In July Penguin will debut their newest imprint, Current, focused on science books for general readers. Portfolio and Sentinel president and publisher Adrian Zackheim will have the same titles for Current as well, and the line will share editorial, marketing and publicity staff with Portfolio and Sentinel. They plan to publish five to eight new titles a year. Zackheim comments in the announcement, “Once Current gets ramped up, we aim to publish in every subcategory from genetics to quantum physics to neuroscience.” The first title is a July release by journalist David Stipp, THE YOUTH PILL: Scientists at the Brink […]
New Imprints
Announcements: Imprints
Lerner Publishing’s Carolrhoda Books is launching a young adult line this fall, Carolrhoda Lab. Speaking of young adult books, yesterday’s Automat link to an LAT piece on the rising popularity of YA novels among adult readers was so heavily re-tweeted that it’s worth a separate link. “Authors may gear their novels toward the junior and senior high crowd, but adults are snapping up the books, often about misfit teens or fantasy worlds…. Attracted by well-written, fast-paced and engaging stories that span the gamut of genres and subjects, such readers have mainstreamed a niche long derided as just for kids.” Kris […]
Random House Is Developing Video Games
The Random House Publishing Group has set up a unit to develop video games, first reported in WSJ and then confirmed in a press release, run by director of creative development Keith Clayton and director of business development Mikita Labanok, who report to Del Rey/Spectra publisher Scott Shannon. The announcement says the unit will create “original transmedia intellectual property–story content that can be accessed through multiple media sources including video games, social networks on the web, mobile platforms, in print and on film–that will be developed and marketed in partnerships with other media companies.The group will also offer editorial services […]
People and Companies
Agent Mary Ann Naples, co-owner of The Creative Culture, has joined startup OpenSky (www.theopenskyproject.com) as vp of development, representing the voices of authors and brands at the company. Former Scholastic UK managing director (and then briefly chief executive of the Headline publishing group) Kate Wilson is starting a children’s book publisher, Nosy Crow, launching in January 2011. The company is focusing on both traditional printed books as well as books as electronic apps. Ralph Munsen joins Hachette Book Group today as svp, chief information officer. He was most recently vp, technology at Clear Channel..He will lead HBG’s technology group, and […]
People and Imprints
Michael Campbell joins becker&mayer! in the new position of vp, sales, marketing & new business development. He has previously been director of sales and marketing at three Pacific Northwest publishers: Martingale, Timber Press, and most recently Graphic Arts. Ryan Kelly joins the company as international sales associate (he worked in specialty retail sales for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and Amy Levenson has been promoted to group manager, international sales. Debbie Harmsen joins BenBella Books as editor-in-chief of the general nonfiction line. She has worked for magazines, newspapers and book publishers, most recently editing travel guides at Random House. HCI Books has […]
New Imprints: Grand Central Creates Life & Style, and Rejt Starts Pan Macmillan Line
Grand Central will fold its Springboard Press and Wellness Central lines into a newly-christened Grand Central Life & Style imprint, starting in fall 2010. They will publish eight to 12 titles a year across categories including style (beauty and fashion), food (cooking), body & mind (diet, fitness, self-help, and inspiration), home (organization, design, and green living) and connections (relationships, parenting and pets). Karen Murgolo continues to oversee this publishing, as editorial director of the new line. In the UK, Pan Macmillan publishing director Maria Rejt will run her own imprint, Mantle, which launches in May with Scott Turow’s new book. […]