- Alex Majarskii And Megan Mack
- Alex Majarskii And Megan Mackenzie
- Alex Majarskii And Megan Machine Gun Kelly
- Alex Majarskii And Megan Macleod
Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe from the USA Women's Soccer Team talk about winning the World Cup, why the team is so good, fighting for equal pay, their victo. Editor's Note: We interviewed Alex Saratsis for this story before the coronavirus outbreak. Saratsis recently updated us on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the impact of the crisis on the NBA and Saratis' clients. After a 4:30 a.m. Workout hitting mitts with his trainer, Alex Saratsis '02 is completely soaked in sweat.
Everyone is familiar with McDonald's. The Golden Arches, the Big Mac, the Happy Meals.. they're the stuff of fond childhood memories and guilty pleasures well into adulthood. Because, let's be honest: sometimes, you just get a craving for a Big Mac and some fries, and there's absolutely nothing that can satisfy it but the real thing.
Founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald (otherwise known as Dick and Mac), it took an entrepreneur named Ray Kroc and a ton of drama to catapult McDonald's to the global fame they have today. According to McDonald's official history, Kroc bought out the brothers in 1961 for a cool $2.7 million — adjusted for inflation, that's about $23 million in today's money. That's a lot of money, but considering Statista says the McDonald's brand was worth over $126 billion in 2018, it's safe to say that was a good investment.
So, we know McDonald's is massive, and we know you've been there dozens of times. But.. what don't you know about McDonald's? It probably doesn't surprise you that a company this big has a ton of weird stories they try to keep quiet, so this is the untold truth of McDonald's.
McDonald's once recalled a million McNuggets
While customers Stateside might not have heard about it, McDonald's Japan had some major issues in 2014 and 2015 — issues so big and so gross that Mother Jones reported they led to a 10 percent sales decline.
It started in July 2014, when McDonald's stepped in to take some serious action against one of their chicken suppliers, Shanghai Husi Food Co. Rumor had it that the factory was mixing expired product in with the fresh stuff then shipping it to McDonald's, Starbucks, and Burger King in Japan and China— and that's just gross. Just a month later, a customer in Osaka found a piece of a human tooth in their fries, and it doesn't need to be said just how big a deal that was.
Then, in early 2015, there were several reports of customers finding pieces of plastic and vinyl in their Chicken McNuggets, leading the recall of one million of the bite-sized chicken chunks. Their supplier, Cargill, investigated, and came to the conclusion that the contamination didn't happen in their factory. So where did it come from? We may never know.. but it was there.
The McDonald's Big Mac isn't trademarked in Europe
Let's say you're opening a restaurant in New York, and you want to call one of your burgers the Big Mac. How well do you think that would work out for you? Now, if you were to open it in Spain? You'd be fine!
That's because McDonald's actually lost the trademark to the Big Mac in the European Union after a decision by the EU Intellectual Property Office (via Reuters), and this is how it happened.
The Guardian says that it was in the 1960s that Pat McDonagh was given the nickname 'Supermac' during a football match in Ireland's County Westmeath. Later, McDonagh went on to open a massively successful burger chain, and he called it Supermac's. When he tried to open locations outside of Ireland, McDonald's claimed 'Supermac' was too close to 'Big Mac' and would lead to brand confusion. But the EUIPO ruled in favor of Supermac's, and it was a huge deal — it didn't just mean the Irish chain could expand into other countries in the EU, it also meant that the 'Big Mac' trademark was void.
And that's huge, especially considering the number of McLawsuits McDonald's has previously filed and won. They even prevented a dentist from opening a practice called 'McDental,' and a Singapore coffee from getting the trademark 'MACCOFFEE.' Now, a different precedent has been set.
McDonald's is the world's biggest toy distributor
McDonald's isn't just about food, and if you have fond memories of opening your Happy Meal to see what toy you got, you're certainly not alone. Happy Meals made their debut in 1979 (and cost $1), and they've been a popular staple ever since. So popular, in fact, that The Motley Fool says that in 2004, they typically accounted for about 20 percent of sales, and that made McDonald's the largest toy distributor in the world. And that's incredibly valuable: win the hearts of kids, and you not only get their parents' attention, but you have customers for life.
Happy Meals are changing with the times, too. In 2014, The Atlantic reported that because McDonald's UK ran a promotion that offered codes for e-books instead of toys, it made them — temporarily, at least — the largest book distributor in the UK. See, they can use their powers for good!
Here's a fun fact: Yes, some of those McDonald's toys are worth a decent amount of money. According to Mental Floss, if you have the late 1990s-era McFurbys, any of the early Diener Keshi figures from the late 1970s and early 1980s, any of the Monsters, Inc. toys, or full sets of the Minions toys or the 101 Dalmatians, you can make a bit of extra cash.
McDonald's is not the biggest fast food chain in the US
McDonald's is huge, and they're everywhere. But here's the really surprising thing: they're historically not the largest fast food chain in the world — not by a long shot.
First, a bit of a disclaimer: it's hard to give exact numbers, because so many locations are opening and closing all the time. So let's talk about 2017.
According to CNBC, McDonald's was only the second largest chain in the world, as far as physical locations go. While they had 37,241 restaurants, they were handily beat out by Subway and their 43,912 locations. Starbucks was a surprisingly distant third, trailing with their 27,339 stores.
But that's a bit deceptive. When it comes to sales growth, Starbucks and McDonald's were miles ahead.
And now, let's talk about 2018 and stores in the U.S. only. According to Business Insider, Subway was still at the top of the pile with around 25,800 domestic locations. But Starbucks had recently passed McDonald's, opening 14,300 stores in comparison to McDonald's roughly 14,000 U.S. restaurants. Go figure!
