Egmont Names Law to U.S. Post; RH to Distribute

By Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 11/27/2007 7:11:00 AM

Scandinavian publishing giant Egmont Group has appointed Elizabeth Law v-p and publisher of its new American children’s publishing subsidiary, Egmont USA. Law, who officially starts January 2, most recently served as v-p and associate publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Egmont also said that it has signed with Random House to handle its U.S. distribution.

Douglas Pocock, executive v-p of Egmont USA, said Law “comes to us with a wealth of experience publishing top authors and handling some of the best-loved properties in the industry.” While at S&S, Law worked on the Eloise series, edited Marlo Thomas’s bestselling collection Thanks and Giving All Year Long, and oversaw publication of the Spiderwick series. She left S&S in February and has been serving as a consultant.

Although Law doesn’t begin her job for another month, she will start building a staff, reading manuscripts and meeting with agents immediately. Egmont plans to publish the first titles in its American division in fall 2009. Law’s first order of business is “to find an experienced editor who can attract talent,” she told PW. The Egmont list will feature a range of authors. “We’ll build new authors and publish old favorites” who may not be receiving the attention they need at their current house, Law said. According to Law, her strengths are in middle-grade novels and young adult, the two areas where Egmont will devote most of its resources. “This is my dream job,” she said.