Paying It Foward: Day 2
More info from Rutgers One on One. Remember to check editors submission requirements.
Stacey Barney is an Editor at Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. Stacey primarily acquires MG and YA. She had edited The Best Bad Luck I Ever had by Kristin Levine, Surf Mules by G. Neri, Donut Days by Lara Zielin, and Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown, as well as the forthcoming Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosiland Wiseman, the New York Times bestselling author of Queen Bees and Wannabees, which is the book that inspired Mean Girls. She is particularly interested in high concept MG and YA fiction; projects with an exciting subject or hook that allow for a commercial foothold. Generally speaking, Stacey is probably not the best match for high fantasy.
Courtney Bongiolatti is an Associate Editor at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. Courtney edits everything from PBs to YA novels though her main interest lies in MG boy fiction. She has edited such books as the Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley, the New York Times best-selling The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey, What’s Under the Bed by Joe Fenton, Long Shot by Chris Paul, and the upcoming memoir of Kelle James, Smile for the Camera: Dirty Things Good Girls Hear. She is interested in acquiring MG boy fiction with series potential and YA.
Jennifer Bonnell is a Senior Editor at Puffin Books, Penguin Young Readers Group. Jennifer works on MG and YA fiction and non-fiction and has edited Three Cups of Tea: Young Readers Edition; Cindy Ella and Geek Charming by Robin Palmer; Kieran Scott’s Geek Magnet; Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson; Puffin Graphics graphic novel adaptations of the classics. She’s looking for books that would be a good fit in original paperback—specifically books with great hooks and concepts and very strong voices, and would love to find a killer MG novel for guys. She loves humor, romance, witty voices, historical fiction with modern appeal, and does not work on high fantasy or sci-fi.
Michele Burke is an Associate Editor of Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers. Michele has worked at Knopf and Crown for the past six and a half years. She enjoys working on many different genres and is open to all kinds of stories with fully-realized characters and emotionally resonant voices. Among the many talented authors she has worked with at Knopf are Jeanne Birdsall, Wendelin Van Draanen, Juliet Marillier, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka. She is the editor of the YA novels Knights of the Hill Country and National Book Award finalist The Spectacular Now, both by Tim Tharp. She is also the editor of PB book Matilda’s Humdinger by Lynn Downey with illustrations by Tim Bowers, and MG novels Fortune’s Fool by Kathleen Karr, Leo and the Lesser Lion by Sandra Forrester, and Rocky Road by Rose Kent (Summer 2010). She is the U.S. editor for the Pure Dead series by Debi Gliori, Space Dogs by Justin Ball and Evan Croker, Runner by Robert Newton, and Will by Maria Boyd (Summer 2010).
Stacey Cantor is an Editor at Walker Books for Young Readers. At Walker, Stacey has had the pleasure to work on fabulous books that span many genres, with a personal fondness for funny or strong read-aloud PBs, coming-of-age MG, and YA that’s both literary and commercial—as evidenced by some of her current projects: the hilarious read-aloud PB Desert Rose and her Highfalutin Hog, gorgeously written and heartfelt MG Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, contemporary and literary Breathless, and tongue-in-cheek paranormal romance Demon Princes: Reign or Shine. She is also looking for edgy and hard-hitting YA, MG with a strong commercial hook, and anything with a romance at its heart.
Mary Kate Castellani is an Associate Editor at Walker Books for Young Readers. Mary Kate acquires books for all age levels, and especially likes quirky, kooky PBs that celebrate personality, and MG fiction with a light-hearted, honest approach like her current MG project The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. She is also looking to find new YA voices for the Walker list, especially ones that have a more literary feel, but also likes issue-driven stories, such as her upcoming project Dirty Little Secrets, a story that explores the effects of compulsive hoarding on a family. Her acquisitions wish list includes historical fiction with a strong hook, coming of age stories handled with humor, and explorations of spiritual or cultural identity.
Karen Chaplin is an Editor at Puffin/Speak Books, Penguin Young Readers Group. Karen acquires MG and YA fiction. Some of the projects she has worked on include Students Across the Seven Seas series, Zombie Queen of Newberry High by Amanda Ashby, Exclusively Chloe by J. A. Yang, and the Specialists series by Shannon Greenland. Karen is looking for fun, original series fiction as well as stand alone fiction for the MG and YA markets. While science fiction/fantasy is not her cup of tea, the genres she is looking for include chick lit, fun action/adventure series (boy and girl), mysteries, horror/paranormal, romance, stories with strong female characters (including topics such as sisters and friendships), anything boy-centric, and commercial literary and edgy fiction.
Ariel Colletti is a Publishing Associate at Simon and Schuster Children’s Books. Ariel is currently part of the editorial team working on Cynthia Rylant’s new Brownie and Pearl series at Beach lane Books, and has assisted on projects such as Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s acclaimed Alice series and the upcoming Narco Boy by Evan Coleman. She is also the paperback coordinator for the Children’s Trade Division. Ariel is open to a wide variety of projects but is first and foremost interested in looking for strong MG voices and young, fun, interactive PBs.
More tomorrow : )
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