Major recent changes at Red Wheel/Weiser include an acquisition, the addition of three new distribution clients, and the reorganization of its marketing team.
The company is acquiring Quest Books, Wheaton, Ill., the imprint of the Theosophical Publishing House, the publishing arm of the Theosophical Society in America. Founded in 1966, Quest Books publishes books that "promote fellowship among all peoples of the world and encourage the study of religion, philosophy, and science so that we may better understand ourselves and our place in the universe." Quest, which Red Wheel/Weiser has been distributing since 2015, will become an imprint in the Red Wheel Group, and initial plans call for the backlist to be revitalized.
Barbara B. Hebert, former president of the Theosophical Society in America, said, "Red Wheel/Weiser has been a trusted distribution partner for many years. In addition to meeting our business needs, their vision and mission have always been in alignment with our own. We are heartened that the invaluable books in the Quest Books catalog will continue to reach new audiences through Red Wheel/Weiser's thoughtful stewardship."
The three new distribution clients are Crossed Crow Books, which publishes occult books specializing in magic, rituals, spirit work, and the overall practice of witchcraft; Moon Dust Press, founded by children's book author Andrea Stein to publish books about modern witchcraft for kids and resources for children raised in homes practicing nature-based spiritualities; and Womancraft Publishing, which publishes "transformational women's voices that have the power to challenge, inspire, heal, and speak to the silenced aspects of ourselves." Red Wheel/Weiser began distributing Crossed Crow Books and Moon Dust Press in September. It begins distributing Womancraft Publishing on February 1, 2024.
Michael Kerber, president and CEO of Red Wheel/Weiser, commented: "The acquisition of Quest Books is part of our ongoing strategy of growth through acquisition while also building on our well-established publishing program. We couple this with offering our sales and distribution expertise to independent publishers. The addition of Crossed Crow, Moon Dust, and Womancraft Publishing fits perfectly with our other distributed clients and will be welcomed by our thousands of direct customers."
At the center of the marketing team reorganization is the hiring of John Hays as the director of business development and community engagement. Most recently, he was v-p, director of sales and marketing, at Inner Traditions, where he worked for more than 14 years. At the same time, Eryn Eaton, who has been with Red Wheel/Weiser for 10 years, has been promoted to director of publicity from marketing manager.
Hays said, "I'm thrilled to join the dedicated professionals at RWW who share with me the same passion for bringing together writers, readers, and members of the spiritual community through the creation of high-quality books and card decks. It is especially exciting to come on board at this moment as we prepare for growth and expansion."
In other personnel changes, Amy Lyons will join Red Wheel/Weiser as a senior acquisitions editor, effective December 4. Lyons has more than 20 years of publishing experience and served for many years as an acquiring editor at Globe Pequot. Brittany Craig has also been promoted to associate designer, working alongside creative director Kathryn Sky-Peck.