Team Member
Jacob Surpin, Executive Editor
Executive Editor Jacob Surpin joined Penguin in 2023, where he publishes a variety of nonfiction, including self-help, big idea/big think, popular science, psychology, business, and high-performance titles. He is especially drawn to books that approach familiar topics from unexpected angles. His authors so far have included platform-driven experts, thought leaders, researchers, and spiritual leaders. His…
Read MoreCarlos Zayas-Pons, Editorial Assistant
Carlos Zayas-Pons joined Viking in April 2024, assisting Laura Tisdel and Emily Wunderlich. Growing up in Georgia, he graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2020 with a B.A. in English and Spanish. After graduation, he worked at the Paris Review, the Sewanee School of Letters MFA, and most recently the Sewanee Review.…
Read MoreAlison Fairbrother, Associate Editor
Alison Fairbrother edits and acquires fiction, memoir, and select narrative nonfiction. She has worked with New York Times bestselling and award winning authors, including Kristen Arnett, Aja Gabel, Anna Hogeland, R.O. Kwon, and Jenny Xie. Alison’s own debut novel, The Catch, was published by Random House in 2022.
Read MoreAnna Paustenbach, Executive Editor
Executive Editor Anna Paustenbach joined Avery in 2024. She was previously Executive Editor at HarperOne, where she published #1 New York Times bestsellers and national bestsellers including The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy, You Were Born for This by Chani Nicholas, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith, Do Hard Things by Steve Magness, Master of Change by Brad Stulberg, and…
Read MoreNatalie Grant, Editorial Assistant
Natalie Grant joined Pamela Dorman Books in 2024. A lifelong reader of women’s fiction, she is thrilled to be supporting Pamela Dorman and Jeramie Orton as an editorial assistant. Natalie comes to Pamela Dorman Books with a background in social science research and Chaucer. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, where she…
Read MoreMaya Petrillo-Fernandez, Editorial Assistant
Maya Petrillo-Fernandez joined Viking and Pamela Dorman Books in March 2024, assisting Terezia Cicel and Seema Mahanian. Previously, Maya taught high school English in her hometown of NYC before pivoting to publishing as an assistant at Folio Literary Management. She enjoys character-driven fiction, narrative nonfiction, and literature across genres that sheds light on lesser-known histories.
Read MoreMegan McCormack, Editor
Megan is interested in books on infrastructure, technology, and systemic societal issues—books that challenge us to reexamine aspects of everyday life we may take for granted. She is also particularly keen to find provocative takes on feminism, gender, and relationships. Her forthcoming books with Thesis include a polemic from the creators of The War on Cars podcast,…
Read MoreSonia Gadre, Editorial Assistant
Sonia Gadre joined Viking in February 2024 as the assistant to Lindsey Schwoeri and Allie Merola. She graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in English and computer science. Prior to joining Viking Penguin, Sonia was an editorial assistant at The Yale Review and a product manager at Twitter. Her interests include literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and inventive poetry. She…
Read MoreCarly James, Assistant Editor
Carly James (she/her) is an Assistant Editor who joined the Berkley team in 2022. She’s acquiring horror, thrillers, and suspense, and she’s particularly keen on stories with a dash of romance, supernatural elements, genre-blending, and Gen Z appeal. Carly is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied jazz vocals and urban…
Read MoreGabrielle Pachon, Assistant Editor
Gabbie Pachon (she/her) joined Berkley as an Editorial Assistant in August of 2022 after realizing that reading fiction was far more fun than reading legal briefs. She is looking to acquire fantasy, romance (especially contemporary and paranormal) and science-fiction with crossover appeal and is drawn to fun, distinct voices, propulsive pacing, and unique and vibrant…
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