On Monday, Macmillan ceo John Sargent told staff in a letter that the company would make a broad change in its leadership: “It is clear that we have to change who occupies the seats at the table when the important decisions are being made. It can no longer be Don [Weisberg], Andrew [Weber] and me.” They are creating a new management committee comprising 13 people “who will meet regularly to decide on the key issues for Macmillan” and “will focus on running the overall company.” Sargent will not sit on the new committee and “will step back from day to […]
Personnel
People, Etc.
Amanda Rutter has joined Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency as a literary agent, representing adult, YA and MG fantasy and science fiction. She was previously an agent at Red Sofa Literary Agency. Obituaries Literary agent Felicity Bryan, 74, died Sunday at home of stomach cancer. Bryan was a journalist at the FT and the Economist before joining Curtis Brown UK in 1972. She established Felicity Bryan Associates in 1988. Bryan also authored a number of books on gardening. Robert D. Richardson, 86, Bancroft prize-winning historian known for his biographies of William James and Ralph Waldo Emerson, died last week after sustaining head injuries in a fall. He was the husband […]
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.
Vice president and publisher of Tor Books Devi Pillai has been named publisher of Tor Teen and Starscape, in addition to her current position. Jane Harris will join Welbeck Publishing Group as group publisher, children’s books. She is currently managing director, children’s trade at Bonnier Books UK. She succeeds Alexandra Allan who has relocated back to Australia. Executive director Marcus Leaver said in the release, “Mark and I are excited to add Jane’s considerable experience to our accomplished senior management team.” Awards Lark by Anthony McGowan (Barrington Stoke) won the UK’s Carnegie Medal, while Tales from the Inner City written and illustrated […]
People, Etc.
April Powers joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as its inaugural chief equity & inclusion officer on June 3. Most recently she ran her own global inclusion consulting and training firm, First Impression Rx, after serving in diversity roles at Nestlé USA and Amgen. Michael Roberts has been named interim executive director for The Center for Fiction, effective June 30, while a national search is conducted for a permanent executive director. Most recently executive director of the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, his background includes 11 years as executive director of PEN American Center. Peter Knox has […]
People, Etc.: Oprah to Pick “Deacon King Kong”
The next Oprah’s Book Club pick, to be formally announced tomorrow, is James McBride‘s Deacon King Kong. Books with the OBC sticker have been appearing in stores already, so the club started teasing the announcement on Instagram Sunday. Executive director of the Center for Fiction Noreen Tomassi, is retiring after 16 years. The board writes, “Under her leadership, the Center evolved from an under-utilized membership library to an acclaimed and nationally recognized literary organization, as she expanded its exceptional team to help serve increasingly diverse audiences with stellar programming and vigorous outreach, including KidsRead/KidsWrite.” An interim director will be announced […]