Frances Lincoln

Frances Lincoln, the founder and managing director of illustrated nonfiction and children's publisher Frances Lincoln in London, died suddenly of pneumonia on February 27. She was 55. Lincoln began her publishing career at Studio Vista, where she became managing editor. After two years at Marshall Cavendish, she set up her own company in 1977. She became owner/publisher of the company in 1981, developing her own interests, including a gardening list. The children's list was launched in 1983, and made up half the Frances Lincoln output of 60 books a year. From the beginning, the Frances Lincoln picture books were multicultural, the most successful of which was Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch's Amazing Grace. The board of Frances Lincoln reportedly plans to keep the business running. It has 43 employees and is based in North London.