Turner Publishing has bought Prospect Park Books, Altadena, Calif., which focuses on fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, gift books and regional titles. In its 15 years, the press has published about 100 titles, plus several dozen more under its custom-publishing Raymond Press imprint. Turner Publishing is now handling all sales; a dozen more books are in the process of publication.
Founder Colleen Dunn Bates said in an announcement that she will finish the editing of several upcoming titles on Turner's behalf over the next six months or so, "and after that, I intend to have at least a few months with no professional commitments of any kind." The rest of the "beyond-fabulous staff--Caitlin Ek, Katelyn Keating, and Julianne Johnson--have all moved on to new adventures."
She offered thanks to a variety of people in addition to the staff, including "to our incredible authors; to everyone who has ever bought a single one of our titles; to our superb distributor, Consortium; to my former partner, Patty O'Sullivan; to all the people who've worked for me (John, Billy, Caroline, Skylar, Jen, Dorie, Caitlin, Julianne, Katelyn); to all the people who've lent PPB money (now you'll get paid back!); to all the amazing freelance designers (I'm looking at you, Amy Inouye), copyeditors/proofreaders (especially Margery Schwartz and Leilah Bernstein), photographers, illustrators, and sales reps; and to all my friends in the publishing world, without whom I never would have made it to the third book."
She added that "those of you who know me personally know how hard I've worked these last 15 years. This is true for everyone who starts their own business, whether they're making software or pretzel rolls or books. It's been years since I've had a vacation that hasn't required at least three hours a day of work, and the number of nights at the office till 11 p.m. and weeknights/weekends spent at book events have at times seemed limitless. I've never regretted a minute of it, because how lucky I have been to get to create my favorite thing--books!--with such a roster of gifted authors, artists, designers, and editors. I do, however, dream of inbox zero, and time to spend with my new grandson, and post-Covid trips to take, and friends and family to hang out with, and books to read for fun, and ways to help my community. Now I'll get the chance."