In June, Candlewick Press in Somerville Mass., announced the spring 2014 launch of its new media-related publishing imprint, including TV and movie-tie titles, Candlewick Entertainment. Walker Books will add a similar imprint, Walker Entertainment, which will release its first list at the same time. Both will be headed by Candlewick editor-at-large Joan Powers, who has been named group editorial director for Candlewick Entertainment and for Walker Entertainment. She will report to Helen McAleer, chief global development officer of the Walker Books Group and managing director of Walker Productions, and she will continue to edit select authors for Candlewick.
Candlewick art director Kristen Nobles has been named group art director for both the Candlewick and Walker Entertainment imprints. She will continue to spend a portion of her time on design, art direction, and management work for the Candlewick-originated list. She will report to Powers. This is not the first time the two have have partnered on a project. They worked together on Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Despereaux, several Judy Moody film tie-ins, and the U.S. tie-in program for TV’s Peppa Pig, which will become a Candlewick Entertainment-branded property.
“We couldn’t be more excited about expanding and enhancing the Candlewick/Walker lists in the U.S., U.K., and Australia with the launch of these new imprints,” said Powers. “In the past, we’ve published tie-ins based on film and TV adaptations of our books. We continue to do that, but we’re also developing creative partnerships with animators, filmmakers, digital artists, brand licensors, celebrities, and others. We see the launch of the Entertainment imprints as the logical next step to creating new opportunities for our authors and illustrators across the group, and the globe.”
