Betsy Mitchell will work for Open Road as strategic advisor for sci-fi and fantasy, and will “spearhead” their acquisition and publishing of backlist sci-fi and fantasy titles. Mitchell retired from her position as editor-in-chief at Ballantine Bantam Dell’s Del Rey Spectra in December. She started her own editorial services company. At Norton, Alane Mason has been promoted to vp, executive editor. She has been an editor for the company since 1999. Barnaby Dawe, marketing communications director at News International, is moving over to corporate sibling Harper UK, in the new position of chief marketing officer. He will report to Victoria […]
Personnel
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At Shelf Awareness, Melissa Solberg has been promoted to sales director, and Autumn Sakai has joined the company as sales associate. Reginald Hill, creator of the Dalziel and Pascoe series of crime novels, has died at the age of 75. He won the Crime Writers Association’s Golden Dagger in 1990 and the Diamond Dagger in 1995. Author Paula Deen is reportedly preparing to admit that she has diabetes and is said to have an endorsement deal with Novartis, whose diabetes medication she takes. The Daily says Deen “has been trying to keep her condition a secret, even after the National […]
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Barry Landis is joining Howard Books as vp, associate publisher next week. He has been running a Nashville-based consulting firm, Landis Entertainment & Media Partners, and spent 20 years working for multiple divisions of Warner Bros., including serving as president of Word Label Group. Stephanie Beam has joined Sony’s Digital Reading Business Division as new merchandising manager, eBooks. Previously, she has worked as national account sales manager at Sterling Publishing and Random House. At Sony, she will manage the Reader Store site merchandising and act as relationship manager for publishing partners. At Egmont USA, Greg Ferguson has been promoted to […]
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Tin House Books editor and associate publisher Lee Montgomery is “leaving to pursue independent book projects and resume her own writing career.” She has been with Tin House enterprises since 2001. Editor-in-chief and publisher of Tin House magazine Win McCormack and magazine editor since Tin House’s inception in 1999 Rob Spillman will oversee the book program during the transition. The company promises that Tin House Books “will continue and expand its commitment to publishing the high-quality and unique books for which it has become known.” Loren Chaves will join Simon & Schuster on January 17 as national account manager for Levy […]
People: Chase, Farley, Ditlow, Deen and More
Farley Chase has formed Chase Literary Agency after nearly eight years as a literary agent with the Waxman Literary Agency. He will continue to represent the foreign rights for The Waxman Literary Agency. Former president and publisher of Macmillan Children’s Dan Farley is joining education technology platform startup SwoopThat as a principal and evp, business development. SwoopThat aims to increase textbook affordability for students and enhance college bookstore revenues by helping them adjust to the quickly changing coursebook market. “This is a venture that can, proverbially, make a difference. And, it’s fresh, exciting, and full of opportunity,” Farley said in note to colleagues. He […]
People
Ballantine Bantam Dell publisher Libby McGuire has been promoted from svp to evp. She will continue to oversee the hardcover and mass market publishing programs for the division, reporting to RHPG president Gina Centrello. “With a sales and marketing background, Libby’s marketplace sensibility and decisive leadership is complemented by a wonderful eye for both fiction and nonfiction, for the publishing to support it, and by strong relationship with her colleagues, our authors, and the agent community,” Centrello said in the announcement. Amanda Cook will join Crown as vp, executive editor on February 6, responsible for developing the imprint’s non-fiction list. […]