Kristen Weber leaves Mysterious Press

Normally I do revolving door stuff at Galleycat but since this is specifically geared to the mystery world, it belongs here.

In any case, word comes through the transom that Weber will be leaving her post as Mysterious Press’s Editorial Director (which she’s held since 2003 after Sara Ann Freed’s death), moving on to New American Library to spearhead their mystery program. Weber (who confirmed the news by email this morning) edited a great many mystery folk during her time at Mysterious Press, including Donald Westlake, Elizabeth Bloom, Karen Olson, Margaret Maron, Marcia Muller, Cornelia Read, Cecelia Tishy, David Rosenfelt, Nicci French, Kate White, Hope McIntyre and Jan Brogan, to name but a few. She’ll be succeeded by Les Pockell, currently an associate publisher at Warner Books.

This certainly opens the door to a lot of speculation, especially since the news comes on the heels of MP’s parent company, the Time Warner Book Group, being bought out by Lagadere and having its name changed to Hachette Book Group USA. On the other side, it should be interesting to see if NAL goes in a different direction with Weber there, as she’s known for buying darker-themed crime novels and that imprint has more of a mix of dark and light fare.

And I definitely wish her well in her new position.