MAIN NEWS HEADLINES

September 1-15, 2004 Edition

Jake Morrissey Named

Executive Editor

of Riverhead Books

New York, NY/08/19/04—Julie Grau and Celina Spiegel, Vice Presidents and Publishers, Riverhead Books, today announced that Jake Morrissey has been appointed the imprint’s Executive Editor. Mr. Morrissey’s primary responsibility will be to acquire nonfiction titles in areas of history, science, culture, narrative nonfiction, and other books with distinctive points of view for Riverhead Books. His appointment is effective September 13, 2004.

Ms. Spiegel commented: “We’re excited to bring Jake’s fresh perspective, intelligence, and curiosity to the Riverhead list. As his previous experience indicates—he’s been an editor, journalist, publisher of comic strips, author of both a serious work of history and also a historical mystery—his range is truly impressive. His openness to new ideas and approaches, his commitment to quality, and his enthusiasm make him a perfect addition to our editorial team.”

Mr. Morrissey most recently held the position of Managing Editor, Comics, at United Media, where he was responsible for acquiring, developing and launching new comic strips for the international newspaper syndicate. Credited with discovering Calvin and Hobbes, which he found in the slush pile, he also oversaw the day-to-day editing and production of 60 comic strips and panels, including Dilbert, Peanuts, For Better or for Worse, Marmaduke, and Get Fuzzy, among others. Prior to his tenure at United Media, Mr. Morrissey was Executive Editor at Harmony Books, where he acquired and edited nonfiction, and Senior Editor at Scribner, where he helped launch Sarah Ban Breathnach’s imprint, The Simple Abundance Press. While there, he edited both the best-selling A Man’s Journey to Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach and Friends, and Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions. He is the author of the forthcoming A Genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome (William Morrow, 2005) and the historical thriller A Weekend at Blenheim (St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur). His book reviews, essays and interviews have appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including The Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, Departures, National Review and Parents.

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.