Cover Story : 50 Top Women in Book Publishing

Book Business honors leading female executives who are helping to shape the industry.

Janet Rabinowitch, Director, Indiana University Press
Rabinowitch has been director of Indiana University Press (IUP) since 2003. She joined IUP in 1975 and served in various positions, including editorial director. She has acquired and sponsored the publication of some 800 books, mainly in Slavic studies, Jewish and Holocaust studies, philosophy, and Middle East and African studies. As director, Rabinowitch has overseen the creation of the INscribe and IU Press Online Web sites to implement digital delivery of the press’s journals and books.

• Tip: “Balance the big picture and the daily detail, and manage to keep on top of both.”

Dominique Raccah, Founder, President and Publisher, Sourcebooks
Raccah founded Sourcebooks—the largest woman-owned trade book publisher in the country—in 1987. Today, the company has more than 70 employees and publishes over 300 new titles each year, including titles in parenting and college guides, novels (published by Sourcebooks Landmark), a new children’s imprint (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) and an expanding roster of business relationships (including U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, The History Channel, The Travel Channel and CBS). Sourcebooks has published 10 New York Times best-sellers, is a leading poetry publisher, and publishes a line of multimedia titles (Sourcebooks MediaFusion). Raccah currently serves as co-chair of the Book Industry Study Group.

• Tip: “The most important thing to remember is that you’re not actually in the book publishing business. You’re in the business of building authors’ careers and connecting those authors to readers. Be amazing! Books change lives.”

Carolyn Reidy, President and CEO, Simon & Schuster Inc.
Reidy joined Simon & Schuster in 1992 and became president and CEO in 2008. Under her supervision, Simon & Schuster has published many acclaimed works, including books by Pulitzer Prize winners David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin; notable figures like Jimmy Carter and Bob Woodward; best-selling novelists Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark and Jodi Picoult; and practical advice from authorities, including Rhonda Byrne’s 7-million-copy best-seller “The Secret.” In 2007, she was named one of “The 50 Women to Watch” by The Wall Street Journal, and is a recipient of the Matrix Award from the New York Women in Communications.

• Tip: “Read as widely as you can to educate your taste and take every opportunity to learn all the different parts of the publishing business, not just your job.”

Mary Beth Roche, Vice President and Publisher, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan
Roche began her publishing career in the Random House Publicity Department and was named vice president in 1995. She moved to Random House Audio as vice president and publishing director of Random House Audible in 1999. She was a member of the board of the Publisher’s Publicity Association and served as president of that organization from 1996 to 1998. She is a member of the board of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) and served as president of the APA from 2003 to 2006.

• Tip: “I was fortunate to learn the ropes … from some of the best people in our business. … These early experiences influenced my strong belief in the value of taking time to mentor new talents in our industry. It can be an enriching experience for everyone.”

Karen Romano, Vice President, Director of Production and Manufacturing, Adult Trade Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.
Romano is responsible for copyediting, interior design, paper purchasing and manufacturing. She began her 35-year career at Praeger Publishers, and has held positions at McGraw-Hill, Macmillan’s school division and Prentice Hall. She has been a member of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) Commission for Textbook Specifications, a panel participant at Pub Tech and Bookbinders’ Guild events, and judge at the Literary Marketplace Awards, and New York Book shows. She is currently a member of the AAP Paper Issues Working Group.

• Tip: “Just as in any other area in life, really listen to and be ready to learn from other people.”

Marji Ross, President and Publisher, Regnery
Ross has been president and publisher of conservative publisher Regnery since 2003. She joined Regnery in 1999 as vice president and general manager, and previously worked as senior group publisher for newsletter publisher Phillips International, where she ran several business units, including investment, business and health newsletters. She currently serves on the boards of the National Conservative Campaign Fund, the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and the Beth Chai Congregation. In February 2005, she was named the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute’s Woman of the Year.

• Tip: “Be the conductor, not a one-man band. … Most successful female executives I know thrive on proving their competence and productivity. But as the leader of an organization, we must … prioritize those things on which we can have the greatest impact. And then we must hire people smarter than us to do those things we are not particularly good at … [or] are not a particularly good use of our time.”

Loriana Sacilotto, Executive Vice President, Global Publishing and Strategy, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.
Sacilotto joined Harlequin in 1986 in the retail marketing department and held progressively more responsible senior marketing positions, including the role of executive vice president, retail division, where she oversaw marketing, sales, public relations, research and art. In 2004, Sacilotto was appointed to executive vice president of global publishing and strategy, with a mandate to oversee the editorial team and develop a consumer-driven, editorial vision and strategy for the publisher worldwide.

• Tip: “Understand the market and your reader. Develop a vision based on what you know and reflect it in your publishing decisions—from acquisition to packaging to promotion and distribution.”

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