Betsy Mitchell, editor-in-chief of Del Rey Books, has announced that she’ll be taking early retirement effective this December. She’s been with Del Rey since 2002.
Publishers Weekly reports staff changes occasioned by Mitchell’s departure:
* Tricia Pasternak has been promoted to editorial director of Del Rey Spectra
* Keith Clayton will take on the additional responsibility of associate publisher for Del Rey Spectra to his existing role of director of creative development for BBD’s IP group
* editor Anne Groell has been named executive editor for Del Rey Spectra
* Frank Parisi joins the company as the in-house coordinator for the Star Wars titles, and will be the editorial lead for Del Rey’s continuing list of licensed tie-ins
In announcing her departure, parent company Random House noted the number of award-winning and bestselling authors she has edited is almost too long to list, but include: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Terry Brooks, Octavia E. Butler, Michael Chabon, William Gibson, Naomi Novik, Dan Simmons, and Timothy Zahn, as well as bestselling graphic novels by Diana Gabaldon, Kim Harrison, and Dean Koontz. Mitchell shared the 1994 World Fantasy Award for best anthology, for co-editing Full Spectrum 4.
Mitchell got her start in sf as an editor at Analog Science Fiction and Fact, and then was one of the first editors at Baen Books. She moved on to work as associate publisher of Bantam Spectra, and then founded the Aspect imprint for Warner Books.
Both photos are by Andrew Porter.
Related articles previously published on SFScope:
Betsy Mitchell’s personal and professional news (12 October 2007)