Michael Taeckens, Algonquin Books' online and paperback marketing director, is leaving the Chapel Hill, N.C. press as of March 28 to assume the responsibilities of marketing director at Graywolf Press in Minneapolis, beginning April 16. Taeckens, a native Midwesterner who grew up in St. Louis and obtained an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1996, began his career at Algonquin in August 2000 in the publicity department, where he was soon promoted to publicity director. Taeckens spearheaded publicity campaigns for such bestsellers as Water for Elephants and A Reliable Wife, among many other titles. He was promoted to online and paperback marketing director there 18 months ago, and developed Algonquin’s social media presence; created the Lucky 7 e-book promotion; and launched the Algonquin Book Club of live events/webchats, pairing Algonquin writers with well-known authors.
Although he is sorry to leave Algonquin and sorry to leave the South, Taeckens told PW, he is especially excited at the new opportunities offered him at Graywolf to promote literature-in-translation and contemporary poetry, as well as literary fiction and nonfiction. “The first book of contemporary poetry I ever bought as a high school student was Linda Gregg’s Too Bright to See,” he told PW, “Ever since, I’ve been a big fan of Graywolf. I think they launch some amazing voices.”
While Taeckens will market Graywolf titles, he will also perform publicity responsibilities for the press on an interim basis when publicity director Erin Kottke goes on a 12-week maternity leave in April.
Publisher Fiona McCrae expressed delight to PW that Taeckens is joining Graywolf, writing in an e-mail, "He has the vision, experience, and commitment necessary to lead Graywolf's marketing initiatives. He brings extensive experience in both the print and digital areans, and he has a genuine passion for literary publishing. He will be a great addition to our increasingly dynamic marketing team."
Algonquin Books expects to post an advertisement for a new online marketing director soon; the responsibilities of paperback marketing will be absorbed by the six members of the press’s marketing and publicity department.