McDonald's doesn't make their money selling food
At a glance, McDonald's makes and sells food. So, that must be how they make their money, right? Not quite, says Quartz.
They found that a large percentage of their profits comes not from Big Macs and fries, but from real estate. Part of their franchising strategies involves buying the land the restaurant will be on, then leasing the plot to the franchisee — and about 85 percent of McDonald's locations are run by franchisees. More than that, they often lease the properties at massive markups that mean even though the average McDonald's makes around $2.7 million a year, the average take-home pay for a franchise owner is just $154,000 a year. Around 22 percent of gross profits go into rent, and the numbers are staggering.
As of 2016, McDonald's held about $30 billion worth of real estate, and that netted them an annual profit of $4.5 billion. Talk about a brilliant business plan.
The cost of doing business for McDonald's is shocking
If you've ever thought running a McDonald's franchise might be for you, here's some pretty shocking, behind-the-scenes numbers that might make you think twice — starting with the fact that Business Insider reported that McDonald's requires each one of their new franchisees to have $750,000 in liquid assets available before they'll even consider you.
Startup costs can range anywhere from $958,000 and $2.2 million, and includes everything from construction to kitchen equipment and signage. Franchisees are responsible for paying 40 percent of that with non-borrowed cash — though they do allow you to borrow you the rest.
Then, franchisees pay a $45,000 franchise fee, as well as 4 percent of gross sales every month.. along with rent. They're also responsible for any upgrades that need to be done to the restaurant to keep it in line with other McDonald's locations, and some of those fees are pretty shocking. A Create Your Taste kiosk will set you back $125,000, a McCafe espresso machine is a whopping $13,000, and upgrades to the interior can run up a bill as high as $600,000.
And if they decide the whole restaurant needs a remodel, you're looking at as much as $2 million. Still interested?
McDonald's based an ad campaign around a song about a murderer
If you're of a certain age, you might remember McDonald's 'Mac Tonight' campaign. It's the one with the moon wearing super-suave sunglasses, and singing about how McD's was for dinner, not just lunch. But here's the weird thing: the song they picked to parody was about a criminal and murderer.
The song was Mack the Knife, made famous by 1950s star Bobby Darin. It's catchy, sure, but it's also a song based on a German song from The Threepenny Opera. That was originally a pretty graphic, incredibly violent tale about a man named Macheath (who actually dates back to 1728, says The Concourse). While McDonald's 'Moon Man' sung lyrics like 'When the clock strikes/Half past 6, babe/Time to head for/Golden lights,' Darin had sung lyrics like 'You know when that shark bites/With his teeth, babe/Scarlet billows/Start to spread.' There are also entire verses about someone being drowned at the bottom of a river with a pair of cement shoes, and the ladies of the night lining up for Mack and, well, that's about as far from slinging burgers as you can get.
The campaign disappeared abruptly, and that's largely because Darin's only son sued McDonald's for $10 million. The internet never forgets, though, and the Moon Man went on to have a post-mainstream ad campaign life as a racist meme created by YTMND, a Something Awful/4chan spinoff group.
McDonald's isn't welcome in a lot of countries
There are a ton of McDonald's restaurants worldwide, but surprisingly, there are a number of cities and countries that don't have a single location. Take Florence: in 2016, The Telegraph was reporting on a lawsuit McDonald's had filed against the city after they refused to let the Golden Arches set up shop at the Piazza del Duomo.
What other areas can't get their McDonald's fix? When the U.S. military closed their base in Bermuda in 1995, McDonald's closed, too — and they haven't reopened, because of the Prohibited Restaurants Act 1977. Iran kicked them out in 1979, and instead, they're home to a chain called Mash Donald's. Macedonia and McDonald's had a falling out, and McDonald's chose to cut and run out of Bolivia after a sort of nationwide disdain for the chain resulted in poor sales.
Barbados — which traditionally doesn't eat much beef — was another failed experiment, with their McDonald's lasting just one year. There are plenty of rumors as to why McDonald's has never opened in Montenegro, and, of course, there are none in North Korea.
But most fascinating of all is Iceland, who said goodbye to McDonald's in 2008. According to Culture Trip, love for an Icelandic burger chain called Hamborgarabulla was so strong that the people boycotted McDonald's. Visitors can still stop and see the last McDonald's burger ever served, though, as it's sitting at the Reykjavik Bus Hostel, looking much the same as it did years ago.
McDonald's made a massive move to ban straws
If everyone did just one thing to help the environment, it would make a huge difference. In 2018, one-time-use plastics — particularly drinking straws — made headlines as people started to realize just how bad for the environment they are. According to Ocean Collectiv (via CNBC), they're one of the items most commonly found during beach cleanups, and the problem with getting rid of them is that alternatives are much more expensive.
But McDonald's has still vowed to ditch straws, starting with their restaurants in the UK and Ireland. According to The Independent, all 1,361 locations will have their plastic straws replaced by paper ones, at a much greater cost to the Golden Arches. But both government officials and customers have lauded the decision, and not a moment too soon. UN estimates suggest that unless something major is done, by 2050 the seas will contain more plastics than fish.. and that's terrible. Thanks, McDonald's!
McDonald's accidentally-designed Golden Arches aren't always gold
Today, McDonald's Golden Arches are among the most recognizable logos in the world, but they came about pretty accidentally. According to BBC, the McDonald brothers met with LA-based architect Stanley Clark Meston to come up with a distinctive design for their buildings. On top of the flat-roofed building they had drawn up, Richard McDonald added two giant half-circles that were meant to catch the eye of passers-by — all potential customers. Meston turned those into the 'M' we all know and love today, and the very first ones were installed along with the very first franchised restaurant, opened in Phoenix, Arizona in 1953.
