The publishing world loves a good soap opera – see, as proof, my recent piece about the current PFD debacle – and here is our next instalment. The larger-than-life Judith Regan, erstwhile publisher of the eponymous HarperCollins imprint, is suing her former employer for $100m. Judith also has to cope with the public fallout of her affair with Bernard B. Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner and one-time homeland security secretary nominee. Expect much salacious detail in the coming weeks.
Personally, I had very split feelings about Judith. There’s no question that she was an enormously talented publisher, and the industry is poorer without her. But behind the scenes, not enough of her employees spoke glowingly of her. Judith seemed to be perpetually at war – sometimes a good thing, when it comes to promoting authors and their books – but perhaps not the best way to build a publishing empire. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of her.
Note to hard-core publishing types - you can read the entire plaint here.
