Reka Simonsen will join Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s as executive editor for Harcourt on August 2, reporting to editorial director Jeannette Larson. She was previously a senior editor at Henry Holt Children’s. Later this month Ethan Rutherford will join Milkweed Editions as publicity manager. British author Dame Beryl Bainbridge, 75, died of cancer. The Guardian writes: “One of the grandes dames of the UK’s literary scene, Bainbridge was a prolific writer whose short, dark comic novels – which invariably included a streak of tragedy – landed her five shortlistings for the Man Booker prize (and the label of perennial Booker […]
Personnel
People: Hitchens, Merwin, and More
In a brief statement yesterday, Christopher Hitchens explained his sudden book tour cancellations: “I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice.” News outlets concluded that the treatment is related to esophageal cancer, which is linked to both smoking (Hitchens was a heavy smoker until recently) as well as drinking alcohol. Two-time Pulitzer-winner (most recently in 2009 for the collection The Shadow of Sirius) W.S. Merwin has been named the Library of […]
People, Etc.
Rachel Vogel has joined Movable Type Literary Group as associate agent and international rights manager. She was at Lippincott Massie McQuilken. She’ll specialize in upmarket fiction and narrative non-fiction. Mary Glenn has been promoted to associate publisher for McGraw-Hill Professional’s business group. Moises Martinez has been promoted to director, Spanish language sales at Random House, leading domestic sales for Spanish titles from Vintage Espanol and Random House Mondadori. At Granta and Portobello in the UK, Kelly Pike joins the company as publicity manager in mid-July. She was a publicity manager at Saqi and Telegram Books. National Book Network has created […]
People, Etc.
Penguin Australia marketing and publicity director Dan Ruffino is being promoted to group digital director for Penguin Group worldwide, starting September 1 based in New York. He will report to chairman and ceo John Makinson and “focus on digital publishing and new digital revenue opportunities; direct to consumer communication and business intelligence; and global partnerships.” Makinson comments: “He is a hugely talented marketing professional who has spent the last six years thinking about ways to make our content more enticing to the consumer. He has all the right qualifications and qualities for the job, but, above all, he has the […]
People
For the New York office of their Nashville division, Hachette Book Group has hired Kate Hartson as senior editor for the Center Street imprint and Andrea Glickson as marketing director for both FaithWords and Center Street. Most recently Hartson built her own small publishing company, Yorkville Press. Glickson was at HBG’s recently-closed Octopus Books USA line. As another part of the Nashville “realignment plan,” editor Christina Boys will now exclusively acquire fiction for both FaithWords and Center Street. Separately, at Hachette Digital, Neil DeYoung has been promoted to executive director; Liz Kessler moves up to the new position of digital […]
People
Shane Armstrong has joined Scholastic as evp and president, international growth markets, reporting to ceo Dick Robinson. He will oversee all New York personnel in Scholastic’s ‘nternational group as well as the company’s operations for Scholastic Asia, Scholastic Export, and Scholastic Australia/New Zealand. Most recently he was head of the publishing group with Singapore educational publisher Times Publishing Ltd.Aisha Cloud joined the Tor publicity department as publicist on June 21. Previously she was at Scribner. UK author and publisher Russell Ash, 64, died suddenly, the Bookseller reports.