It went through a few more tweaks, and here's the weird thing: they're not all golden.
When McDonald's opened their location in Sedona, Arizona, they had to conform to local laws that served to protect the look and feel of the landscape, so their 'M' is turquoise. There are similar laws in place in other areas, which means the 'M' in Monterey, California is black, and those in Bruges and on the Champs-Elysees in Paris are white.
And here's a weird, fun fact you'll never be able to un-know: Freudian psychologists have suggested it's such a popular logo because it's reminiscent of humankind's original source of nourishment — breasts.
McDonald's had the long-running legal case in English history
McDonald's is one of the parties involved in England's longest-running legal case in history, and it's just as much of a saga as you'd expect.
In a nutshell: in 1986, London Greenpeace released a pamphlet called 'What's wrong with McDonald's — everything they don't want you to know.' There were all kind of accusations in it, from the mistreatment of animals to encouraging litter. In 1990, McDonald's filed their libel suit against five people. Three apologized, but Helen Steel, a part-time bar worker, and David Morris, an unemployed postal worker (both pictured), headed to court.
The pair got next to no help, and when they appealed to the European Court of Human Rights for legal aid against the millions McDonald's was throwing at them, they were essentially told they were doing well enough on their own. BBC says it wasn't until 1994 that the full trial got into motion, and spawned around 60,000 pages of documents.
It wasn't over until June 19, 1997, when the judge issued his 762-page verdict and ordered Steel and Morris to pay £60,000 in damages, finding McDonald's not guilty of many of their accusations. The pair have refused to pay, McDonald's has said they have no interest in collecting, and the case went down in history.
Your McDonald's Chicken McNuggets may have died of heart failure
Not everyone loves McDonald's, especially animal rights activists. The chain's official stance says: 'We believe treating animals with care and respect is an integral part of our commitment to serving McDonald's customers safe food,' and that's admirable. But animal rights groups say they're not following through on their commitments.
In 2018, Animal Equality partnered with other organizations to demonstrate at McDonald's locations and to broadcast iAnimal, a VR experience that took people 'inside' factory farms to see the suffering of the chickens that ultimately made it onto McDonald's menu. They called out McDonald's not just for their policies (via PR Newswire), but for not being the leader in animal welfare they thought they should be.
According to the Independent, one of the core issues was unnatural breeding practices that resulted in chickens that got too big too quickly and ended up suffering all kinds of health issues and heart failure. All this came on the heels of McDonald's announcement (via Reuters) that they were going to be raising the standard of care for their chickens.. by 2024. Is it good enough?
You shouldn't go through the drive-thru on horseback at McDonald's
Ever wonder if you could go through the drive-thru and satisfy your craving for a McFlurry while you're, say, riding a horse? If you haven't wondered.. have you even really lived?
There's a surprising number of people who have not only tried, but who have made headlines for it. In March 2018, BBC reported that a man in Suffolk, England had trotted up to the drive-thru and attempted to order a McCafe latte before being told the drive-thru actually wasn't for horses. (He went inside to get his coffee.) Just a few months later it happened again, in Worcestershire. The customer wanted a Big Mac, and the horse? His name was Oliver, Express reported. They weren't served by McDonald's, but they did get a snack from a nearby Cafe Nero.
South Carolina's Isaiah Rhones had better luck, when The AJC caught him on camera going through the drive-thru for some sweet tea and apple pies (and yes, his trusty steed was the recipient of an apple-flavored treat, too).
But a McDonald's in New Zealand wasn't having any of it, when they turned away two women on horseback. According to Wide Open Pets, the chain cited health and safety reasons for turning riders away.
McDonald's isn't McLovin' Ronald McDonald anymore
For decades, Ronald McDonald has been the face of McDonald's, but in recent years.. not so much, and it turns out that people have been calling for his head for a long time.
According toThe Street, there was a major push back in 2011 to retire him. Why? Because, petitions said, he was being used to market unhealthy fast food items to kids, and that wasn't good. At the time,CBRsays he was sort of already on his way out: McDonald's was shifting their marketing more toward adults, and had already gotten rid of most of their other McDonaldland characters. Still, Ronald was being increasingly more often lumped in with mascots like Joe Camel, who represented a company now condemned for trying to make cigarettes appeal to the youth.
And nowhere was that more visible than their ill-fated attempt to give Ronald his own Twitter account. Forbes says that when the chain decided to have their mascot tweet with #RonaldMcDonald in 2014, it went about as well as expected. There was more hate than love, and his fate was finally sealed in 2016. He was officially retired when the world started seeing people dressed as creepy, threatening clowns everywhere, and that was when McDonald's decided enough was enough.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Mack
Today, he only makes the occasional appearance — like at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (via the New York Post), and, of course, at the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Jen Besser
Senior Vice President and Publishing Director, Roaring Brook Press, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, First Second Books
Works on: Picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction
Looking for: I'm involved in the acquisition of all titles for Roaring Brook Press, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, and First Second Books. My hope is to publish books that make you laugh and think, and to feel understood.
Recent Titles:Nowhere Boy by by Katherine Marsh; Listen by Holly McGee; All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey; Rebel by Marie Lu.
Joy Peskin
Editorial Director
Works on: Picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, occasional nonfiction and graphic novels.
Looking for: Stories that reflect the racial and socio-economic diversity of modern American culture; books about someone going through something challenging and coming out on the road to okay; stories about characters standing up for their beliefs; witty, irreverent, kid-friendly picture books.
Recent Titles: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater; For Black Girls Like Me, by Mariama Lockington; The Unicorn Named Sparkle books by Amy Young; The graphic novel adaptation of Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson with art by Emily Carroll
Wesley Adams
Executive Editor
Works on: Picture books through young adult projects.
