NetGalley launched a mobile app for Apple and Android for the first time. At the same time, they formally added audiobooks to their service as well. The Readium-based app allows for DRM for ebooks, but DRM is currently not available for audiobook files. The app serves as a reader for downloaded ebooks and plays the newly-available audiobooks. The app also “adds further support for various types of content (including highly illustrated books).” NetGalley continues to support its previous methods of downloading and reading ebooks as well. Colson Whitehead has won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, the youngest […]
Obits
Celebrating Carolyn Reidy
On Wednesday afternoon there was a virtual memorial celebration of the late Carolyn Reidy, with remarks from her husband Stephen as well as Adam Rothberg, Jonathan Karp, Michael Selleck and Susan Moldow from Simon & Schuster, plus Lisa Lucas, Joe Kanon, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Stephen Rubin, and Hillary Clinton. The recorded service can be viewed on YouTube. In a timely reminder, Clinton noted: “Books were her passion, her career, and the great love of her life, second only to her devoted husband Stephen. She knew that the right book in the right hands can be and often was life changing. […]
People, Etc.
Kim Brown has joined Welbeck Publishing Group as vice president, sales & marketing for North America. She was most recently president, North America for Parragon Books. Obituaries Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 55, Spanish author of novels including The Shadow of the Wind, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles of colon cancer. Luigi Spagnol, 59, publisher of Gruppo editoriale Mauri Spagnol, died on June 14 after a long illness. The publisher writes, “Luigi Spagnol felt a profound respect for writers and readers, and never lost a chance to prove it with words of appreciation for all those who are […]
People, Etc.
At Bloomsbury UK, Alexis Kirschbaum has been promoted to associate publisher. Alison Hennessey becomes publishing director. Rowan Yapp has been promoted to publishing director of the illustration list, while Emma Herdman becomes publishing director with a focus on literary and commercial. Ileene Smith, previously vice president and executive editor at Farrar, Straus, is now serving as an editor at large for the house. She will continue to acquire and work with selected authors. Andrea Joyce is now handling rights for Edinburgh-based agency Jenny Brown Associates. She was most recently rights director at Canongate for 12 years. Felicity Bryan is stepping […]
People, Etc.
At Pearson, Alexa Christon has been promoted to chief marketing officer, reporting to chief corporate affairs officer, Deirdre Latour. Robb Forman Dew, 73, author of fiction, memoirs, essays, criticism, and cookbooks, died on May 22. Her 1981 novel, Dale Loves Sophie to Death, won the National Book Award (then known as the American Book Award) for a first novel. A memorial will be held at a time and place to be determined once quarantine restrictions have been lifted. Awards Amazon Literary Partnership announced its 2020 grant recipients, including Deep Vellum Publishing, City of Asylum Pittsburgh, The Center for Africa and LitNet. Past recipients […]
People, Etc.
Longtime literary agent Frances Goldin, 95, died in her home in New York on May 16, after years of declining health. She founded the Frances Goldin Literary Agency in 1977 to champion left-wing authors, and her roster included Dorothy Allison, Barbara Kingsolver, Martin Duberman, Adrienne Rich, Mumia Abu Jamal, Mike Wallace, Frances Fox Piven, Susan Brownmiller, Martin Espada, Juan Gonzalez, and many others. A memorial will be held when gathering becomes possible again, with details to be announced. Pam Gruber has joined Irene Goodman Literary Agency as a literary agent, representing adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction, graphic novels, […]