Today HarperCollins announced that HarperStudio will close, ending one of publishing’s most experimental projects. The final titles will be published in the Summer 2010 list.
Titles scheduled beyond that date will be picked up by other HarperCollins imprints. According to a memo from from Michael Morrison–the company’s president and publisher of U.S. General Books and Canada–the publisher is willing to discuss “profit sharing scenarios on a book by book basis” with authors who appreciated HarperStudio’s unorthodox publishing strategy. The imprint’s publisher left last month, making the imprint’s future uncertain. Last month, Gawker wondered what the change could mean for bloggers with book deals.
Here’s more from the memo: “I’m happy to report that Debbie Stier, Associate Publisher of HarperStudio and Director of Digital Marketing for HarperCollins, will continue in her role as Director of Digital Marketing for the company reporting to Carolyn Pittis. Debbie will also continue to acquire books for all imprints as Editor-at-Large. Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee will continue to report to Debbie. I’m pleased to announce that Senior Editor Julia Cheiffetz will move to the Harper imprint and report to Jonathan Burnham. Assistant Editor Katie Salisbury will continue to report to Julia. Jessica Wiener will continue as Director of Marketing, reporting to me.”
The entire memo is embedded after the jump.