Paying it forward: Part 8
Next installment of Rutgers Conference info. *Remember to check editors/agents submission requirements Leila Sales is an Editorial Assistant at Viking Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Leila has worked in both School and Library Marketing and Editorial at Penguin Young Readers Group. She was part of the editorial team that worked on the upcoming chapter book Horrible Harry Goes Cuckoo, by Suzy Kline; the upcoming YA novel Jump, by Elisa Carbone; and the upcoming YA novel For Keeps, by Natasha Friend. While open to projects for all age groups, Leila is particularly looking for smart, funny, thought-provoking novels with stand-out voices—think John Green, Meg Cabot, Gabrielle Zevin… In general, she’s not the best match for easy readers or otherworldly fantasy. Kelly Smith is a Senior Editor at Sterling Publishing. Kelly edits a varied list of books—everything from easy readers to sticker books, activity books, and board books. She edited the Sterling Biographies series and co-edited the Mysteries Unwrapped series. She is currently developing children’s books with the American Museum of Natural History and is interested in nonfiction projects that relate to natural history topics. Kelly is fascinated by giant squids. Joanna Stampfel-Volpe is an Agent at Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation. Interests: chapter books to upper YA (non-fiction, romance, dark, literary, horror, contemporary, humor, historical and fantasy *fantasy/sci-fi needs to be unique!). I would love to find a dark read with a strong voice for teen boys. Think Catcher in the Rye meets Stand by Me, but taking place today. Maybe with a Southern Gothic feel? I recently heard about “hog harvesting” at a conference—think along those lines! Kiffin Steurer is an Assistant Editor at Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Kiffin edits and assists with both PBs and novels ranging from literary to adventure. He has edited the upcoming superhero adventure Super Human by Michael Carroll, and the upcoming PB Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Segal. While open to books for all age ranges, he is interested in literary as well as action/adventure novels with strong protagonists and a unique voice; he is also looking for humorous, quirky PBs. Generally speaking, Kiffin is probably not the best match for high fantasy. Becca Stumpf is an Agent at Prospect Agency. Becca joined Prospect Agency after working as an assistant at Writers House. She is currently looking for adult, YA, and MG literary and commercial fiction, with a special interest in scifi/paranormal/fantasy/steampunk and romance books with broad appeal. (Genre fiction is not just for nerds anymore, huzzah!). She falls hard for high concept plots that balance drama, wit, and intrigue in equal parts, and has a long-standing weakness for anti-heroes, fringe-dwellers, and the occasional scoundrel…provided such characters are richly drawn and demonstrate some serious soul (and a sense of humor doesn’t hurt!). For more about Becca, check out her agent biography at http://www.prospectagency.com/zoo.html. Kate Sullivan is an Assistant Editor at poppy, and imprint of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kate’s current projects on the Poppy list include The A-List Hollywood Royalty, Secrets of My Hollywod Life, and, coming in 2010, The Daughters series and the DUFF (Designated Fat Friend). On the Little, Brown list she is working on the Darren Shan program, including Cirque Du Freak, and Ash by Malinda Lo, an empowering retelling of Cinderella. Prior to working at Little, Brown, Kate was an editorial assistant at Walker/Bloomsbury Children’s books, where she worked on many nonfiction and fiction PB titles. She is primarily looking for novels that make her laugh aloud on a crowded subway, show a cynical or quirky world view, are smart without being boring, or have strong, defiant characters (who may or may not have a penchant for monstrous behavior). Fun fact: Kate grew up in Brussels, Belgium, thanks to the US Air Force. Tamra Tuller is an Editor at Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. Tamra works on hardcover MG and YA novels as well as PBs. She has