Books-A-Million has hired James Phelps as vp of eCommerce, responsible for “executing the vision, branding, merchandising and marketing strategy for Booksamillion.com.” Phelps has worked for retailers including HSN, Kohl’s, and Brookstone. At Red Wheel/Weiser Books and Conari Press, Kim Ehart has been promoted to assistant editor, while Michael Alexander has been promoted to production editor. Our Deal reports show the first reports from agent Anna Ghosh under her independent agency Ghosh Literary in San Francisco, though she set up the agency last year. That leaves Russell Galen as the sole principal at Scovil Galen Ghosh. In first-week sales reports, CNN laments Congressman Paul Ryan‘s […]
Personnel
People: Applebaum Takes Emeritus Role at PRH, and More
At Penguin Random House, now entering his forty-third year with the company, Stuart Applebaum will step aside from his current role and took on a position “that is as unique as he is,” ceo Markus Dohle writes: Emeritus evp, corporate communications. Claire von Schilling is being promoted to svp, director, corporate communications, leading external and internal communications, branding, and corporate social responsibility, overseeing the US communications team and coordinating global communications efforts. She will report to Dohle. Applebaum, who remains at PRH full-time, will advise Schilling and “work with our colleagues on key communications issues and opportunities.” Dohle writes to colleagues […]
People, Etc.
Jandra Sutton has left Turner Publishing, where she was the head of marketing, to pursue freelance work in marketing, social media strategy, and publicity. She can be reached at contact@jandralee.com. The James Tait Black Prizes have been awarded to Jim Crace for his novel HARVEST and to Hermoine Lee for her biography PENELOPE FITZGERALD: A Life. John P. Vallier Sr., 88, a longtime Simon & Schuster executive, died August 18. He joined S&S in 1958 and retired in 1992 as vp, regional sales. One of the few Hachette titles kept its Amazon discount throughout the ongoing dispute between the two […]
People: Adjustments At Simon Pulse, and More
The Simon Pulse imprint has announced a new structure to “maximize the amazing potential of Pulse and continue to support the success of Aladdin.” Liesa Abrams is being promoted to vp, editorial director of Pulse and associate editorial director of Aladdin. But “as a result of this reorganization,” Simon Pulse editorial director Patrick Price is leaving the company. Additionally, Michael Strother is being promoted to associate editor of Simon Pulse. At Twelve, Libby Burton has been promoted to associate editor. At Macmillan, Astra Berzinskas and John Edwards have both been promoted to director, mass merchandise sales. The Saroyan Prize for International Writing has been awarded to […]
People, Etc.
Rick Horgan will join Scribner on August 25 as executive editor, where he will acquire and edit nonfiction, including politics, sports, current events, biographies, business, memoir, and thought leader books, as well as commercial fiction. Horgan was most recently vp, executive editor at the Crown Publishing Group, where he spent the past 10 years, until their reorganization in May. We made a mistake yesterday; our coverage of Tim Whiting’s promotion to head a combined Piatkus Constable & Robinson group at Little Brown UK in places incorrectly said “Quercus” instead of Piatkus. German minister for culture and media Monika Gruetters said […]
People, Etc.: Sand Named Abrams Publisher; Hachette UK Merges Piatkus and C&R
Little, Brown executive editor Michael Sand will join Abrams as vp, publisher, adult trade as September 22. He has been at Little, Brown since 2006. Abrams ceo Michael Jacobs says in the announcement: “Michael Sand is the perfect candidate to continue to envision, shape, and drive our adult editorial programs at Abrams. In addition to his consummate editorial skill and taste, Sand is an expert on and adept at nonfiction publishing with a focus on narrative, biography, memoir, art, and photography, as well as lifestyle and, especially, cooking and food. His skills and taste are a rare mix in today’s trade […]