Former Executive Vice President and Worldwide Head of Literary Operations for William Morris Agency Owen Laster, 72, died this morning after a short illness. Laster represented a distinguished and diverse roster of bestselling and literary authors, ranging from Ralph Ellison, Chaim Potok, Robert Penn Warren, Gay Talese, Edward Albee, and Gore Vidal, to James Michener, Dominic Dunne, Susan Isaacs, Andrew Grove, William Diehl, and Judith McNaught. A New Jersey native, Laster graduated from Syracuse University, and after serving in the Army worked at William Morris for over forty years. Laura Nolan has joined Paradigm as a literary agent and will […]
Personnel
People, Authors, Etc.
Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta will receive the London Book Fair’s Lifetime Achievement Award in International Publishing. Nancy Planitzer is joining Greater Talent Network as an account executive as part of their Publishers Speakers Bureaus division (which works with both SImon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group). She was formerly an account coordinator with the Macmillan Speakers Bureau. Franklin & Siegal has been appointed literary scout for China Citic Press in Beijing. Michael Chabon and his wife Ayelet Waldman are co-writing and executive producing a drama for HBO, currently called Hobgoblin, about “a motley group of con-men and magicians who use […]
People, Etc.
Kelle Ruden will move over to agent director for the Random House Speakers Bureau, starting March 14. She will work across the Random House imprints to support the current roster of author speakers and expand the program. Book critic and social-media consultant Bethanne Patrick is joining Shelf Awareness as editor of their forthcoming consumer publication. Guy LeCharles Gonzalez has joined Media Source Inc. as Director, Content & Digital Product Development, overseeing Library Journal, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book, starting today. Previously he was Director, Programming & Business Development for Digital Book World. Elaine McQuade has been appointed Head […]
Crown Retires Doubleday Religion, Plus More People News
The Crown Publishing Group is retiring Doubleday Religion as an imprint, and will publish all Catholic-interest titles under the existing Image Books imprint (established in 1954). Trace Murphy continues as editor-in-chief of Image (and will still acquire for Harmony as well), now reporting to Steve Cobb, whose title modified to president and publisher of Waterbrook Multnomah and Image Books. Image’s editorial, art and production staff will remain in New York, but marketing, publicity, and sales administration will be run out of the Colorado Springs office under associate publisher Carie Freimuth. Crown deputy publisher Michael Palgon writes in an internal memo […]
People, Awards, and Announcements
Kensington Books founder and chairman emeritus Walter Zacharius died Wednesday at the age of 87. He was also the author of the 2005 novel The Memories We Keep, publishing when he was 81. Agent Richard Curtis writes: “His career paralleled and exemplified the rise of the great postwar paperback industry, and his genius shaped his company into a major force in the industry. Yet, even at an advanced age, he recognized the significance of digital technology and inspired his company to forge into the new era.” Obit At Simon & Schuster, Doug Stambaugh has been promoted to vp, business development […]
People, Awards, Etc.
As part of Bloomsbury’s global restructuring, co-founder and managing director of Berlin Verlag Elisabeth Ruge will be stepping down as of March 15th.Publishing Perspectives At Henry Holt and Company, Lauren Culley has been promoted to assistant editor. Marcus Gipps has been appointed editor at sci-fi and fantasy imprint Gollancz. Previously he was the sales and events manager for Blackwell’s. Linda Clark Associates has been appointed literary scout for Dalai Editore,Milan (formerly Baldini,Castaldi,Dalai) effective immediately. First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and a host of film, television and sports personalities will join the National Education Association today […]