At Grand Central, Celia Johnson has been promoted to associate editor: “We feel she’s a star in the making.” Executive director of Anova Books Roger Huggins will leave the company at the end of July. He says, “having spent over 40 years with Batsford and most recently as Executive Director of Anova Books, I feel it is now time to move on. In the future I hope to become involved in a variety of publishing projects and importantly also to find time to enjoy my many other interests.” Abby Anderson has been named sales and subsidiary rights manager at PublishingWorks. […]
Personnel
People and Awards
Anova executive director Roger Huggins is to leave the company on July 31 when he intends to become involved in a “variety of publishing projects”. The Strand Magazine announced its Critics Awards on Wednesday night at a private cocktail ceremony in Manhattan. Richard Price won Best Novel for Lush Life and Tom Rob Smith won Best First Novel for Child 44. The Ted Hughes Award, launched by UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to run over the course of her 10-year-term, will give out £5,000 annually to the poet who has made the “most exciting contribution” to poetry that year.
People
Zondervan has hired Jason Vines from the auto business to serve as vp of public relations and communications. He previously held “top communications positions” at Nissan, Ford and Chrysler. Lucinda Blumenfeld writes to update the PT report we cited last week: As an agent at Fletcher & Co. she will represent narrative/prescriptive nonfiction, YA, and literary fiction. As marketing manager she is “developing marketing strategies and brand extensions for agency clients and scouting opportunities for writers within emerging technology, new media and social networking.” In the UK, former Century publishing director Mark Booth will join Hodder & Stoughton in September […]
People
At St. Martin’s, director of marketing and publishing operations/hardcover Matt Baldacci and marketing director/SMP paperbacks Anne Marie Tallberg have both been promoted to associate publisher for their respective divisions. Sally Richardson and Matthew Shear praise “their enormous contributions in sales and marketing that have so contributed to our growth and health. In their new roles, they will continue to work together and with others to further our publishing goals.” Leis Pederson has been promoted to associate editor for the Berkley publishing group. Ruth Katcher has joined Egmont USA as editor-at-large. Most recently she was an executive editor at Harper Children’s. […]
Paul Marsh Dies
Founder of London-based The Marsh Agency, Paul Marsh died suddenly on Sunday in Milan while visiting publishers and clients. Originally focused on selling translation rights for other agents and publishers, Marsh founded his agency in 1994 along with his wife Susanna Nicklin (who now is director of literature for the British Council). A brief notice from Midas Public Relations says that a more detailed statement “will follow shortly.” We’ll remember Marsh as one of the world’s lovely gentlemen of publishing.
NBF Launches Campaign for Best Novel in 60 Years; "Love Dare" Climbs Another Chart; and More Announcements
Hoping to emulate the Booker of Booker’s campaign, the National Books Foundation is initiating a program to select the best novel from the past 59 years. There have been 77 National Book Award-winning works of fiction from 68 authors during that period (the contest incorporates long-retired fiction sub-categories such as best science fiction, best western, and best paperback fiction). The books will be featured, one a day, on a dedicated NBA blog, while the organization polls former winners, finalists and judges to cull a six-book shortlist. (NBF executive director Harold Augenbraum has read all 77 books, and offers comments on […]