Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of Ballantine Books, announced December 3 that Betsy Mitchell, previously Editor-in-Chief of Aspect, the Warner Books science fiction and fantasy imprint, will be appointed Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey Books effective January 2, 2002.

"One of the most highly regarded editors in the science fiction and fantasy community, Betsy will help us bring our enormously successful Del Rey publishing program to even greater levels of achievement" says Gina Centrello. As Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey, Betsy will oversee the Del Rey editorial department and be responsible for its day-to-day operation and overall strategic direction. She will also acquire and edit original titles for hardcover publication as well as reprints for the trade and mass market paperback lists.

Reporting to Betsy will be Shelly Shapiro, Editorial Director, and Steve Saffel, Executive Editor. Betsy will also work closely with Kuo-Yu Liang, who will continue to be an integral member of the Del Rey team, in his newly created position of Marketing Director, Del Rey and Licensing Developments, reporting to Anthony Ziccardi, Vice President, Sales Marketing Director. Christine Cabello, Ballantine’s Associate Director, Marketing, and Colleen Lindsay, Publicity Manager, Del Rey, will continue to make significant contributions in their respective roles to the success of the Del Rey publishing program.

Prior to Warner, Betsy was Associate Publisher of the Bantam Spectra line, where she edited the Star Wars® titles, as well as such authors as William Gibson and Dan Simmons. Before that, she was a Senior Editor at Baen Books and a reporter at the Omaha World-Herald.

Posted December 3, 2001