Knopf, which since 1961 has published books by many major chefs, is expanding the program, now called Knopf Cooks, which is being headed by Lexy Bloom, whose new title is editorial director. Knopf Cooks will have dedicated editorial, publicity and marketing staff. It will publish "bold and dynamic new voices that highlight international cuisines and cultures (along with special projects curated by culinary guest stars across the food world)" and aims to "bring renewed attention" to Knopf's cookbook backlist, as Knopf executive v-p and publisher Reagan Arthur wrote in a memo outlining the changes.
Knopf has published titles by James Beard, Lidia Bastianich, Julia Child, Marion Cunningham, Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey, Edna Lewis, Joan Nathan, Claudia Roden, and Nancy Silverton. Arthur noted that "new cuisines, ingredients, and voices from our varied catalogue--many introduced and championed by the inimitable Judith Jones--reframed the way home cooks experience, prepare, and think about food. Knopf cookbooks have always been elegantly produced editions designed to be both functional in the kitchen and beautiful on the shelf."
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| Lexy Bloom | |
Bloom joined Vintage and Anchor Books in 2004 as an associate editor and became a senior editor at Knopf in 2019. Since then, she has edited a range of titles, with a focus on international literature, working with writers such as Haruki Murakami, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Yoko Ogawa. She has also edited cookbooks and other food-related titles since 2010, including titles by Deb Perelman, Alex Prud'homme, Melissa Weller, Deborah Madison, Bill Buford, Anna Jones, Ruthie Rogers, and Bren Smith. She also works with the Julia Child Foundation to manage Child's backlist. Arthur added: "Lexy's passion for cooking, emphasis on global voices, deep institutional knowledge of the food world, and thoughtful devotion to her books, authors, and colleagues make her the perfect person to take on this new role."
In related moves, Tom Pold has been promoted to senior editor; Sara Eagle has been promoted to associate director of marketing; and senior publicist Sarah New will focus in part on Knopf Cooks.
Pold joined Vintage and Anchor Books as an editorial assistant in 2012 and was promoted to editor in 2019. Among his acquisitions is Kwame Onwuachi's Notes From a Young Black Chef, which was nominated for a James Beard Award and an IACP Award.
Eagle joined Knopf in 2006. Arthur stated that "her dedication to our cookbook authors (such as Julia Child, Lidia Bastianich, and Deb Perelman), deep well of creativity, and keen eye towards readership growth (particularly via the Knopf Cooks newsletter) make Sara a key component to the ongoing success of the Knopf cookbook list."
New, recently promoted to senior publicist, is, Arthur added, Knopf's "resident cookbook publicity expert, tireless in her efforts for our authors past and present. Her extraordinary work on our entire culinary list, and her relationships with our authors, agents, and contacts in the foodie world have made her an indispensable part of our cookbook publishing program (in addition to her current and forthcoming work on non-cookbook titles at Knopf and Pantheon)."