and Independent Publishers Guild are asking the government to block Amazon’s purchase of The Book Depository, calling for a wider public investigation into the competition between the online and bricks and mortar bookselling market. What’s less expected is that their request is a joint one, which PA ceo Richard Mollet said in a statement “reflects the strength of feeling among publishing companies that the OFT should block this merger.” Bookseller Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct an ‘informal review’ of Pearson’s proposed acquisition of REDGRoup Retail’s online business. The closing […]