Looking for: I love books about kids who are up against it yet forge ahead with humor and pluck. I'm delighted by outrageous comedy and books that make waves. Please think of me for middle grade humor, offbeat material not too quirky for its own good, as well as stand-alone and series mysteries, survival stories, and thrillers. My dream projects are both the books that end up on kids' reading lists for school and the books they sneak-read during class.
Recent Titles:Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein and Debbie Bornstein Holinstat; Beast: Face-to-Face with the Florida Bigfoot by Watt Key; Secret Soldiers by Keely Hutton; A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner; Hazy Bloom and the Mystery Next Door by Jennifer Hamburg, illustrated by Jenn Harney; This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart and David Small; Twins by Mike Ciccotello.
Janine O'Malley
Executive Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, and YA.
Looking for: Books that raise awareness and foster empathy and compassion. I'm eager to find funny or sweet picture books; literary middle grade; middle grade or YA with a touch of magic or magical realism; Own Voices middle grade or YA about the refugee and/or immigrant experience; a literary love story about falling in love (or having your heart broken) for the first time; and YA fantasy with rich world-building, romance, and intrigue.
Recent Titles: The Pout-Pout Fish series; Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo; Wish by Barbara O'Connor; We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo.
Grace Kendall
Senior Editor
Works on: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction.
Looking for: Projects that interrogate power and power structures. I appreciate books that are asking--through humor, drama, tragedy, or joy--who has power, how you gain or lose it, and why. This means that the books I publish are frequently about class, race, gender, sexuality, the body & beauty, place or age--all axes along which people can be privileged or marginalized depending on their social context. Books can do this in overt or subtle ways and still be equally successful. To that end, I'm interested in all genres, tones, and aesthetics so long as there is literary quality. I also focus on creators whose lived experience influences their writing or who come from historically marginalized groups. Great books should implicate the reader in some way, asking them to question things about themselves, their families and communities, or the world around them. That's what I hope the books I publish will do.
My specific wish list includes a great coming-of-age graphic novel (MG or YA), a commercial LGBTQIA love story (YA), a novel centering a disabled character, a joyful middle-grade story with a queer character, or a snappy fun character-driven picture book featuring a child from a marginalized background.
Recent Titles: Mama Africa! by Kathryn Erskine and Charly Palmer (pb bio); the Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabet Vukovic (chapter book); Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz, with Renée Watson (middle grade); You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins (young adult); Black Wings Beating by Alex London; All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson (YA memoir); and The Other Side by Juan Pablo Villalobos (YA short nonfiction).
Trisha de Guzman
Associate Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, young adult, select graphic novels, select nonfiction.
Looking for: Character-driven, literary books with a commercial hook. Diverse and inclusive stories from creators that capture the complexities of children's lives. Projects that tackle timely contemporary issues creatively, including colorism; cultural diaspora; found families; consent; toxic masculinity; transgender experience; classism; and non-Western cultures. I acquire across all genres, but am most drawn to realistic or magical realistic settings, and I am especially interested in working with Asian/Southeast Asian, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and neurodiverse authors and illustrators. My specific wish list includes a contemporary love story featuring QPOC teens (YA), an eerie, atmospheric story inspired by Latin American or Southeast Asian mythology (YA), a gentle coming of age about a queer young person (MG), and a novel about a young person grappling with mental health challenges (MG).
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Jean Feiwel
Senior Vice President and Publisher, Feiwel & Friends, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Swoon Reads, Square Fish
Looking for: I am involved in the acquisition of all titles for Feiwel & Friends and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and looking for distinctive voices in picture book and outstanding commercial middle grade, teen fiction, and nonfiction. When I read something I want to feel like I have to have it
Recent Titles: Jimmy Fallon's This is Baby ; Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes and A is For Awesome by Eva chen; Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary by Martha Brockenbrough; Andy Griffiths 13 Story Treehouse series; The Magical Unicorn Society; Blood: A Memoir from the Jonas Brothers.
Liz Szabla
Associate Publisher, Feiwel & Friends
Works on: Fiction, picture books through YA, and select nonfiction.
Looking for: Picture books and fiction by new and established talent, featuring strong, unique, and unexpected voices/characters, and destined to be 'new classics.' Commercial, literary, romance, humor, adventure, or all of the above, any genre (surprise me!). Commercial nonfiction for middle grade and teen readers.
Recent Titles: The Renegades series by Marissa Meyer; Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig; Girls Like Us by Randi Pink; Wishtree by Katherine Applegate; Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin; Greetings from Witness Protection! By Jake Burt; Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell; Snakes on a Train by Kathryn Dennis; How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? By Vanessa Bayer, illustrated by Rosie Butcher
Kat Brzozowski
Senior Editor, Swoon Reads and Feiwel & Friends
Works on: Young adult novels with the occasional picture book and middle grade novel, non-fiction for teens.
Looking for: Young adult novels with a strong sense of voice, complex female characters, snappy dialogue, and books that feature diverse characters across any genre, although I'm almost always drawn to stories grounded in realism (my sci-fi tastes are more Minority Report than Star Wars). I also love non-fiction that offers a fresh perspective I acquire the occasional picture book or middle grade novel that catches my eye; I'm drawn to humor and timelessness in these genres.
Recent Titles: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore; Failing Up by Leslie Odom, Jr.; Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi; Before I Disappear by Danielle Stinson; Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann; Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen
Anna Roberto
Senior Editor
Works on: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, and select nonfiction projects.
Looking for: Any and all genres! I gravitate to distinct voice-driven projects, particularly stories that can make the reader laugh, cry, think, or see things in a new light. Commercial and literary projects are welcome.
