MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
April 26 – May 2, 2010 Edition Phoenix Book Company Reportedly Closes
AUTHORLINK NEWS/4/26/2010–Los Angeles-based Phoenix Books Inc. is closing its doors, according to an item in PW. The company had beeen a fast-growing independent publisher since its 2007acquisition by Dwight D. Opperman, founder of Westlaw and current Chairman and CEO of Phoenix Books. Phoenix Books, Inc. is comprised of several publishing imprints: Phoenix Books and Audio, Dove Books and Audio, and Pickwick Press.
Opperman had been working to publish serious fiction and nonfiction since the death of founder Michael Viner. Few details were available today, but Gray Peterson, executive v-p and Dan Smetanka, editor-in-chief left the company Friday after being notified of the clsoing.Both men had been brought in to reposition Phoenix away from its tabloid-driven past and into a well-rounded independent publisher.
No word was available on the fate of authors and their titles. The company web site is still promoting planned appearances for its authors, including appearances at the ongoing Los Angeles Times book festival.
