Our 2020 Editor Mentors!
JESSICA ANDERSON
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Children's)
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2020 Picture Book Mentor
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Jessica Anderson, associate editor at Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, works on a wide range of picture books, middle grade and YA fiction. She is the editor of the YA debuts Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown; The Spaces Between Us by Stacia Tolman; and Wrong in All the Right Ways by Tiffany Brownlee, as well as the picture book biographies Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn, and Samuel Morse, That’s Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer, illustrated by El primo Ramón, among others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Columbia University.
KATE MELTZER
EDITOR
Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Children's)
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2020 Picture Book Mentor
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Kate Meltzer is an editor at Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. She has worked with bestselling and award-winning authors such as Marie Lu, Melissa de la Cruz, and Matt de la Peña, among others. Kate acquires projects across genres for younger readers of all ages, ranging from original board books up through realistic contemporary YA and beyond. According to IMDb, she’s an actress known for The Last Five Years (though she thinks her cameo as “Handelman Twin #1” barely counts). When she’s not reading or editing, she can be found searching the streets of New York for the perfect croissant.
TIFFANY LIAO
SENIOR EDITOR
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Children's)
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2020 Middle Grade Fiction Mentor
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More about Tiffany's work:
Works on: Middle grade and young adult novels as well as select nonfiction with a pop culture emphasis.
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Looking for: Middle grade and YA fiction of all stripes, with a particular love for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative novels. I’m especially drawn to a hook-y concept, characters that breathe on the page, and unique world-building. On the nonfiction side, I’m keen to publish bold, distinctive voices with a strong point of view. With every project, I want something fresh, surprising, and unique—even unusual—in either theme, format, or scope.
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Recent Titles: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi; The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen; The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg; I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo and Jason Brown, illustrated by Anoosha Syed; Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races by K.D. Halbrook; The Story Collector by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb; Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien
BRIAN GEFFEN
EDITOR
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Children's)
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2020 Young Adult Fiction Mentor
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Brian Geffen is an editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He has worked with wonderful authors such as Julie C. Dao, Gregory Zuckerman, John Flanagan, Heather Kassner, Remy Lai, Katy Rose Pool, Rocky Callen, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Andrew Maraniss, among others. Brian acquires a wide variety of young adult and middle-grade fiction, particularly fantasy, realistic contemporary, and action/adventure, as well as the occasional nonfiction title and graphic novel. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Brian is a fan of traveling, eating, rap, and learning foreign languages.
