Elmore Leonard, 87, author of more than 40 novels who helped redefine the crime genre over the past four decades, died Tuesday morning at his home outside of Detroit from complications of a stroke he suffered earlier this month. His novels, many of which were the basis of successful film and television adaptations, included GET SHORTY, RUM PUNCH, 3:10 to YUMA, OUT OF SIGHT and, most recently, RAYLAN, and the Library of America had recently announced plans to publish the first of a three-volume collection of his books beginning in fall 2014. As part of S&S Children’s reorganization of its […]
Personnel
Briefs: More Funding for Open Road; Commonwealth Book Prize Discontinued; And More
Open Road Integrated Media announced it has received $11 million in Series C funding led by private equity group NewSpring Capital (whose technology fund NewSpring Growth Capital III supplied $8 million) with existing investors Kohlberg Ventures, Azure Capital, and Golden Seeds joining NewSpring in the financing, bringing the total amount Open Road has raised to $24 million. On Open Road’s blog ceo Jane Friedman said the new funding will be used for new technology, additional revenue streams, expand their International Publishing Partners Translation Program (which includes 8 partners to date) and further investment in “appropriate content and technology companies.” Andrea […]
People, Etc.
At IPG’s Trafalgar Square division, Brooke O’Donnell has been promoted to managing director of publishing, and Pam Harcourt has been promoted to publishing manager. Shannon Frech has joined the group a publicity associate, and Elizabeth Kepsel has been hired as sales associate. Sam Missingham announced on Twitter she is leaving The Bookseller in mid-October “to pursue other things.” PW has an extensive look at a basic stat: Rust Consulting confirms that about 23 million people qualify for a share of the consumer restitution to be provided as part of the ebook pricing settlements. That means the average rebate to land […]
People: Carl Brandt Dies, and More
Literary agent Carl D. Brandt, 78, died on Tuesday. He joined Brandt & Brandt, the firm founded by his father, in 1957 and worked there ever since, eventually running the agency. Brandt had been working from home in recent months for the agency, now called Brandt & Hochman. The agency notes: “He will be remembered as a gentleman in a gentleman’s business; a champion of serious nonfiction writers; an astute reader and advisor; a warm and beloved colleague.” Executive Editor for Harlequin Love Inspired Joan Marlow Golan is retiring on Friday. She joined the company in 1997 as a senior editor […]
People, Etc.
Director of publicity for Bloomsbury Children’s and Walker Children’s Katy Hershberger is leaving. She will start next week as an associate director of publicity for Simon & Schuster Children’s, as well as the Atheneum, and Margaret McElderry Books imprint. Following the sale of AP Watt to United Agents late last year, Derek Johns will retire at the end of November. He has been at AP Watt since 1992. At Harlequin’s Mira, Tara Parsons has been promoted to editorial director. Casey Maloney joined Picador as senior publicist. She was most recently a publicist at Penguin, working on the Gotham, Avery, Viking […]
People
Valentina Kalk will leave her position as chief of UN Publications in late September to become director of the Brookings Institution Press in Washington DC. Jonathan Hevenstone has joined Atypon as svp business development. The company, which provides a software-as-a-service content delivery platform that has focused on STM publishers, will be expanding to “adjacent publishing areas.” Hevenstone was vp business development at SourceHOV and prior that he worked at Jouve. The recently-formed League of Assistant Editors — focused on helping young editors and agents connect with each other to advance the next generation of publishing professionals and authors — has […]