|
MOLLY CUSICKEditor, Sourcebooks Fire & Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
In picture books, I love stories with humor and heart; quirky characters kids will root for (think SECRET PIZZA PARTY); and lyrical, thought-provoking texts (like the work of Philip Stead). In middle grade, I’m drawn to realistic contemporary that’s poignant and uplifting (such as THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH); adventure, mystery, and sci-fi with elements of humor; and sweeping fantasy novels (like Jessica Townsend’s NEVERMOOR). For YA, I’m dying to see rom-coms from fresh perspectives (I’d love a YA version of RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE); contemporary novels where the setting is a character (like Julie Murphy’s DUMPLIN’) and/or that explore social issues through deeply personal journeys (like Elizabeth Acevedo’s WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH); immersive sci-fi or fantasies (in the vein of Hafsah Faisal’s WE HUNT THE FLAME); and tautly plotted thrillers. I’m especially looking for stories that elevate marginalized voices, and I encourage submissions from #ownvoices authors. |
RIGHT NOW PLEASE DON'T SEND ME... Books where sports are the focus, gross humor, rhyming picture books (unless there’s a great hook and a fresh take).
|
|
|
|
|
HOW I GOT INTO BOOKS... I’ve always been a book nerd! As a kid, I taught myself to code so I could run a Harry Potter website. I interned for a literary agency in college and that turned into a full-time job. I fell in love with the children’s books industry and I’m so happy to be here.
SOME FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS I DIDN'T PUBLISH... Recent favorites I’d have loved to work on include Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down, Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Courtney Summers’s Sadie, Meg Medina’s Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time, Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree, Jory John and Pete Oswald’s The Good Egg.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AN EDITOR DOES FOR AN AUTHOR IS... act as a sounding board for new ideas and provide a fresh pair of eyes on something an author has been working on for a while.
I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE... I get to work with authors not only to achieve their dreams, but to help them create mirrors for children to see themselves, and windows for them to see and understand others more clearly. It’s a privilege to be a part of that process.
I KEEP MY READING PILE... I wouldn’t be surprised if a book fell out of my kitchen cabinet. They’re everywhere.
BOOKSTORES YOU SHOULD VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE... Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They have a cat named Tiny and a great little backyard.
WHEN I'M NOT READING, I'LL BE... hanging out with Donut, my enormous orange cat; doing MasterChef mystery box challenges with my husband; going on historical walking tours (I’m a big New York City history buff and especially love historical fiction set here).
I FOLLOW READING, WRITING, AND PUBLISHING NEWS AT... Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, Shelf Awareness, and on Twitter
SOME FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS I DIDN'T PUBLISH... Recent favorites I’d have loved to work on include Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down, Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Courtney Summers’s Sadie, Meg Medina’s Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time, Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree, Jory John and Pete Oswald’s The Good Egg.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AN EDITOR DOES FOR AN AUTHOR IS... act as a sounding board for new ideas and provide a fresh pair of eyes on something an author has been working on for a while.
I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE... I get to work with authors not only to achieve their dreams, but to help them create mirrors for children to see themselves, and windows for them to see and understand others more clearly. It’s a privilege to be a part of that process.
I KEEP MY READING PILE... I wouldn’t be surprised if a book fell out of my kitchen cabinet. They’re everywhere.
BOOKSTORES YOU SHOULD VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE... Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They have a cat named Tiny and a great little backyard.
WHEN I'M NOT READING, I'LL BE... hanging out with Donut, my enormous orange cat; doing MasterChef mystery box challenges with my husband; going on historical walking tours (I’m a big New York City history buff and especially love historical fiction set here).
I FOLLOW READING, WRITING, AND PUBLISHING NEWS AT... Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, Shelf Awareness, and on Twitter
AGENTS CAN CONTACT ME AT molly.cusick@sourcebooks.com, direct line 212-414-1701 ext. 2231, Twitter: @molly_cusick
