Simons made Mudlark publishing director as Good steps up at HarperNonFiction

Joel Simons has been promoted to publishing director at the Mudlark imprint at HarperNonFiction, effective immediately.

He succeeds Jack Fogg, who recently left the publisher to set up a new literary agency with Ben Dunn.

Lydia Good, editorial director of the gift and IP team, has also expanded her role to additionally become editorial director of Thorsons.

Adam Humphrey, publisher for HarperNonFiction, said: “These are two well-deserved promotions. Joel is a terrific publisher with a wonderful eye for a book. He is also a big-picture strategic thinker and I am really excited to see how he will shape the Mudlark list in his style. Lydia is also a brilliant publisher who has led the gift and IP team magnificently since joining and I’m delighted she will now be expanding her role to also work across the Thorsons list and add to its successful legacy alongside Katya Shipster, publishing director for lifestyle and Thorsons." 

Simons was previously editorial director for HarperNonFiction. The publisher said: "Since his arrival in 2019, Simons has been central in establishing Mudlark as an exciting new imprint in the narrative non-fiction space through several notable acquisitions including the searing Sunday Times bestseller Failures of State, from investigative journalist duo George Arbuthnott and Jonathan Calvert, as well as Kate Morgan’s highly acclaimed Murder: The Biography. Further acquisitions from Simons to look forward to in 2022 include the much-anticipated The Theory of Everything Else by comedian and podcaster Dan Schreiber publishing in the autumn."

The publisher added: "As editorial director for gift and IP, Good has published an array of successful titles including Sunday Times bestsellers Extraordinary Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson and Lucy Lord’s Food for the Soul, alongside IP hits such as the Mini Eggs Cookbook, and she will continue to lead the editorial team across this key vertical. As editorial director for Thorsons, Good will be responsible for driving category-leading new acquisitions across the imprint, as well as maximising opportunities across its rich backlist heritage."

The HarperNonFiction editorial team also welcomed Ajda Vucicevic to the division just before Christmas as interim publishing director for entertainment to cover Kelly Ellis’ maternity leave. Anna Mrowiec, who joined in December 2020 as maternity cover for Good, has been confirmed in a permanent role as senior commissioning editor within the gift and IP team.

Humphrey said: “It’s great to be welcoming in the new year with such a talented, hungry and experienced team of senior acquirers to lead our strategy across our key HarperNonFiction publishing verticals of ‘Narrative, Lifestyle, Entertainment and Gift and IP’. Each provide an impressive breadth of acquisitions and expertise across the market and together will ensure that HarperNonFiction continues its upward trajectory into 2022 and beyond.”