Recent Titles:365 Days a Year by Demi Lovato; Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal; To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo; I Stop Somewhere by TE Carter; Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry; Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow by Discovery.
Holly West
Senior Editor, Feiwel & Friends and Swoon Reads
Works on: Young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and chapter books. I also do some nonfiction, usually related to technology or the internet in some way, and the occasional picture book.
Looking for: Smart protagonists who make me laugh, adventures that make my heart race, and worlds I can get lost in. As a giant geek and fangirl, I love fantasy, sci-fi, and snark. I'm excited about books that embrace the diversity of the world without presenting it as a problem that must be overcome. And if you can find me a female orphan thief who solves problems by being clever and sneaky instead of just stabbing people, I will love you forever!
Recent Titles:Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller; Mind Games by Shana Silver; Oddity and Twist by Sarah Cannon; the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series and the My FANGtastically Evil Vampire Pet series by Mo O'Hara; Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More by Dustin Hansen; Google It: A History of Google by Anna Crowley Redding; Ava in Code Land by Jess Hitchman and Gavin Cullen and illustrated by Leire Martin; and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
Emily Settle
Associate Editor
Works on: A little bit of everything, picture books through YA fiction.
Looking for: Middle-grade and YA fiction, particularly historical and sci-fi/fantasy. My first priority across the board is finding stories about diverse characters written by diverse authors, especially own voices authors. In historical fiction, I'm especially interested in stories that tell about people and places that you don't usually hear about in history class. I'm also a sucker for strong sister-bond stories (whether blood sister or sister-friend).
Recent Titles:The Silence of Bones by June Hur; Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta; The Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton; The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey; The Magical Unicorn Society books; To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin; The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas.
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Mark Siegel
Editorial & Creative Director
Works on: Graphic novels only—all age categories, children, teen, adult.
Looking for: Ambitious storytelling and groundbreaking nonfiction. Young readers: memoir, SFF, realistic fiction, instructional. Teen/YA: memoir, contemporary, supernatural, romance. Adult: non-fiction, topical/current events.
Recent Titles:Dragon Hoops , by Gene Luen Yang; Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol; Brazen: Rebel Ladies who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu; Unrig: How to Fix our Broken Democracy by Dan Newman & George O'Connor; Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld & Alex Puvilland; The Sculptor by Scott McCloud.
Calista Brill
Editorial Director
Works on: Graphic novels only—all age categories, children, teen, adult.
Looking for: Author-driven graphic fiction and nonfiction. Beautiful, accomplished art is a must. Bonus points for skeletons, possums, and/or making me cry.
Recent Titles:The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited , by Carey Pietsch and the McElroy family; Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks; Peter & Ernesto, by Graham Annable.
Robyn Chapman
Editor
Works on: Fiction and nonfiction graphic novels for middle grade and young adult readers (and adults too!).
Looking for: Educational nonfiction, memoir and biography, and fiction that doesn't easily fit into a genre.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Mackenzie
Recent Titles: Maker Comics, The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing; Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence.
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South Carolina's Isaiah Rhones had better luck, when The AJC caught him on camera going through the drive-thru for some sweet tea and apple pies (and yes, his trusty steed was the recipient of an apple-flavored treat, too).
But a McDonald's in New Zealand wasn't having any of it, when they turned away two women on horseback. According to Wide Open Pets, the chain cited health and safety reasons for turning riders away.
McDonald's isn't McLovin' Ronald McDonald anymore
For decades, Ronald McDonald has been the face of McDonald's, but in recent years.. not so much, and it turns out that people have been calling for his head for a long time.
According toThe Street, there was a major push back in 2011 to retire him. Why? Because, petitions said, he was being used to market unhealthy fast food items to kids, and that wasn't good. At the time,CBRsays he was sort of already on his way out: McDonald's was shifting their marketing more toward adults, and had already gotten rid of most of their other McDonaldland characters. Still, Ronald was being increasingly more often lumped in with mascots like Joe Camel, who represented a company now condemned for trying to make cigarettes appeal to the youth.
And nowhere was that more visible than their ill-fated attempt to give Ronald his own Twitter account. Forbes says that when the chain decided to have their mascot tweet with #RonaldMcDonald in 2014, it went about as well as expected. There was more hate than love, and his fate was finally sealed in 2016. He was officially retired when the world started seeing people dressed as creepy, threatening clowns everywhere, and that was when McDonald's decided enough was enough.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Mack
Today, he only makes the occasional appearance — like at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (via the New York Post), and, of course, at the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Jen Besser
Senior Vice President and Publishing Director, Roaring Brook Press, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, First Second Books
Works on: Picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction
Looking for: I'm involved in the acquisition of all titles for Roaring Brook Press, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, and First Second Books. My hope is to publish books that make you laugh and think, and to feel understood.
Recent Titles:Nowhere Boy by by Katherine Marsh; Listen by Holly McGee; All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey; Rebel by Marie Lu.
Joy Peskin
Editorial Director
Works on: Picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, occasional nonfiction and graphic novels.
Looking for: Stories that reflect the racial and socio-economic diversity of modern American culture; books about someone going through something challenging and coming out on the road to okay; stories about characters standing up for their beliefs; witty, irreverent, kid-friendly picture books.
Recent Titles: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater; For Black Girls Like Me, by Mariama Lockington; The Unicorn Named Sparkle books by Amy Young; The graphic novel adaptation of Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson with art by Emily Carroll
Wesley Adams
Executive Editor
Works on: Picture books through young adult projects.
Looking for: I love books about kids who are up against it yet forge ahead with humor and pluck. I'm delighted by outrageous comedy and books that make waves. Please think of me for middle grade humor, offbeat material not too quirky for its own good, as well as stand-alone and series mysteries, survival stories, and thrillers. My dream projects are both the books that end up on kids' reading lists for school and the books they sneak-read during class.
