In his first major move since taking over the helm of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing in January, Jon Anderson has consolidated the management of several imprints. As part of the change, Justin Chanda, v-p and publisher of S&S Books for Young Readers, will assume responsibility for the Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry imprints. Emma Dryden, who had been in charge of those imprints as v-p and publisher, will be leaving the company after 19 years, though she will continue to edit some of her well-known authors, including Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson and Alan Katz, in an advisory capacity. Mara Anastas, v-p and deputy publisher of the Aladdin and Simon Pulse imprints, will add the same responsibility for Little Simon and Simon Spotlight.
As a result of the reorganization, Frank Totaro, v-p and deputy publisher for Little Simon and Simon Spotlight, is leaving the company, as is Kevin Lewis, editorial director of the SSBYR imprint and editor for the highly successful Spiderwick Chronicles. According to reports, several other jobs in the division have also been eliminated, though S&S declined to specify.
In his memo announcing the changes, Anderson explained that the new structure maximizes S&S’s ability to publish “vigorously and with our customary flair, while also reflecting the realities of the marketplace.”
