Business Imprint from Nelson

by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 6/14/2004

Continuing its effort to establish more of a mainstream presence, Thomas Nelson has created the Nelson Business imprint. Although Nelson has published business books in the past, it decided to form a new unit to give its business titles more visibility in the marketplace. The strategy seems to have worked, according to publicity director Jennifer Willingham, who said the line drew "lots of media attention" at BookExpo.

The new imprint is being overseen by Jonathan Merkh, senior v-p and publisher of Nelson Books, who, along with several other editors, will be acquiring titles for the imprint, but Willingham said Nelson does eventually plan to add an "acquisitions team" to acquire for the imprint. Scott Harris has already been named marketing director for the imprint, and the company will hire a publicist.

Nelson plans to publish 12 to 14 new titles per year. The company is also putting its 25 backlist business titles under the new imprint and will rebrand them as Nelson Business when books are revised. Lead titles for the fall include Time Traps by Todd Duncan and Winning with People by John Maxwell. The company also has high expectations for an untitled spring book by former Wal-Mart vice chairman Don Soderquist. Among its backlist authors are Zig Ziglar and Dave Ramsey.