After more than 30 years in publishing, 17 of them with Hachette Book Group, HBG Canada, as well as Hachette UK, the incredible Donna Nopper (pictured top left), Senior Director of Publicity, and HBG Canada Office Manager, has decided to retire. Her last day will be Thursday, July 30, 2026. 

Donna successfully grew HBG's Canadian publicity team, supported the international sales group, as well as managed local brand identity. She led HBG's presence at Canadian festivals and sponsorships, including the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), Vancouver Writers Festival (VWF), Toronto Public Library (TPL), Indigo Books, and Rotman School of Management, to name a few. She managed nationwide press tours and worked with bestselling authors, including Sally Field, Ian Rankin, David Baldacci, and Melissa Auf der Maur.  

Donna most recently spearheaded the Canadian publicity of Grand Central Publishing, Avalon Travel, Union Square and Co., as well as Hachette UK’s local presence. She’s been the key behind robust media relationships, as well as strategic event partnerships, and has gotten the ball rolling on regional Raising Readers campaign efforts, as it is a key market for HBG. Canada’s national media is based in Toronto, the fourth-largest media market in North America.  

Throughout her many years at Hachette, Donna has frequently booked authors on CBC Radio’s “The Current,” “The Sunday Magazine,” “Q with Tom Power,” and “Bookends.” She has also landed countless bestsellers in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Sirius XM Canada, The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, and The Social, the most-watched Canadian daily lifestyle program that reaches 2.6 million weekly viewers.  

Donna was instrumental in launching HBG Canada’s social media and influencer marketing presence, which continues to grow steadily among both consumers and media. Just last year, she led HBG Canada to host 145 author events, 80 indie events, 44 Indigo events, and 39 literary festival events, all of which led to 59 HBG titles landing on The Globe and Mail bestseller lists in 2025, 9 of which were #1 bestsellers.  

Donna says the highlight of her time at HBG has been working with the amazing publicity and sales teams at HBG Canada, as well as with those teams at Hachette in the U.S. and the extraordinary Hachette authors across both companies. 

Donna will be succeeded by Melanie Freedman (pictured top right), Director of Publicity, who currently leads HBG Canada’s publicity for Little, Brown and Company, Basic Books Group, Workman, Nashville, Cardinal, and Storey.  

In a statement, Donna said: “I’m pleased to announce the promotion of Melanie Freedman to Senior Director of Publicity, HBG Canada. Melanie is a consummate team player and always the practical voice of what needs to be done. She has the respect of so many for her consistency of message, action, and appreciation of others.” She continued, “Melanie joined HBG Canada in 2008 and played a critical role in launching HBG Canada’s publicity department in the Toronto office. Melanie has toured many bestselling authors over the years, including David Sedaris, Malcolm Gladwell, and Carleigh Bodrug. Melanie is a thoughtful leader who communicates transparently, supports team members, and champions HBG’s pillars in her day-to-day work. In her new role, Melanie will lead HBG Canada’s Publicity team, including HUK publicity in Canada, and will take on the role of Toronto Office Manager. 

Upon return from family leave, Dominique Delmas will report to Melanie. Kali Luckee (pictured top center) will join HBG as a full-time publicist for HBG Canada, also reporting to Melanie. Kali currently leads social media efforts and handles Canadian publicity for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Running Press, Timber, Workman Children’s, Storey Children’s, WorthyKids, and UNSQ Kids.  

Taylor Norton (pictured bottom right) has been promoted to Associate Manager of Communications and will continue to support internal, external, and strategic communications, media outreach, corporate social responsibility reports, as well as corporate events, while continuing to work with Hachette UK on company-wide key initiatives such as Raising Readers.  

Mitchell Leung (pictured bottom left) has been promoted to Communications Coordinator and will continue to support the entire communications team in the US and Canada, as well as internal communications and strategic communications, trade fairs, festivals and conventions, philanthropy, and environmental programs.  

Images courtesy of Hachette Book Group Canada