Pocket Books, which moved out of hardcover publishing in a June 2001 reorganization, plans to re-enter the business next year by publishing a number of its romance authors in hardcover. The first three authors who will move back to Pocket from Atria, which has been publishing all Pocket romance writers since the 2001 split, are Johanna Lindsey, Fern Michaels and Eileen Goudge.
Louise Burke, executive v-p and Pocket publisher, told PW the change is being made because "over the last few years, we've come to realize that romance authors benefit from being edited in one place." Burke noted that nearly all the authors who have been published in hardcover by Atria had been acquired by Pocket editors. Other bestselling Pocket romance authors include Joan Johnston, Linda Lael Miller and JoAnn Ross. Maggie Crawford, v-p, editorial director of Pocket and overseer of the romance line, will add the hardcover editions to her responsibilities.
Burke said she had no goal in mind about how many hardcovers Pocket will do annually, but she said she expects to release six to eight titles in 2005. She said she doesn't think the change will be disruptive to authors or the marketplace since the authors will have the same editors, and the same sales force will sell the books. Despite the move back to publishing romance hardcovers—and the occasional "pop culture" hardcover—Burke said Pocket will continue to focus on its role as the paperback partner for all S&S adult imprints.
