The Hachette Book Group’s Nashville publishing division, which includes FaithWords, Center Street, and the newly acquired Worthy Publishing imprints, has closed the FaithWords editorial offices in New York and established a centralized editorial presence in Worthy’s offices in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. The move was made as part of a reorganization announced late last year.
“We consolidated operations and we’ve moved,” said Rolf Zettersten, publisher of Hachette Nashville, which was previously located in Brentwood, Tenn. “[Worthy] had extra office space and a long-term lease.”
Despite the consolidation, Zettersten said: “We are going to continue our own identity and not fold Worthy in to disappear.” Center Street will continue “aggressively pursuing” conservative, military, and political categories," Zettersten said. Further, FaithWords remains focused on the Christian market and nurturing what the publisher called its brand authors, including Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, and T.D. Jakes. Worthy, Zettersten said, will continue to “acquire across the Evangelical spectrum.”
The move comes four months after HBG finalized its acquisition of Worthy Publishing, which Zettersten called a “strategic benefit” to FaithWords. “The opportunity came up and we saw value in it. There’s an exchange enjoyed [with] Worthy Kids and [Worthy’s gift books line] Ellie Claire. We’re re-purposing content and making fresh products.”
Each imprint will publish around 30 books a year. Kate Hartson continues to acquire for Center Street, and FaithWords is currently looking for a new editor.
“We’re in a transition phase—it’s all new and it’s all good,” said Zettersten. “We’re combining together and hoping one and one make three.”
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Center Street's editorial office in New York has not closed, and that Kate Hartson is not acquisitions editor for FaithWords, but for Center Street.
