Joanna Cotler Steps Down from Imprint

By Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly, 4/29/2008 2:16:00 PM

Longtime children's book editor and publisher Joanna Cotler is stepping down from her position at HarperCollins Children's Books. Cotler, who has spent the last 13 years as publisher of her eponymous imprint, Joanna Cotler Books, will become editor-at-large at the publisher as of May 13.

Cotler, whose current title is senior v-p and publisher, is leaving to focus on her sideline passion, painting. She will continue to edit select titles after her departure; moving forward these will be the only titles published under the Joanna Cotler Books banner. The imprint currently issues 15 titles a year; it has not yet been determined how many books Cotler will do once she transitions to editor-at-large.  

Of the two editors who worked with Cotler at the imprint, one, associate editor Alyson Day, is staying at HarperCollins while the other, senior editor Karen Nagel, is leaving. Day, who will be handling day-to-day business for the imprint, will be moving to another editorial group at the company. (It has not been worked out who will oversee the imprint's current and forthcoming titles.)

Over the years Cotler has worked with a distinguished list of authors, including William Steig, Art Spiegelman, Sharon Creech, Francesca Lia Block and Jamie Lee Curtis. In thanking her colleagues at HarperCollins, Cotler added that she was "most deeply honored by the authors and artists who chose to work with me. I love them all and have been so privileged to publish their books."