Jonathan Karp, who is currently editing the boutique imprint Twelve at the Hachette Book Group, has been tapped to replace David Rosenthal as publisher of Simon & Schuster in one of the biggest shake-ups of a prestige imprint in the book world in years.
In the past, Rosenthal had been behind getting Bob Dylan to sign with Simon & Schuster for his bestselling memoir, “Chronicles, Volume 1,” while also discovering hits such as Lauren Weisberger’s “The Devil Wears Prada.”
He was preparing to publish the still-untitled Bob Woodward book on Barack Obama this fall
Rosenthal is not known for being a profligate spender, though one rival said he’s had “no big failures, but he hasn’t come up with a lot of hits lately.”
His catalog is long on memoirs and bios and short on blockbuster fiction. Both Karp and Rosenthal are known as editors who have single-minded dedication to their own authors — but who often ignore other editors within their own companies and are thought of as difficult.
Said one publishing insider, “He [Karp] was editor-in-chief of “Little Random”– the name given to distinguish the imprint from the parent company, Random House Inc. — “and had real trouble getting along with other editors.”
Added another, “he [Rosenthal] was pompous yes, but oddly engaging.”
“That was a long time ago and I hope I’ve grown and learned,” said Karp of his past rep.
“I want editors to feel empowered to publish their own books,” he said. “I put a premium on collegiality.”
In his current gig at Twelve, Karp was responsible for bringing out only one new book a month — which is where Twelve drew its name from. In the new gig, he’ll be responsible for marketing over 100 new books a year.
Rosenthal said, “Maybe I’ll have time to read all the books from other publishing houses that I never had time to read in the past.”
Karp was described as a “brilliant editor” who has to prove he has improved his business skills to run a large prestige imprint.