Paying It Forward: Day 4

• Colleen
• Paying It Forward Series
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More from the Rutgers Conference.

And away we go!

Remember to check editor or agent submission requirements. : )

Lydia Frost is an Editorial Assistant at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. Lydia works on all kinds of books, from PBs to YA. She has been part of the editorial team on projects such as Chicken Cheeks written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes; The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity, the first book in the upcoming Brixton Brothers series, by Mac Barnett; and The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan. Lydia’s particular interests lie in MG novels with strong boy or girl appeal. She also enjoys young PBs that are light in text.

Barry Goldblatt is an agent at Barry Goldblatt Literary. Barry is interested in books for kids of all ages, though his list is weighted towards YA. He has represented the New York Times bestsellers 18r, g8r by Lauren Myracle, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, and The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black, as well as The First Part Last by Angela Johnson, winner of the Printz Award and the Coretta Scott King Award. He’s on the lookout for some strong new fiction voices, not only in YA, but also in the chapter books and MG levels.

Jennifer Greene is a Senior Editor at Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Books Jennifer has edited during her 12 years at Clarion include Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements, illustrated by R, W. Alley, the Opera Cat Books by Tess Weaver and Andrea Wesson, Standard Hero Behavior by John David Anderson, When Is a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto by Elaine Scott, E.E. Cummings: A Writer’s Life by Catherine Reef, To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Wendie Old, and Tallulah’s Tutu (forthcoming) by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Alexander Boiger. Areas of interest include quirky but strong PBs; MG fiction, particularly school stories and fantasy where one foot is set firmly in our own world; contemporary YA; and nonfiction for all ages. Right now she is actively looking to acquire character-driven fiction, in particularly emotionally true MG or upper-MG novels.

Pamela Gruber is an Editorial Assistant at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Pam works on a variety of formats on the LBYR and LB Kids imprints, from board and novelty books to PBs , poetry anthologies, and novels. Under Editor-in-Chief Liza Baker, Pam has had the opportunity to work with acclaimed authors and illustrators including Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney, Sandra Magsamen, and Bob Staake, as well as the young reader adaptations of Vicki Myron’s Dewey.  Prior to joining LBYR, Pam interned with Clarion Books and the Junior Literary Guild. A graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School, she studied the relationship between art and imagery and folklore—a major she feels was tailor-made for children’s publishing and has inspired an affinity for comic books. She is interested in acquiring fun, off-beat PBs and fresh YA projects including well-researched historical fiction, innovative science fiction, dystopian settings and particularly strong female characters.

Kate Harrison is the Senior Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Kate is drawn to MG or YA books that have fantastic elements mixed in with everyday reality, and unforgettable characters with lots of heart and sass. Bonus points if you make her guffaw at her desk. She’s also looking for novels with graphic elements, PBs with a touch of comic-book flair, and humorous, narrative nonfiction. She generally does not do high fantasy. Recent books she’s edited include the MG comic hybrid Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon, the YA novels Willow by Julia Hoban and Peak by Roland Smith, and the hilarious nonfiction title The Word Snoop by Ursula Dubosarsky.

Andrew Harwell is an Editorial Assistant at Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Andrew is looking for anything with a subversive sense of humor, a healthy dose of heart, or an original spin on magic, whether it be in a PB, MG, or YA form. He co-edited an upcoming anthology of short stories from authors including R.L. Stine, Meg Cabot, and Alane Frerguson, and he works with such authors as Heather Brewer, author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, and Tera Lynn Childs, author of the Oh. My. Gods. Series. Andrew can get into anything with a strong voice and a unique premise, but he is probably not the best editor for nonfiction or historical fiction.

Alyson Heller is an Editorial Assistant at Aladdin, Simon and Schuster children’s Books. Alyson works on everything from early readers through MG. She has edited the upcoming MG novels, It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder, and Front Page Face-Off by Jo Whittemore. She also edits Aladdin’s Ready-to-Read program, including the Eloise and Robin Hill School series. While open to books for all age ranges, she is particularly interested in MG fiction that focuses on relationships (friendship, mother-daughter) with a strong female protagonist and fun commercial hook. Alyson is probably not the best match for nonfiction of fantasy. She is a member of Young to Publishing.

Dianne Hess is an Executive Editor at Scholastic Press. Dianne acquires and edits an eclectic mix of PBs, MG novels, chapter books, and MG non-fiction. She loves humor, fantasy that is grounded in reality, and history; and books reflect the many cultures of America. “It is important to me that a book has an authentic emotional and spiritual resonance, and that it gives readers a richer understanding of their world. Good storytelling, whether in fiction or nonfiction, is the most important thing of all.” Some of her books include two Caldecott Honor Books, Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson; Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth; The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Truce by Jim Murphy; Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson, illustrated Kadir Nelson, Ben Franklin’s Boots by Elvira Woodruff, Bruce Coville’s Unicorn Chronicles, and more.

More tomorrow!

Coll : )