Kensington Buys Holloway Backlist

Kensington Publishing has acquired most of the publishing assets of Holloway House Publishing in Los Angeles, the original publisher of classic 1960s black crime writers such as Donald Goines. The acquisition includes about 400 backlist titles that will become part of a new imprint called Holloway House Classics. The sale does not include books by Robert Beck, better known as Iceberg Slim, a pimp turned bestselling author. The Beck estate will retain the rights to his books, and Kensington will distribute the Beck titles.

S&S Children’s Reorg

S&S Children’s Publishing president Rick Richter announced a restructuring, creating three units that will handle both hardcover and paperback editions. The new units are the trade group (which includes Books for Young Readers, Atheneum and McElderry Books); the media tie-in and novelty division; and a new unit that includes the Aladdin and Pulse imprints. Stephanie Voros has been hired as v-p, subsidiary rights, while Dee Anne Grande, Little Simon Inspirations; Susan Burke, Atheneum; and Renne Fountain, sub rights, have been laid off.

Griffin Joins Egmont USA

Egmont USA has made its first hire under its new v-p and publisher, Elizabeth Law: Regina Griffin has been named executive editor. She was previously editor-in-chief of Holiday House and has worked with such creators as Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers and Patricia McKissack.

New Medallion Line

St. Charles, Ill., romance publisher Medallion Press is launching a fifth romance imprint, Medallion Masterpiece Collection. The new imprint will include a collection of romance novellas by various authors, all illustrated by the team of Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders. The first title from Medallion Masterpiece Collection will be Passion’s Blood, written and illustrated by Fortin and Sanders.

AAP Paper Guide

The AAP’s Paper Issues Working Group is releasing a Handbook on Book Paper and the Environment, a new guide intended to help book publishing professionals understand and navigate the issues around paper conservation and sustainability in the industry. The Handbook addresses environmental advocacy, forestry, recycling and more.

Silver Joins Nan Talese

Former Houghton Mifflin v-p and publisher Janet Silver has joined Random House’s Nan Talese imprint as editor-at-large. At Houghton, Silver’s list of star authors included Philip Roth, Jonathan Safran Foer and Cynthia Ozick.

Green Bibles from Thomas Nelson

The Thomas Nelson Bible Group has begun phasing out synthetic covers for its Bible products; the publisher expects to have new eco-friendly Bible offerings in stores in early 2009.

Correction

Our On-Sale Calendar (Feb. 4) listed the wrong author for Married Lovers (St. Martin’s, June 10); the book is by Jackie Collins.