BTW News Briefs

Here’s what’s happening this week in the book industry:

Sourcebooks, one of the largest independent publishers in North America, has sold a minority-ownership stake (45 percent) to Penguin Random House, now a collaborative investor in the Illinois-based company. The transaction will create a performance- and growth-oriented partnership between the two companies, according to PRH. Sourcebooks is retaining majority ownership of 55 percent, with no changes in leadership or publishing autonomy.

Simon & Schuster will handle sales and distribution worldwide for Waterhouse Press effective November 1. The press, which was founded in 2014, publishes romance, YA, and suspense novels. 

The Wall Street Journal published a feature article on Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle, who, as he travels with his team, has been visiting independent bookstores at each stop on the road and writing about it on Twitter. Doolittle told the WSJ he wants to support local businesses “that are trying to be supportive and inclusive spaces for their communities.”

Robert L. Bernstein, the head of Random House from 1966 to 1990 and the founder of Human Rights Watch, died on Monday at 96. 

New York publicist and book marketer Claire McKinney has launched a new independent book publishing company called Plum Bay Publishing, LLC, which “will publish traditionally and cooperatively depending on the needs of the authors and their books.”

Viking, Penguin Books, and Pamela Dorman Books, each an imprint of Penguin Random House, are coming together to create a new publishing program specializing in inspiration, lifestyle, healthy living, and personal development. Viking Life, Penguin Life, and Pamela Dorman Books Life will launch with four titles in January 2020. 

Candlewick Press is the latest publisher to introduce new terms and offers for indie booksellers following Baker & Taylor’s announcement it would be dropping out of the retail wholesale market.

At Penguin Press, Colleen Boyle has been promoted to publicity manager.

At Macmillan Children’s Books, Morgan Rath has been promoted to publicist.

Kathy Wiess has joined Europa Editions in the newly created position of director of sales, marketing, and business development.

James Horobin will join Welbeck Publishing as group sales, marketing, and publicity director toward the end of the year. 

Cheryl Lew has joined Holiday House as senior publicist.

In the Random House Children’s Books marketing department, Kristin Schulz has been promoted to senior marketing manager; Jules Kelly to marketing manager; and Michael Caiati to senior marketing designer.

Hachette Book Group announced a number of promotions in its sales department. Among other changes, Julie Hernandez has been promoted to senior director of wholesale sales from director of wholesale sales; and Heidi Kanter and Laura Shepherd have each been promoted to senior national accounts manager.

Rachel Giese’s Boys: What It Means to Become a Man (Patrick Crean Editions) has won the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, which recognizes “an exceptional book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers.” Giese will receive C$15,000 (US$18,610).

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