Annik LaFarge

There was a moment earlier this year when it looked like all was lost for Bloomsbury USA—when practically every major editor and executive associated with the company had quit or been fired amid budget cuts, and none who remained could claim ownership of the house they were now charged with running. All year, the principals fell like drops from a leaky sink, starting in January when publishing director Annik Lafarge was laid off along with five others, and continuing through the end of the summer, by which point longtime editor Gillian Blake, founding publisher Karen Rinaldi, and editor-in-chief Colin Dickerman had all departed for warmer climates.  read more »

After a devastating year that saw U.S. sales plunge 14.9%, Bloomsbury has fired its publishing director, Annik LaFarge.

Ms. LaFarge joined Bloomsbury in November 2005, Bloomsbury said in an announcement at the time that Ms. LaFarge--who had been working at Crown-- would be serving as a “liaison between editorial and marketing/publicity, coordinating pre-publication plans, seeing books through publication and helping to maximize sales.”

Ms. LaFarge confirmed by phone this morning that she had been fired and had started giving away her office supplies, but declined to comment further.

Ms. LaFarge’s departure comes several months after Bloomsbury issued a statement saying that its U.S. operation was not expected to turn a profit this year. At the time Bloomsbury said it would have to reduce staff by means of attrition.

A call to Bloomsbury US publisher Karen Rinaldi was not immediately returned.  read more »