The Revolving Door

Publishers Weekly confirmed reports that Perseus Books Group cut around 20 employees last week. In addition, the publisher will release about 100 fewer titles in 2010.

The cuts affected three percent of the company's total workforce, and the company plans "a furlough program and executive pay cuts" this summer.

While Perseus did not respond to GallyCat's request for comment, the PW article notes that Perseus president David Steinberger wrote a letter to employees explaining "it has become clear that we need to take additional steps now in order to be financially prudent and pursue opportunities to grow."

Podcast host and TVNewser blogger Steve Krakauer retired from the mediabistro.com Morning Media Menu podcast this morning. GalleyCat editor Jason Boog will be stepping into Krakauer's big pair of shoes on Monday morning.

If you are a journalist, writer, blogger, media-type, publicist, or book-lover who wants to appear on the show, there's a wide-open guest calendar for the next few months. Topics will range from media news to publishing to newspapers to movies to magazines to culture to television, and, perhaps most importantly, books. Email Jason for more details.

Here's more on Krakauer's last show: "Mediabistro.com editorial director Rebecca Fox and AgencySpy editor Matt Van Hoven helped send off Steve with some discussion about The New York Times's Bill Keller reporting from the frontlines of Iran and a reliving of the time Rush Limbaugh gave a shout out to the podcast. Also: what Steve has learned since launching the podcast a few months ago and some love lockdown."

Today Dalmatian Publishing Group decided to shutter Santa Monica offices of its Intervisual Books and Piggy Toes Press, moving the groups to the company's Atlanta office.

According to Publishers Weekly, the publisher is re-organizing in the wake of the move. Intervisual and Piggy Toes publisher Debra Mostow Zakarin will not make the Atlanta move, instead she will take an "editor-at-large" role in the company. Piggy Toes Press' list included children's books like "Hush-a-Bye Counting" and Intervisual's list included fill-in-the-blanks books like "My Life: A Book About Me"

Here's more from a PW interview with Mary Counts, president of Intervisual and Whitman Publishing: "According to Counts, Dalmatian will continue to publish a 'full range' of titles under the two imprints, including some Intervisual pop-up books. Because of the current economic environment, fewer titles could come out of the imprints."

Stuart Woods has been named editor of the Canadian publishing magazine, Quill & Quire.

Woods had worked as a Q&Q staffer for two years, and has transitioned into the editor role following the death of journalist Derek Weiler in April. Before working as a print journalist, Woods' career began as an editor at the Montreal publishing house, Price-Patterson.

Here is Woods' statement, from the release: "I would like to continue to build on Quill & Quire's reputation for in-depth industry analysis, breaking news coverage, and must-read reviews of upcoming books, while at the same time improving the way the magazine--in print and online--acts as a resource for the Canadian book publishing community as a whole. I am excited by the challenge presented by this opportunity, while at the same time saddened by the circumstances through which it has come about."

David Graham stepped down as managing director of Granta Publications and Portobello Books, Bookseller reports. Graham joined the company in 2006, leaving Canongate Books in a move the Scotsman called "a major blow to Canongate."

This is the second shake-up at the literary organization in less than a month. On May 28 of this year, former editor Alex Clark resigned, and American editor John Freeman was appointed acting editor. This week Granta, the NY Observer, and Afterword all published interviews with the new editor.

Here's more from the article: "In a short statement, the company said that queries previously directed to Graham should now be directed to Granta's owner and publisher Sigrid Rausing. There was no further comment."

Macmillan Audio promoted Stephanie Hargadon to associate publicist for the audiobook group.

Hargadon previously served as assistant to publisher Mary Beth Roche helping with audiobook campaigns for authors that included Sandra Dallas, Patrick Taylor, and Elise Broach. Starting June 15, Hargadon will replace the current publicist, Liz Noland. Nolan is leaving the company for graduate school.

Here's more about the group: "Macmillan Audio produces audio programs based on best-selling books published by the Macmillan group including St. Martin's Press; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Henry Holt and Company; and Tor/Forge. Additionally, we also produce Macmillan Audio original programs."

The literary journal Granta announced that Editor Alex Clark has departed.

American Editor John Freeman was appointed Acting Editor, assuming that post immediately, the Board of Granta Magazine announced today. Earlier this year, GalleyCat reported from the Granta 105 release party in Manhattan.

Here's more from the announcement: "The Board would like to thank Alex for her positive contribution to Granta over the past eighteen months and wishes her every success for the future."

Diane Salvatore, the magazine leader who most recently served editor-in-chief of Ladies' Home Journal, has been named vice president and publisher of Broadway Books.

The new publisher will report directly to Crown Publishing Group president, Jenny Frost. In addition to leading the the fifth largest magazine in America, Salvatore has guided a number of other magazines, including YM, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, and Redbook.

Here's more from the release: "While at Ladies' Home Journal, Diane re-launched the 125-year-old publication, making it a modern magazine with lush photography and sophisticated design, while continuing and amplifying its tradition for high-quality journalism and social advocacy...She also published top-flight writers in unique columns such as 'My Life as a Mom,' 'Meditations on My Mother,' 'Close to Home,' and 'Mind Over Matters' and secured an exclusive magazine column with Pastor Rick Warren."

According to Publishers Weekly, Scholastic laid off 11 employees last week. The cuts were made in the Klutz division and trade publishing.

The company has been restructuring for months. In March, Scholastic made Debra Lande publisher of Klutz, tasked with guiding the "creative and editorial direction of the Klutz publishing list and manage the strategic development of the Klutz brand."

Here's an excerpt from the post: "Among those leaving in the downsizing were Margaret Coffee, director of field sales; and executive editor Grace Maccarone, who had been with the company for 30 years."

Amanda Ridout, the managing director of HarperCollins UK, resigned yesterday, explaining in a memo that she will "to pursue other ventures which are confidential at this stage."

According to BookBrunch, the publishing world pondered her departure all day, trying to understand her surprise exit from the company. The article collects reactions from writers and executives around the book world.

Here's an excerpt: "'I think Amanda was unlucky,' said one author of a number of HarperCollins bestsellers. 'She's not a book person, she should have been put in charge of sales. If she had, both she and HarperCollins would have been in a much happier position.'" (Via Sarah Weinman)