edited Here Comes Gosling! by Sandy Asher as well as the upcoming Dancing in the Wings by Kristy Dempsey, Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, and Lemuel by Carter Crocker, among others. She has contributed editorially to books by Mike Lupica, Brian Jacques, Patricia Polacco, Kathryn Erskine, and Jane Yolen. Currently, Tamra is primarily seeking modern, reality-based fiction—character-driven stories with heart that are commercial yet somewhat literary. She is also seeking smart, imaginative PBs and graphic novels. Tamra does not hold an interest in high fantasy or comedy that is slapstick in nature. Juie Tibbott is an Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group. Julie works on MG and YA titles. Some recent books she has edited include Marlene Perez’s Dead Is paranormal mystery series (Dead is the New Black, Dead is a State of Mind, and Dead is So Last Year), My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters and Jungle Crossing by Sydney Salter, and the upcoming titles The Bad Queen by Carolyn Meyer and The Clearing by Heather Davis. She is particularly interested in high concept MG and YA fiction, and projects with a series potential for original paperback publication. Christian Trimmer is an Assistant Editor at Disney * Hyperion Books. Christian edits books for kids of all ages, focusing on MG, graphic, and YA novels. Published books from his list include: Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath, the Young Bond series, The Market by J.M. Teele, the Center for Cartoon Studies series of graphic biographies, and Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford. Upcoming titles include Riding Invisible: An Adventure Journal by Sandra Alonzo, The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade, Carter’s Big Break (the sequel to Carter Finally Gets It). And graphic novel adaptations of The Lightning Thief and The Amulet of Samarkand. He’s looking for MG manuscripts (with series potential) and is a sucker for a good coming of-of-age novel.
Paying it Forward: Part 7
Yes, more information from the Rutgers Conference. *Remember to check editors/agents submission requirements. Joe Monti is a Literary Agent at Barry Goldblatt Literary, LLC. Joe has worked as a children’s fiction buyer at B&N, children’s sales lead at Houghton Mifflin, and as editorial director of paperbacks at little, Brown Books for Young Readers and thus has a unique and comprehensive view of publishing. While he’s best known for being an early advocate and promoter of young adult literature, his love for MG fiction is unabashed as is his interest in grown-up fantasy and science fiction as well as graphic novels. Notable clients include Charles Vess, Eireann Corrigan, Misako Rocks and Tobias Buckell’s upcoming children’s fiction. He’s particularly seeking out character driven fantasy and science fiction, particularly those aimed at male readers—Please! Boys will read if you write something for them!-and in genre or non-genre fiction that represents cultural diversity as both are sorely lacking. Rachel Orr is an Agent at Prospect Agency. Rachel represents a wide range of children’s book authors, including those who write board books, PBs, chapter books, MG novels and YA novels. She also launched Prospect Agency’s artist representation service two years ago and is pleased to represent ten very talented illustrators. Some of Rachel’s clients include Sudipta Bardhan-Qiuallen, A.C. E. Nauer, Jason Chin, and Cori Doerrfeld. Prior to joining Prospect Agency in 2007, Rachel worked as an editor for eight years at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Ammi-Joan Paquette is an Associate Agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Joan represents all forms of children’s and YA literature. She works from her home in Massachusetts, and only accepts queries via referral or from attendees of conferences she has attended. At this time she is particularly interested in creative nonfiction, sports-related projects, novels that explore religious topics, “big feel” character-driven PBs, and anything that tickles her funny bone. She would love to see a great mystery. She is also the published author of The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies (Tanglewood, 2009) Annette Pollart is an Assistant Editor at Simon pulse, Simon and Schuster. Annette acquires contemporary, commercial teen fiction and the occasional nonfiction title. Working with and editing paranormal romance writers like NYT bestselling author L.J. Smith and Jeri Smith-Ready, she is always interested in reading manuscripts in that genre that have inventive hooks and distinctive voices. Annette also edits the Once Upon a Time line, a series of retold fairy tales. She is interested in books based in—or out—of reality with complicated, engaging protagonists. Make her laugh—mesmerize her with your awesome manuscript! (No high fantasy please.) Linda Pratt is an Agent at Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Linda works with authors and illustrators from PBs through YA. Her clients range from award winners and bestsellers, such as Sharon G. Flake, Denise Brunku, and Karen Beaumont to rising new talents like Eric Luper, Eileen Beha, and everything from chapter book to YA. Voice is the single most compelling draw for her. She’ll journey with a good voice through any genre. She loves timeless fiction that couples a sense of reality with elements of escapism or otherworldliness like Ingrid Law’s Savvy, and has become a fan of speculative fiction through novels like Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games. She’d love to find the author of a modern, American version of Rene Goscinny’s quintessential boy chapter book series Nicholas, too. Emilia Rhodes is an Editorial Assistant at Simon and Schuster, Simon Pulse. Emilia works on commercial YA fiction at Simon Pulse. She has edited the upcoming Never After by Dan Elconin; Go Ahead, Ask Me. By Nico Medina and Billy Merrell; and At First Sight by Cathy Hapka. She has also worked on revising several backlist series, including Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler and Thirst by Christopher Pike. She is interested in high-concept, commercial YA fiction of all genres, but particularly loves heroines you can root for, boys to swoon over, and laugh out loud moments. Chris Richman is and Agent at Upstart Crow Literary. Chris joined Upstart Crow Literary in July of 2009 after cutting his teeth at Firebrand Literary. In his short time as an agent, Chris has sold several noteworthy projects, including Jacqueline West’s The Book of Elsewhere series and Matt Myklusch’s Jack Blank trilogy. Chris is actively building his list, enjoys working with debut writers, and is primarily interested in MG and YA, with a special interest in books for boys, books with unforgettable characters, and fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. He is not looking for paranormal romance, books based around supernatural creatures such as fairies, vampires, or werewolves, chick-lit, or picture books. Ruta Rimas is an Assistant Editor at Balzer and Bray, and imprint of HarperCollis Children’s Books. Ruta works on everything from PBs through YA for the Blazer and Bray imprint. She has assisted on the If You Give… series by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond, The Healing Wars, Book One: The Shifter by Janice Hardy; and The Everafter by Amy Huntley. Ruta is interested in commercial and literary (ideally, a blend of both) MG and YA fiction, and innovative PBs with interesting characters. Ruta is not looking for nonfiction or chick lit. Elana Roth is an Agent at Caren Jounson Literary Agency. Elana works on everything from PBs through YA. She represents YA authors Pam Bachorz (Candor) and David Patneaude (Epitaph Road-Egmont, Spring 2010) and author/illustrator Darren Farrell (Doug –Dennis and the Flyaway Fib-Dial, Spring 2010). While open to books for all age ranges, she is particularly interested in high concept MG and YA fiction. She tends toward great hooks or twists combined with strong, honest voices. While she does like sci-fi and fantasy elements, high fantasy and sci-fi tend not to thrill her, nor do vampires, werewolves or fairies. She does like dark senses of humor, interesting family set-ups, and alternate realities. While she does represent PBs, she’s considering work from author/illustrators only, and prefers a quirky, whimsical style.
