After seven years with Houghton Mifflin, Wendy Strothman, executive v-p of the trade and reference division, will step down on July 31. She will, however, continue to work as a contracting, or nonstaff, editor for HM for many of the house's leading authors, including Philip Roth, Paul Theroux and James Carroll. "I want to find a way to get closer to authors and books," Strothman told PW. "I'm very happy to be staying on doing contract work. I've been here for seven years, and it's been a great run." Nader Darehshori, HM chairman and president, observed that under Strothman's leadership the trade and reference division "achieved phenomenal success, with outstanding profitability levels and a number of prestigious awards. I am delighted she will continue to play an active role in the company."
Strothman said she believes the time is right to leave, because "the division is in fantastic shape," pointing to the recent sale of paperback rights to Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything Is Illuminated to HarperCollins for $925,000 and the upcoming release of the DVD for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in August.
Although a successor has not been named, HM has made a couple of new promotions. Janet Silver, v-p, associate publisher and editor-in-chief of adult trade books, has been named publisher of that group. In announcing the promotion, HM cited Silver for her ability to publish award-winning and commercially successful books. Everything Is Illuminated is the most recent book Silver supported. Other bestsellers include Constantine's Sword, Fast Food Nation and The Wind Done Gone.
Silver is one of three new publishers named by HM. In late April, the company appointed Andrea Davis Pinkney as publisher of the children's publishing division, effective June 1 (News, Apr. 29). In addition, Marge Berube, v-p and director of lexical publishing, has been promoted to publisher of dictionaries. She will also retain her title as director of production and manufacturing services. All three will report to Strothman and her successor. Darehshori said that he has "great confidence" that the team assembled by Strothman "will maintain the division's respected literary tradition."
