Molly Stern once worked as publisher of Crown, an imprint at Penguin Random House, but was laid off two years ago. She has now launched her own independent publishing company, Zando, using startup funds from SISTER, a global content company. The first titles will launch in fall 2021, with audio “a centerpiece of the company’s content.” The New York Times reports the publisher will “team up with high-profile individuals, companies, and brands, who will act as publishing partners and promote books to their fans and customers.” No specific projects have been announced yet.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