Paying it Forward: Part 6
More information from the Rutgers One on One Conference: *Remember to check editor/agent submission requirements. Teresa Kietlinski is an Agent at Prospect Agency. Teresa joined Prospect Agency in 2009 after thirteen happy years of working in the publishing industry at Disney-Hyperion, Dial Books for Young Readers, Viking Children’s Books, and William Morrow and Company. She has designed and art directed hundreds of children’s books of all sizes and shapes, and has worked with amazing talents including Kevin Sherry, David Sonam, LeUyen Pham, Boris Kulikov, Kadir Nelson, and Amy Young. As an agent, Teresa is particularly interested in emerging artists who both write and illustrate books for very young children. She loves smart, wickedly funny manuscripts and art that is quirky and fresh. Dianne Landolf is an Editor at Random House Children’s Books. Diane works on chapter books and MG and YA novels. She has edited Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go and Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck; Ring of Fire (Century Quartet Book 1; many titles in the A to Z Mysteries series, and the upcoming medieval historical, The Book of the Maidservant, by her former Rutgers mentee, Rebecca Barnhouse. She is interested in MG and YA novels across all genres, with a particular interest in quirky or dark fantasy and literary titles. For YA, a strong voice is what she looks for most. For contemporary MG, she loves stories where kids are smart and figure things out, especially by working together. For historical, she prefers pre-20th century. The older the better. Alvina Ling is a Senior Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Alvina acquires children’s books for all ages (baby-teen), with a particular interest in literary MG fiction and books with multicultural themes. She is interested in both genre (including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery) and contemporary fiction, and is a fan of beautiful and/or funky PBs with unique illustration styles, as well as trade nonfiction books. Some of her recent publications include the NYTimes bestselling PB Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein; Edgar Award winner The Postcard by Tony Abbott; Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley; The Devouring by Simon Holt; and Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin. Before starting at Little, Brown in 1999, Alvina was a bookseller, and has always been a lover of children’s books. Julia Maguire is an Editorial Assistant at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. Julia works on all types of books from PBs to YA. She has assisted on editing the re-launch of the Sluggers series by Phil Bildner and Loren Long as well as Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. She has edited the upcoming PB 1 Zany Zoo by first time author and illustrator Lori Degman and Colin Jack. While interested in books for all age ranges, she is particularly interested in young PBs and literary YA novels that have a commercial appeal. She is not the best match for science fiction or fantasy. Tracy Marchini is an Agent’s Assistant at Curtis Brown, LTD. She has also worked as a children’s book reviewer and a newspaper correspondent. She blogs about working and publishing at www.tracymarchini.com and tweets at www.twitter.com/tracymarchini Sean McCarthy is an Assistant Agent at Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Sean works on children’s books for all ages, and is especially keen on off-beat PBs, adventure-oriented MG novels, and edgy YA narratives with deeply flawed characters. His clients include Hyewon Yum, Mark Fearing and Hillary Homzie, and has worked with a variety of authors and illustrators, such as Richard Peck, Mo Williams, and Jerry Pinkney. In PBs, he looks more for dynamic characters and especially clever endings. He would love to find a graphic novel that doesn’t delve too deeply into the “Superhero “ side, or an imaginative MG mystery. He is not currently interested in high fantasy or query letters that pose too many questions. Sean also reviews adult fiction titles for Publishers Weekly. Samantha McFerrin is an Editor at Harcourt Children’s Books. Samantha acquires and edits PBs and MG and YA fiction. For PBs, her interest ranges from sweet to rhythmic to quirky true. Novel subjects that grab her attention are unusual love stories, authentic urban fiction, action-packed stories for boys (though not necessarily sport stories), mysteries, magical realism, and stories told from a unique cultural perspective. She’s the editor of the Geisel Honor Award winner Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie; the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award winner Just a Minute A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales; and the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award winner In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Beth Miller is a Literary Agent Assistant at Writers House, LLC. Beth has been Robin Rue’s assistant at Writers House since 2007. She has the pleasure of working with a number of adult fiction clients, as well as such YA and children’s authors as Garret Freymann-Weyr, Elizabeth Scott, Holly Lisle, Helen Lowe, Jennifer Bradbury, and Carmela and Steve D’Amico. She loves to read YA fiction submissions from new authors, and is always on the lookout for something fabulous that she can pass along to Robin. In her other life, she was a DNA sequencing technician at Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory on Long island. She prefers books to E. coli. More tomorrow!
