The new controlling owners of the Agatha Christie estate have signed with William Morris Endeavor for exclusive representation of all facets of the estate, “expanding its reach across television, film and digital media.” Acorn Productions acquired the 64 percent stake in Agatha Christie Ltd that had been owned by Chorion in February 2012, calling it “the most important deal in the company’s history.” The Agatha Christie family owns the remaining 36 percent. Christie’s literary works include over 80 novels and short story collections and 19 plays, which they say continue to sell at a rate of over three million books per year […]
Personnel
People, Awards, Etc.
Judges have been announced for this year’s National Book Awards, the first time that the prizes expand their judging ranks beyond exclusively writers to include other literary tastemakers. The fiction judges include Elliott Bay Book Company buyer Rick Simonson and former NYTBR editor Chip McGrath (who chairs the panel), along with Charles Baxter, Gish Jen and Rene Steinke. The nonfiction panel features former Harcourt publisher and current vp of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Andre Bernard, alongside Jabari Asim; M.G. Lord; Lauren Redniss; and Eric Sundquist. The young people’s literature panel includes Books of Wonder owner Peter Glassman and curator […]
People
Jeff Gomez has joined Byliner as head of author services. Previously he was vp, online consumer sales and marketing at Penguin. Rachel Vogel has joined the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency as an agent, where she will continue building her list of upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir. She was most recently an agent at Mary Evans Inc. Amazon Publishing senior editor David Moldawer has left the company to work as director of business at education company creativeLIVE. At Crown Publishing Group, Candice Chaplin has been promoted to imprint sales director, and Jacqueline Lebow has been named imprint sales director, publishing brands […]
People, Etc.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has promoted evp of corporate affairs Mary Cullinane to the additional new role of chief content officer. She will “spearhead the company’s content development strategy for the K-12 education market and consumer audiences” and “develop the next generation of digital solutions while continuing to leverage the company’s existing products and iconic brands.” Caroline Riordan has joined Penguin as digital business director. Most recently, she was at Trailer Park, an entertainment marketing and content agency, and prior to that she was senior manager of ebooks and business development at Hyperion. Ann Treistman is joining Countryman Press as senior editor, looking […]
People, Etc.
At Counterpoint, Charlie Winton will relinquish his role as publisher, while remaining as ceo and executive editor-at-large. Rolph Blythe will take over as publisher of Counterpoint/Soft Skull, starting May 1. But editorial director Jack Shoemaker and business manager Kelli Adams will continue to report to Winton. In the release Winton says that “Counterpoint/Soft Skull is coming off our best year ever in 2012 with net revenues increasing over 30 percent” and “the company is well positioned for me to make this transition away from day to day operations.” He adds, “I think this change will allow me to stay creatively […]
Bob Miller Dismissed From Workman, Will Leave April 5
Just three years after he was recruited to join Workman Publishing as group publisher, Bob Miller has been dismissed abruptly by Carolan Workman, relinquishing his executive post on April 5. He will “stay on as a consultant for ongoing projects until June.” The move comes as founder (and president and ceo) Peter Workman has been gravely ill since last fall. Carolan writes to staff, “it is time to acknowledge that Peter’s health will not allow him to return to Workman in any significant capacity. He is comfortable with the management team in place and is confident that, in our hands, Workman […]