Obits

NPR Books editor Petra Mayer, 46, died suddenly on Saturday at Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland, of what is believed to have been a pulmonary embolism. Described by colleagues as “a proud nerd,” Mayer shared with listeners her love of science fiction, comics and cats. Nancy Barnes, NPR’s senior vice president for news, wrote in an email to staff, “Petra was NPR through and through. To say that Petra will be missed simply seems inadequate.” Novelist Wilbur Smith, 88, died on November 13 in his home in Cape Town, South Africa. The Zambia-born author of 49 novels, his books have […]

Semiotext(e) founder Sylvère Lotringer (83) died on Monday following a long illness. A critic and theorist who was born in Paris and taught French literature and philosophy at Columbia for 35 years, he began Semiotext(e) in 1974 as a scholarly journal. As an independent publisher, it is known for introducing French theory to American readers.

Victress Literary founder Shannon Orso, 41, died on September 25. Senior agent Lizz Nagle wrote, “She was our fierce defender, our best friend, our neon light. Victress exists because of her vision. It grew because of her heart.”

Former marketing and publicity specialist John Hitchin, 88, who spent three decades at Penguin Books, has died.

Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, 81, died on Wednesday of a brief non-Covid related illness. He was the illustrator of more than 100 books and received a Caldecott Honor five times, as well as the Caldecott Medal in 2010 for The Lion and the Mouse. “Jerry’s indefatigable attention to, and love of his craft was unmatched, and he never stopped asking for his work to be pushed and challenged,” said Megan Tingley, executive vice president and publisher at his publisher, Little Brown Children’s. “Everyone he worked with was touched by his infectious delight in the act of creation, which never […]

Three-time Newbery Honor–⁠winning author of Hatchet, Gary Paulsen died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 82. Inspired by a sense of adventure, including two Iditarod runs, he was the author of more than 200 books, which have sold more than 35 million copies. Farrar Straus Children’s will publish his final novel, Northwind, in January. “Gary was a legitimately good dude,” Macmillan Children’s vp, executive director of publicity Molly Ellis said. “In addition to being a world-class storyteller and adventurer, he was also an incredibly thoughtful and gracious person, and we all felt so lucky to work with him.” Evelyn […]