Jenny Bak, Executive Editor

Jenny Bak is Executive Editor at Viking Children’s, where she edits middle grade and young adult fiction, as well as the occasional picture book. She is drawn to stories at the intersection of commercial and literary, especially those with irresistible hooks, a swift pace, clever storytelling, unexpected twists, and authentic, diverse voices. In YA, she has a particular interest in fantasy, speculative fiction, thrillers, horror, and also contemporary romance that incorporates deeper themes, especially concerning issues of inclusivity and belonging. Science fiction and high fantasy aren’t quite as high on her list!  In middle-grade, she’d love to see heartstring-tugging friendship stories, exciting adventure chronicles, magical realism, animal fantasies, and thrilling mysteries to puzzle out. Currently, she edits books by Nnedi Okorafor, Derrick Barnes, Sarah Kuhn, Kevin Sands, Michael Rex, Robyn Schneider, Estelle Laure, Sangu Mandanna, and Gloria Chao, among others. Prior to Viking, she helped launch James Patterson’s children’s imprint as Editorial Director of JIMMY Patterson Books/Little, Brown where she acquired the #1 New York Times bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, as well as the bestsellers Katt vs. Dogg, Ali Cross, How to Be a Supervillain, Swipe Right for Murder, Kingdom of the Wicked, and the Girls of Paper and Fire series.