Recent Titles:Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein and Debbie Bornstein Holinstat; Beast: Face-to-Face with the Florida Bigfoot by Watt Key; Secret Soldiers by Keely Hutton; A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner; Hazy Bloom and the Mystery Next Door by Jennifer Hamburg, illustrated by Jenn Harney; This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart and David Small; Twins by Mike Ciccotello.
Janine O'Malley
Executive Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, and YA.
Looking for: Books that raise awareness and foster empathy and compassion. I'm eager to find funny or sweet picture books; literary middle grade; middle grade or YA with a touch of magic or magical realism; Own Voices middle grade or YA about the refugee and/or immigrant experience; a literary love story about falling in love (or having your heart broken) for the first time; and YA fantasy with rich world-building, romance, and intrigue.
Recent Titles: The Pout-Pout Fish series; Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo; Wish by Barbara O'Connor; We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo.
Grace Kendall
Senior Editor
Works on: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction.
Looking for: Projects that interrogate power and power structures. I appreciate books that are asking--through humor, drama, tragedy, or joy--who has power, how you gain or lose it, and why. This means that the books I publish are frequently about class, race, gender, sexuality, the body & beauty, place or age--all axes along which people can be privileged or marginalized depending on their social context. Books can do this in overt or subtle ways and still be equally successful. To that end, I'm interested in all genres, tones, and aesthetics so long as there is literary quality. I also focus on creators whose lived experience influences their writing or who come from historically marginalized groups. Great books should implicate the reader in some way, asking them to question things about themselves, their families and communities, or the world around them. That's what I hope the books I publish will do.
My specific wish list includes a great coming-of-age graphic novel (MG or YA), a commercial LGBTQIA love story (YA), a novel centering a disabled character, a joyful middle-grade story with a queer character, or a snappy fun character-driven picture book featuring a child from a marginalized background.
Recent Titles: Mama Africa! by Kathryn Erskine and Charly Palmer (pb bio); the Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabet Vukovic (chapter book); Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz, with Renée Watson (middle grade); You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins (young adult); Black Wings Beating by Alex London; All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson (YA memoir); and The Other Side by Juan Pablo Villalobos (YA short nonfiction).
Trisha de Guzman
Associate Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, young adult, select graphic novels, select nonfiction.
Looking for: Character-driven, literary books with a commercial hook. Diverse and inclusive stories from creators that capture the complexities of children's lives. Projects that tackle timely contemporary issues creatively, including colorism; cultural diaspora; found families; consent; toxic masculinity; transgender experience; classism; and non-Western cultures. I acquire across all genres, but am most drawn to realistic or magical realistic settings, and I am especially interested in working with Asian/Southeast Asian, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and neurodiverse authors and illustrators. My specific wish list includes a contemporary love story featuring QPOC teens (YA), an eerie, atmospheric story inspired by Latin American or Southeast Asian mythology (YA), a gentle coming of age about a queer young person (MG), and a novel about a young person grappling with mental health challenges (MG).
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Jean Feiwel
Senior Vice President and Publisher, Feiwel & Friends, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Swoon Reads, Square Fish
Looking for: I am involved in the acquisition of all titles for Feiwel & Friends and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and looking for distinctive voices in picture book and outstanding commercial middle grade, teen fiction, and nonfiction. When I read something I want to feel like I have to have it
Recent Titles: Jimmy Fallon's This is Baby ; Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes and A is For Awesome by Eva chen; Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary by Martha Brockenbrough; Andy Griffiths 13 Story Treehouse series; The Magical Unicorn Society; Blood: A Memoir from the Jonas Brothers.
Liz Szabla
Associate Publisher, Feiwel & Friends
Works on: Fiction, picture books through YA, and select nonfiction.
Looking for: Picture books and fiction by new and established talent, featuring strong, unique, and unexpected voices/characters, and destined to be 'new classics.' Commercial, literary, romance, humor, adventure, or all of the above, any genre (surprise me!). Commercial nonfiction for middle grade and teen readers.
Recent Titles: The Renegades series by Marissa Meyer; Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig; Girls Like Us by Randi Pink; Wishtree by Katherine Applegate; Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin; Greetings from Witness Protection! By Jake Burt; Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell; Snakes on a Train by Kathryn Dennis; How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? By Vanessa Bayer, illustrated by Rosie Butcher
Kat Brzozowski
Senior Editor, Swoon Reads and Feiwel & Friends
Works on: Young adult novels with the occasional picture book and middle grade novel, non-fiction for teens.
Looking for: Young adult novels with a strong sense of voice, complex female characters, snappy dialogue, and books that feature diverse characters across any genre, although I'm almost always drawn to stories grounded in realism (my sci-fi tastes are more Minority Report than Star Wars). I also love non-fiction that offers a fresh perspective I acquire the occasional picture book or middle grade novel that catches my eye; I'm drawn to humor and timelessness in these genres.
Recent Titles: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore; Failing Up by Leslie Odom, Jr.; Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi; Before I Disappear by Danielle Stinson; Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann; Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen
Anna Roberto
Senior Editor
Works on: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, and select nonfiction projects.
Looking for: Any and all genres! I gravitate to distinct voice-driven projects, particularly stories that can make the reader laugh, cry, think, or see things in a new light. Commercial and literary projects are welcome.
Recent Titles:365 Days a Year by Demi Lovato; Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal; To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo; I Stop Somewhere by TE Carter; Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry; Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow by Discovery.
Holly West
Senior Editor, Feiwel & Friends and Swoon Reads
Works on: Young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and chapter books. I also do some nonfiction, usually related to technology or the internet in some way, and the occasional picture book.
