Phillis Grann's role in publishing won't be acquiring companies—she'll be acquiring books. Grann has joined Random House's Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group as senior editor and will do six to 10 books a year. Grann will report to her longtime friend Stephen Rubin, president of Doubleday Broadway, who called Grann's appointment "a return to her editorial roots."
Rubin told PW that after numerous discussions with Grann, "It was clear she really wanted to do this. It was an easy agreement to work out." Grann will not have an imprint, nor will Doubleday start a line of Phyllis Grann books. "She wasn't looking for a special title," Rubin said. He expects Doubleday to benefit from Grann's "laser-like sense of the marketplace" to deliver a wide range of authors. "People will be pleasantly surprised by the types of authors she signs," Rubin said, adding that her authors "won't be purely commercial." Rubin said he had "no idea" if any authors Grann brought to Penguin Putnam will join her at Doubleday.
While Grann does not want to get involved with the marketing plans for other editors' books, "if I want to ask her a question I'll ask," Rubin said, adding, "she won't be sitting in on marketing meetings."
The addition of Grann gives Doubleday a "murderer's row of acquiring editors," Rubin said, citing the likes of Bill Thomas, Nan Talese, Gerry Howard, Deb Futter and Stacey Creamer, who worked closely with Grann at Penguin Putnam.
Grann's appointment comes about two years after she resigned as vice-chairman of Random House after becoming frustrated with her lack of responsibility in that role. Rubin said that Random House chairman Peter Olson was "incredibly supportive" of Grann's return in her new position. "Peter believes Random House should be a magnet for talent," Rubin said.
