Phoenix Books Closes

Posted on May 10, 2010

Publishers Weekly reports that Phoenix Books, Inc. has closed.

Few details were available this morning, but Gray Peterson, executive v-p and editor-in-chief Dan Smetanka left the company Friday after being told the publisher was being closed. Both men had been brought in to move Phoenix away from its tabloid-driven past and make it a well-rounded independent publisher.

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is one of Phoenix's authors. He issued the following statement: "The governor was sorry to hear about Phoenix closing and the jobs that will be lost because of it. The ripple effect will no doubt impact him in some way as it will many other authors. The governor will always be grateful to Phoenix and to its late publisher Michael Vinor for believing in him and for giving him a platform to share the truth."