Looking for: Smart protagonists who make me laugh, adventures that make my heart race, and worlds I can get lost in. As a giant geek and fangirl, I love fantasy, sci-fi, and snark. I'm excited about books that embrace the diversity of the world without presenting it as a problem that must be overcome. And if you can find me a female orphan thief who solves problems by being clever and sneaky instead of just stabbing people, I will love you forever!
Recent Titles:Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller; Mind Games by Shana Silver; Oddity and Twist by Sarah Cannon; the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series and the My FANGtastically Evil Vampire Pet series by Mo O'Hara; Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More by Dustin Hansen; Google It: A History of Google by Anna Crowley Redding; Ava in Code Land by Jess Hitchman and Gavin Cullen and illustrated by Leire Martin; and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
Emily Settle
Associate Editor
Works on: A little bit of everything, picture books through YA fiction.
Looking for: Middle-grade and YA fiction, particularly historical and sci-fi/fantasy. My first priority across the board is finding stories about diverse characters written by diverse authors, especially own voices authors. In historical fiction, I'm especially interested in stories that tell about people and places that you don't usually hear about in history class. I'm also a sucker for strong sister-bond stories (whether blood sister or sister-friend).
Recent Titles:The Silence of Bones by June Hur; Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta; The Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton; The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey; The Magical Unicorn Society books; To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin; The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas.
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Mark Siegel
Editorial & Creative Director
Works on: Graphic novels only—all age categories, children, teen, adult.
Looking for: Ambitious storytelling and groundbreaking nonfiction. Young readers: memoir, SFF, realistic fiction, instructional. Teen/YA: memoir, contemporary, supernatural, romance. Adult: non-fiction, topical/current events.
Recent Titles:Dragon Hoops , by Gene Luen Yang; Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol; Brazen: Rebel Ladies who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu; Unrig: How to Fix our Broken Democracy by Dan Newman & George O'Connor; Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld & Alex Puvilland; The Sculptor by Scott McCloud.
Calista Brill
Editorial Director
Works on: Graphic novels only—all age categories, children, teen, adult.
Looking for: Author-driven graphic fiction and nonfiction. Beautiful, accomplished art is a must. Bonus points for skeletons, possums, and/or making me cry.
Recent Titles:The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited , by Carey Pietsch and the McElroy family; Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks; Peter & Ernesto, by Graham Annable.
Robyn Chapman
Editor
Works on: Fiction and nonfiction graphic novels for middle grade and young adult readers (and adults too!).
Looking for: Educational nonfiction, memoir and biography, and fiction that doesn't easily fit into a genre.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Mackenzie
Recent Titles: Maker Comics, The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing; Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence.
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Christian Trimmer
Editorial Director, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Works on: Fiction and nonfiction across all formats.
Looking for: HHBYR is hungry for more picture books with series potential; middle grade and YA novels that deal with timely issues in a commercial, speculative, and/or allegorical way; middle grade action-adventure series; middle grade and YA graphic novels; romantic comedies that break boundaries; genre novels that surprise and delight.
Recent Titles:<The Shape of Water by Daniel Kraus and Guillermo del Toro; The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart; What We Buried by Kate Boorman; Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller; Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox; Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christan McKay Heidicker; Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World by Julie Leung, illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald.
Laura Godwin
Publisher, Godwin Books
Works on: Dvd player mac download. Picture books and middle grade, fiction and nonfiction.
Looking for: Debut novelists, new illustrators, and old-timers looking to do something new.
Recent Titles:Hand in Hand by Rosemary Wells; Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael Lopez; the Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet series by Jacqueline Kelly; Lucky Strikes by Louis Bayard; Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman; Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution by Bernie Sanders.
Christy Ottaviano
Publisher, Christy Ottaviano Books
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, and YA, with a special focus on picture book biography and middle grade fiction.
Looking for: Curates a specialized list featuring books with a strong voice and point of view.Picture books: preschool, biography, child milestones, humor, curriculum-inspired, author-illustrator driven. Novels: adventure, mystery/suspense, urban fantasy, coming-of-age, humor,character-driven fiction; illustrated fiction; narrative nonfiction.
Recent Titles:Potato Pants! by Laurie Keller; Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk; Up Verses Down by Calef Brown; Tough Cookie by Edward Hemingway; the Masterpiece Adventures series by Elise Broach; the My Life series by Janet Tashjian; Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman; Winterhouse by Ben Guterson; Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt; Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai; The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry; American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott.
Kate Farrell
Senior Editor
Works on: Primarily YA fiction but also picture books, chapter books, and middle grade fiction.
Looking for: Voices that are funny, poignant, and unpredictable. Stories that communicate the emotional truth of what it's like to be four or fourteen.
Recent Titles: The Remnant Chronicles (The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, The Beauty of Darkness), Dance of Thieves, and Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson; Lucky Caller by Emma Mills; Light It Up by Kekla Magoon; Little Universes by Heather Demetrios; The Pursuit of Miss Heartbreak Hotel by Moe Bonneau; Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung; It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn and Noah Grigni.
Tiffany Liao
Senior Editor
Works on: Middle grade and young adult novels as well as select nonfiction with a pop culture emphasis.
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.
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
Works on: Middle grade and young adult novels (particularly fantasy and contemporary fiction), plus select graphic novels.
Looking for: Action-packed, high-stakes fantasy featuring unique magic systems, fresh worldbuilding, and strong prose; affecting, beautifully-written contemporary middle grade; contemporary YA (both the gritty and dark variety as well as quirky and poignant novels); stories about overcoming adversity and prejudice; novels about morally complex characters, including antiheroines/antiheroes.
Recent Titles:There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool; The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner; Thieves of Weirdwood by William Shivering; Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai; Epic Athletes by Dan Wetzel.
