Allie Merola, Editor
Allie Merola acquires fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for Viking Penguin and Penguin Poets. She is interested in literary and upmarket fiction with a distinctive voice and pitch; mystery and suspense novels with complex, unusual characters and a strong sense of place; narrative, idea-driven, and multidisciplinary nonfiction and essays across a wide range of subjects—including youth…
Read MoreJenn Houghton, Publishing Associate
Jenn Houghton (she/her) joined Viking Penguin in October 2021 and assists Brian Tart. She graduated with a Creative Writing B.A. from William Paterson University, which she earned while managing a retail business in Montclair, New Jersey. Moving on from small business, she entered the world of publishing with a passion for absurdist fiction, introspective narratives,…
Read MoreIbrahim Ahmad, Executive Editor
Ibrahim Ahmad joined Viking as executive editor in 2021. His nonfiction interests include current affairs, politics, history, science and technology, biography, business, and pop culture. He also publishes an eclectic array of literary fiction and crime fiction, with a particular focus on incendiary, urgent voices that subvert and expand the existing literature. His first title…
Read MoreNidhi Pugalia, Editor
Nidhi Pugalia joined Viking Penguin in 2019, after beginning her editorial career at Grand Central Publishing. In fiction, she is drawn to lyrical writing in the fantasy, magical realism, and speculative spaces; to complex and propulsive thriller and suspense novels; and to romantic novels that range from the bittersweet to the giddy, exploring love in…
Read MoreMarie Michels, Editor
Marie Michels (she/her) joined Pamela Dorman Books in 2020, after beginning her career in literary agencies. She has been fortunate to work with a wide range of authors, from New York Times bestsellers Ashley Audrain and Clare Pooley to the late, revered spy novelist John le Carré. She is a graduate of the University of…
Read MoreZora Squish Pruitt, Editorial Assistant
Zora Squish Pruitt (they/them) is a genderqueer pun specialist full-time editorial assistant. After graduating with a BFA in Creative Writing from Ringling College of Art and Design, they were a 2021 We Need Diverse Books internship grant recipient and editorial intern with Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group before starting at Dial. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, they spent their…
Read MoreMatt Boyd, VP, Associate Publisher, Director of Marketing
Matthew Boyd is the VP, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing at Penguin Press. He has been with Penguin since 2005 and has previously worked at Riverhead Books, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and in Penguin corporate.
Read MoreDavid Howe, Associate Editor
David Howe joined Dutton as an Associate Editor in 2024 and acquires a wide range of nonfiction. He is most drawn to books that elevate the stories of underrepresented groups, feature intimate narratives that shed light on broader issues, help us to live better lives, push us to reconsider things we misunderstand, and engage with…
Read MoreLindsay Ribar, Contracts, Finance, and Subsidiary Rights Manager
Associate Editor Sarah Blumenstock joined Berkley in 2016. Prior to joining Berkley she sold foreign and domestic rights for Penguin Young Readers. Sarah acquires commercial women’s fiction and romance—both historical and contemporary. Some of her recent and upcoming titles include The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman, A Touch of Forever by USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore and Faker by Sarah Smith.
Read MoreMary Baker, Assistant Editor
Mary Baker (she/her) is originally from St. Louis and is a graduate of Emerson College. She joined the editorial team in 2021 after starting her career in Penguin’s subsidiary rights contracts department. Mary acquires swoony contemporary romance and romantic comedies, fantasy of both the heart-poundingly romantic and heartwarmingly cozy varieties, fresh book club fiction, and feel-good…
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