Once again, the naming of the Nobel Prize for Literature laureate will align perfectly with the Frankfurt Book Fair: The Swedish Academy said the new honoree will be announced on Thursday. (The Peace Prize will follow on Friday.) In other awards, the Giller Prize will cull their longlist down to a shortlist by noon today. (Then, next week we get the Booker Prize ceremony on the evening of October 14, followed by the National Book Awards finalists on October 15.) After about 7 months at Regan Arts, Michael Szczerban will join Little, Brown on October 27 as executive editor, acquiring food […]
Personnel
People, Etc.
Amazon’s director of author and publisher relations Jon Fine “has decided to leave the company at the end of the year,” according to internal announcement cited by Porter Anderson. The note from Charles Kronbach says, “Over the last seven years, he has represented Amazon at hundreds of publishing and author events around the world, helping to raise awareness about the myriad opportunities Amazon offers to the storytelling community. More to come on transition as we move towards Jon’s departure at year’s end.” Fine first joined Amazon in 2006 as director of copyright and media law. At Viking Penguin, Melanie Tortoroli […]
People, Etc.: Feldman’s New Agency, and More
Leigh Feldman has left Writers House to start her own agency, Leigh Feldman Literary, as of October 1. Prior to Writers House, she was a partner at Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman for 20 years. Feldman says the timing “felt very right” to go out on her own. Anne Heltzel has joined Abrams as editor, primarily acquiring books for its middle grade and teen imprint, Amulet Books. She worked previously as an associate editor at Razorbill and is also a published author. Jeremy Greenfield is leaving his position as editorial director of DigitalBookWorld.com to join The Street as contributors editor, where he will help manage […]
October Picks from Amazon and Costco, December Releases, and More
Amazon’s best books of the month for October features Being Mortal by Atul Gawande as their Spotlight pick for the month, and Lena Dunham’s Not That Kind of Girl as the Featured Debut. Here are the other picks for month (including another Publishers Lunch Buzz Book you can sample right now, by Marlon James). The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, Hilary Mantel Nora Webster, Colm Toibin The Innovators, Walter Isaacson A Brief History of Seven Killings, Marlon James The Invisible Front, Yochi Dreazen Bad Paper, Jake Halpern The Remedy for Love, Bill Roorbach Prince Lestat: The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult […]
People, Etc.
Dominic Myers became head of Amazon Publishing in Europe on September 2, based in Luxembourg but overseeing the UK and German publishing businesses and “launching new offices” they “expand our European publishing efforts.”Most recently non-executive director at some consumer-focused startups, he had been managing director of Waterstones in the UK up until it was sold by HMV. Amazon says that their German publishing unit has released 118 titles so far this year. At Simon & Schuster, Carolyn Connolly has been promoted to senior vice president, human resources. CEO Carolyn Reidy writes to employees: “we are fortunate to have in Carolyn a leader whose broad view […]
People, Etc.
Laura Nolan has joined Kuhn Projects as an agent. She was until recently the head of the book division for Paradigm. President of Weldon Owen Terry Newell will retire as president after more than 15 years with the company. Succeeding Newell is Roger Shaw, currently vp, publisher, reporting to Bonnier ceo Dave Freygang, who said in the announcement: “We appreciate Terry’s capable leadership through significant changes in the company’s ownership and the transformation of Weldon Owen from an independent book packager to a highly regarded publisher. Roger has been instrumental in generating long-term custom-publishing businesses with brand partners, creating innovative […]