When Publishers Lunch reported yesterday about who was moving where within the bowels of Random House, it gave me a freaking headache. Perhaps you may understand why, as I will quote from Michael Cader's wrap and add my own comments in italics.

1. Nancy Miller is giving up her position as editor-in-chief of Ballantine, and will now have the title of svp, executive editor for the Random House imprint, reporting to Dan Menaker. (OK, I get that)

2. Group svp and deputy publisher Libby McGuire has been made publisher of Ballantine, still reporting to group president and publisher Gina Centrello. Director of marketing Kim Hovey moves up to associate publisher at Ballantine. (Fair enough, McGuire moves up to #2 behind Centrello, Hovey right behind her. Good.)

3. Villard becomes part of the Ballantine list and its editorial director Bruce Tracy is now an executive editor for Ballantine. (but...why? Because they can?)

4. Random senior editor Caroline Sutton is now a Ballantine editor, too. (the headache's starting again...)

5. Though Menaker's title is still executive editor in chief for the RH Group, the Ballantine editors are all reporting to McGuire now -- and they can still acquire for the RH list, too. (yes, now it's really getting worse)

6. Also switching reporting lines is recently named Random House associate publisher Tom Perry, who adds oversight for the imprint's marketing and copywriting and now reports directly to Centrello. Under Perry, Sally Marvin becomes publicity director for the Random imprints, and Brian McLendon becomes publicity director for the Ballantine imprints, both reporting to Perry. (Now it's a full-blown migraine)

I kid, slightly, and no doubt all these moves are just being announced now while they took several weeks, even months, to get together. But I mean, Random does this sort of thing, like, every year? And considering that it's especially important for agents to keep track of who goes where -- since RH doesn't like competing bids between imprints -- a little stability might be nice, no?