William Morrow Announces Publishing Partnership With Utne Reader

Posted on March 30, 1999

William Morrow and Utne Reader have entered a partnership to publish books under a new imprint: Utne Reader Books. The first two books will be released in February 2000, and will be promoted through the Utne Reader's website, Cafe Utne, the nation's most active online discussion community, according to the Forum One Report.

Visionaries Who Could Change Your Life will introduce readers to the socially engaged teachers and thinkers who are offering the curriculum for the emerging culture. Areas covered will include: the environment, feminism, creativity, science and technology, family and relationships, work, money and philanthropy.

Salons: The Joy of Conversation will offer readers a guide to the contemporary salon movement and cover the history of salons, reading groups and study circles. Utne Reader, which ran a cover story on the subject in 1991, is widely recognized as the founder of the salon movement in the U.S.

"William Morrow is the perfect partner for Utne Reader Books," said Eric Utne, who founded the Utne Reader, the nation's leading digest of alternative ideas. "Both companies have dynamic new leadership and extremely energetic, talented and creative people throughout their organizations. Working with Michael Murphy, Marly Rusoff, and the entire Morrow team will produce top quality books that we hope will make a real difference in people's lives."

Utne will oversee the project along with Robert Welsch, formerly of One Spirit Book Club and Tarcher Books, who last year was named president of the Utne Reader parent company Lens Publishing. Fourteen-year Utne Reader veteran Jay Walljasper will be the imprint's editor.

"The proposed books will alert readers to promising and useful ideas on a panoply of subjects," said Walljasper. "It's a perfect extension of the magazine's mission."

William Morrow publisher Michael Murphy is equally enthusiastic about the project. "I have been a reader, then subscriber, and constant fan of Utne Reader for the past ten years," Murphy said. "I am delighted to be partnering with Eric, Robert, Jay, and the people at Utne to bring their sensibility to a larger book readership. I also look forward to having some of their ideas shape future Morrow lists."