Grace Layer, Associate Editor
Grace Layer joined Dutton in January 2021, after working as an agent assistant at Empire Literary and as a freelance editor. On the nonfiction side, Grace is looking for smart narrative nonfiction by journalists or experts in their field, particularly in the areas of education, intersectional feminism, and true crime. On the fiction side, she’s…
Read MoreLauren Appleton, Executive Editor
Lauren Appleton has been at TarcherPerigee since 2012, where she acquires a wide range of self-improvement titles, mainly for Millennials and Gen-Z. She is particularly interested in the areas of inspiration/motivation, pop-psychology, creativity, social justice, female empowerment, and anything that will improve your life or simply make you smile. A large portion of her list…
Read MoreTalia Benamy, Editor
Talia Benamy, editor at Philomel Books, joined Penguin Random House as an editorial assistant in 2013. She graduated with a BA in English from Cornell University. Talia is the editor of Cramm This Book: So You Know WTF Is Going On in the World Today by Olivia Seltzer, My Love for You Is Always by…
Read MoreJill Santopolo, Vice President & Publisher
Jill Santopolo is the vice president and publisher of Philomel. After seven years at HarperCollins, she joined Penguin Random House in 2009 and became associate publisher in 2018. She holds a BA in English literature from Columbia University and an MFA in writing for children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Jill is best…
Read MoreClaire Tattersfield, Assistant Editor
Claire Tattersfield is an assistant editor at Viking Children’s Books and Flamingo Books. She began her career at Penguin Young Readers in 2019 after graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in political science and global studies and a minor in Spanish. She supports Flamingo and Viking with picture books and a dash…
Read MoreAneeka Kalia, Associate Editor
Aneeka Kalia is an Associate Editor at Viking Children’s Books, where she primarily focuses on picture books and graphic novels for all ages. Aneeka also acquires middle grade and YA fiction, as well as select narrative nonfiction. Aneeka has worked with creators like Nidhi Chanani, Anoosha Syed, and Bianca Xunise. She looks for contemporary/realistic, humorous,…
Read MoreGretchen Durning, Editor
Gretchen Durning is an Editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group. She works primarily on young adult and middle grade fiction. She’s edited titles such as the New York Times bestseller Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor, the internationally bestselling Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, and These Deadly Prophecies by…
Read MoreMichelle Lee, Associate Editor
Michelle Lee (she/her) received her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the New School before joining Dial in 2019 and is a junior mentor with the Representation Matters Mentorship Program. She acquires picture books, novels, and graphic novels, and is looking for stories that present the world through a clever lens, have…
Read MoreRosie Ahmed, Editor
Rosie Ahmed (she/her) graduated with her master’s in creative writing from the University of South Dakota and joined Dial in 2018. She was a We Need Diverse Books internship grant recipient, a Representation Matters Mentorship Program mentee and junior mentor, and a co-instructor for the Children’s Book Academy summer 2020/spring 2021 middle grade and picture…
Read MoreEllen Cormier, Senior Editor
Ellen Cormier (she/her) is an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, acquiring picture books, novels, and graphic novels with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ stories and creators. She is always on the lookout for voicey, character-driven books, especially ones that explore universal themes through the lens of hyper-specific experiences. She has a soft spot…
Read More