Julia Sooy
Editor
Works on: Narrative nonfiction, picture books, middle grade and teen fiction.
Looking for: Best mac specs for music production. Playful science writing that celebrates wonder, feminist biographies, adventures of the fantastical or real-life variety, character-driven historical fiction.
Recent Titles:Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty, illus by Stevie Lewis; Cats Are a Liquid by Rebecca Donnelly, illus by Misa Saburi; The Monster Catchers by George Brewington; Driving by Starlight by Anat Deracine.
Jessica Anderson
Associate Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, and YA, with a special interest in biography, literary fiction, and genre-bending memoirs.
Looking for: Sweetly funny picture books; Imaginative, eccentric middle grade concepts animated by fresh, heartfelt writing and memorable characters; Contemporary YA fiction and literary coming of age novels from underrepresented voices; Magical realism and grounded fantasy for all ages; High-concept thrillers.
Recent Titles:Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown; The Spaces Between Us by Stacia Tolman; Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn; Samuel Morse, That's Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer, illustrated by el Primo Ramon.
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Erin Stein
Publisher
Works on: All ages and formats, focusing on new media properties, commercial teen fiction, middle grade fiction, and picture books. Original IP development.
Looking for: Surprising plot twists and original voices, and particularly new voices from a wide variety of lived experiences; fresh takes on genre tropes; creative dynamos open to collaboration; opportunities to develop original content for licenses and brands.
Recent Titles:King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo; The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring; Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra; Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia; The Real McCoys series by Matthew Swanson, illustrated by Robbi Behr; Babysitting Nightmares series by Kat Shepherd; Snazzy Cat Capers series by Deanna Kent, illustrated by Neil Hooson; The Super Happy Party Bears series by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Steve James; Honeysmoke by Monique Fields, illustrated by Yesenia Moises; Eleanor Wyatt, Princess and Pirate by Rachael MacFarlane, illustrated by Spencer Lauderio.
John Morgan
Executive Editor
Works on: YA, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, and occasionally chapter books and adult, plus specialty licensed books.
Looking for: High-concept young adult, middle grade, and picture books with mass appeal. Most interested in fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and thriller. Also looking for humor, pop nonfiction, and unusual formats/approaches (puzzles, a game element, a digital component, and creative layouts).
Recent Titles:Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland, The Wild Lands by Paul Greci, The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander, and When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick, Luis O. Ramos, Jr., and German Blanco.
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Publisher
Works on: Books in categories or formats we haven't seen before, skill-building books, joyful nonfiction that dives deeply into the subject matter, definitive books in a given category, interactive game-like books, gift books for all ages.
Looking for: More of the above. And better.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Machine Gun Kelly
Nathalie Le Du
Editorial Director
Works on: Books that kids write in, draw on, cut up, generally destroy, and ultimately learn from; guides that build skills in readers; visually-driven and interactive nonfiction; books that encourage a child's love of learning.
Alex Majarskii And Megan Macleod
Looking for: books that educate and inspire, substantive nonfiction, interactive formats, books that utilize innovative pedagogy and the power of play.
Justin Krasner
Senior Editor
Works on: Books kids can use as tools to explore, expand, and create their own worlds, whether that's a board book that helps babies learn something new, a craft book that teaches readers a new skill, a paper toy book that encourages imaginative play, or definitive and interactive nonfiction that introduces a new concept or a new take on an old concept.
Looking for: New formats, new voices, and new takes on nonfiction favorites (and soon to be favorites!) for kids 0-14.
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Executive Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and nonfiction.
Looking for: Hilarious, smart, and uniquely stand out voices; illustrated novels and graphic novels; anything that upends existing formats or expectations; debuts or established authors looking to break into something new.
Recent Titles:Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill; The Little Guys by Vera Brosgol; After the Fall by Dan Santat; Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez; Best Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham; Born to Fly by Steve Sheinkin; On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden.
Emily Feinberg
Editor
Works on: Nonfiction (all genres), picture books, middle grade, YA (contemporary).
Looking for: Science-driven narrative nonfiction (all ages); nonfiction for all ages; character-/voice-driven middle grade novels; picture books with a different perspective.
Recent Titles:Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper; If Sharks Disappeared series by Lily Williams; Red Rover by Richard Ho, illustrated by Katherine Roy; Go With the Flow by Lily WIlliams and Karen Schneemann; Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley; illustrated by Jessica Lanan; Three Squeezes by Jason Pratt; illustrated by Chris Sheban; Bringing Down A President by Andrea Balis and Liz Levy; Beyond Words Young Readers Adaptations by Carl Safina; The Doll's Eye by Marina Cohen;
Kate Meltzer
Editor
Works on: Picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels.
Looking for: Character-driven stories with literary execution and commercial appeal; books that are quirky, funny, profound, and heartfelt. Most of all, I'm drawn to distinct voices and immersive stories that transport readers and linger long after the final page. I'm open to all genres; anything that can capture my imagination, make me laugh, or inspire feeling something honest and intense.
Mekisha Telfer
Editor
Works on: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and nonfiction projects
Looking for: Heart and humor above all else; stories that are both timeless and timely. Middle-grade novels (contemporary and speculative) with a commercial hook and literary feel; Contemporary YA sci-fi/fantasy that's fresh and unpredictable; YA coming-of-age stories that have both hijinks and heartbreak, but not necessarily in equal measure; Narrative and pop culture nonfiction. I acquire across all genres, and I am especially interested in seeing projects written by and featuring marginalized and underrepresented voices.
Recent Titles:I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest; Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen; We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade; Ronan the Librarian by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie, illustrated by Victoria Maderna; The Epic Fails series by Erik Slader and Ben Thompson (nonfiction chapter book)
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