Author and tabletop role-playing game (RPG) designer Daniel Fox joined Andrews McMeel Universal in the new position of executive creative director of games, reporting to president and publisher Kirsty Melville. He will create and acquire RPGs and related products, as well as work with AMU creators to help extend their brands into games. Fox says in the announcement, “There are a growing number of RPG designers looking for the right partner to bring their games to life in the broader RPG market. Gotham Ghostwriters has hired author and ghostwriter Jennifer Banash as director of its creative writing, and former Writer’s […]
Obits
People, Etc.: Naples to Lead Hachette Books, and More
Mary Ann Naples will join Hachette Books as vice president and publisher and “will oversee its growth as a major commercial nonfiction imprint,” along with overseeing the “ongoing integration” of the Hachette Books imprint with Da Capo Press and Lifelong. She was vice president and publisher at the Disney Book Group. (Naples’ second job in publishing in the early 90s was editor at Hyperion; that list was acquired by HBG in 2013 and became the foundation of Hachette Books when it was created in 2014.) CEO of Hachette Book Group Michael Pietsch says in the announcement, “Mary Ann Naples is […]
Briefs
The U.S. Copyright Office named Karyn Temple register of copyrights. Temple has been the acting registrar since 2016. Lilla Weinberger, 78, co-owner of Readers’ Books in Sonoma, CA died on March 24. She founded the store with her husband Andy Weinberger in 1991. HarperCollins Italia launched its first children’s list, beginning with 25 titles in 2019. It plans to expand the list to 100 titles a year over the next few years. Sabrina Annoni, editorial director of HarperCollins Italia said, “HarperCollins has a strong history in Children’s publishing and remains one of its global leaders—we are excited to continue this […]
People, Awards, Etc.
At St. Martin’s, Joe Goldschein has been promoted to senior director, marketing & sales operations; Kim Ludlam to director, creative services; Martin Quinn to associate director, marketing; Marissa Sangiacomo to senior marketing manager; Erik Platt to senior manager, digital advertising operations; Danielle Prielipp to senior marketing manager; Joe Brosnan to senior marketing manager; DJ DeSmyter to marketing manager; and Dylan Helstien to assistant manager, advertising operations. Paddy Laidley, executive vice president and head of Raincoast Books, will retire on May 31. Current vice president of sales Peter MacDougall will succeed her. Laidley joined Raincoast in 1994 as sales manager and […]
People, Etc.
Walter Isaacson has joined Arcadia Publishing in the part-time role of editor-at-large and senior advisor, and he will be an investor in the company as well. Isaacson will acquire, edit and promote books for Arcadia, as well assisting the company in developing new strategies and partnerships. Former president and chief executive of Book-of-the-Month Club and then editor at Viking Books Al Silverman, 92, died at home on March 10. He was the author The Time of Their Lives: The Golden Age of Great American Book Publishers, Their Editors and Authors, as well as the collaborator with football great Gale Sayers on […]
People, Etc.
At Flatiron Books, Bryn Clark has been promoted to senior associate editor. In the publicity department, Amelia Possanza moves up to assistant director of publicity; and Patricia Cave and Kimberly Escobar have both been promoted to senior publicist. Erin Gordon has been promoted to senior designer, and Kelly Gatesman has been promoted to associate designer. Sarah Melnyk has been promoted to assistant director of publicity, St. Martin’s/Minotaur. Jessica Preeg and Jessica Zimmerman both become assistant director of publicity, St. Martin’s Press. At Chronicle Books, Samantha Steele has been promoted to national accounts manager; Morgan Amer becomes sales manager; and Kathleen Miller moves […]