Paying it Forward: Part 5
Continuing the flow of information from the Rutgers Conference. Remember to check agent/editor submission requirements : ) Gretchen Hirsch is an Associate Editor at Simon and Schuster. Gretchen joined S&S in July 2009, and she edits and acquires for both the Atheneum and Margaret K. mcElderry lists. She has over five years of editorial experience, and has also worked at Harcourt Children’s Books and HarperTeen. Some books she’s edited include Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey, What Will Fat Cat Sit On? By Jan Thomas, and the forthcoming The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. Gretchen is looking for exciting and innovative books that will fit the literary heritage of both Antheneum and McElderry—offbeat PBs, innovative nonfiction, sweet and funny MG, and YA page-turners with lots of romance and suspense. Lauren Hodge is an Assistant Editor at Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Working for Little, Brown’s novelty and licensing imprint, LB Kids, and for the LBYR imprint has allowed Lauren to gain experience with a variety of book formats—from board books and PBs to MG and YA fiction. She has edited the PB Birdie’s Big-Girl Shoes by Sujean Rim, designer behind the popular Daily Candy website, as well as the forthcoming board book You Are My Little Cupcake by Amy Sklansky. Lauren is particularly interested in contemporary “issue”-driven novels that capture ordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances, in addition to edgy, angsty, coming-of-age narratives. She is also interested in commercial, character-driven PBs with strong read-aloud appeal that will speak as much to the adult reading the story as to the child turning the page. For the most part, Lauren is not interested in sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, or romance novels. Victoria Horn is an Agent at Liza Dawson Associates. Victoria’s interests include YA fiction, adult women’s fiction, romance and literary fiction. She is a sucker for snappy contemporary fiction and lush historical novels. She looks for sharp humor in unexpected places, a story that places her firmly in another world, and characters she can’t leave behind. She loves strong voices and high concept hooks, or particularly well told stories about timeless subjects. She would love to find a great boy adventure. She’s not currently looking for PBs, mg novels or sci-fi. Connie Hsu is an Assistant Editor at Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Connie has seen it all, from board books to YA. She has edited The Devouring #1-3 (YA horror), The A-List Hollywood Royalty #1-2 (a spin-off from the bestselling The A-List series), and Moonshadow (MG ninja spy adventure). She has an affinity for Edward Gorey and Roald Dahl, and has acquired a similarly hilarious MG novel, The Adventures of Nanny Piggins. She also acquired the fully illustrated YA novel, Happyface by Emo Boy comic creator Stephen Emond (due out March 2010), and she recently acquired a PB biography based on Booker T. Washington by Guggebheim Fellow Jabari Asim. Prior to jumping into children’s books in May 2006, Connie worked as a reporter for In Touch magazine and TV Guide, where she wrote in-depth articles about Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua and watched television for a living. Katherine Jacobs is an Assistant Editor at Roaring Books Press. Katherine works on everything from PBs through YA. She is the editor of the chapter book series Gym Shorts by Betty Hicks as well as the MG Cat Royal Adventure series by Julia Golding. Katherine has worked on books by Kazuno Kohara (Ghosts in the House!), Jacqueline Wilson (Cookie) and Kate Thompson (Creature of the Night ). She also works on nonfiction and is editing a PB by Don Brown. Katherine is interested in smart, fresh, character driven stories for all ages (with a special fondness for historical fiction) and is probably not the best match for gritty, dark, realistic YA novels. She is a graduate of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College in Boston, MA. Leslie Kaufmann is an Agent at Kneerim and Williams at Fish and Richardson, P.C. Leslie represents authors who write fiction and non-fiction for MG and YA readers. She is actively looking for new clients who can write smart, witty stories about the extraordinary that is found in the everyday. While she does have a soft spot for light fantasy, these days she is mostly drawn to boy books, books set in NYC, and stories that sneakily impart some knowledge of something real yet esoteric upon readers. Grace Elizabeth Kendall is an Editorial Assistant at The Blue Sky Press and Scholastic Press. Grace assists Bonnie Verburg and Dianne Hess with a wide range of material from board books to YA novels, both fiction and nonfiction. Recently, she assisted Bonnie with The Doom Machine, a novel written and illustrated by Mark Teague, and Living Sunlight: How Plants Brings the Earth to Life by Molly Bang an Penny Chisholm (illustrated by Molly Bang). And she assisted Diane with Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) and Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy. The editors she works with are always looking for well-crafted, engaging, enjoyable, and enlightening children’s literature. Grace received her Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, majoring in English and Poetry, and is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course. More Monday! Coll : )
Paying It Forward: Day 4
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 : )
