Keynotes and Conversations With Renowned Book Creators
Inspiration and wisdom from the greats of chlidren's publishing.
The State of Children's Publishing: What's Hot and What's not - A Publisher's Panel
Get the inside perspective straight from acquiring editors and agents on the trends, shifts, and market realities shaping children's publishing today, and what that means for your next book. Moderated by TeMika Grooms.
Best in Genre: Insider Advice from Leading Children’s Book Editors
What separates a promising project from one that truly stands out? In this candid and practical conversation, moderator Kirsten Hall brings together three children’s-book editors with distinct editorial specialties: Mabel Hsu (Sourcebooks) on humor; Emily Feinberg (Macmillan) on nonfiction; and Celia Lee (Simon & Schuster) on “seemingly simple” picture books.
Panelists will offer a clear-eyed editorial perspective on what they notice first, the mistakes they see most often, and the revisions that can transform a project from appealing to exceptional. The discussion will explore the craft considerations and submission demands of each specialty:
- HUMOR: voice, page turns, escalation, text-image interplay, endings
- NONFICTION: finding a compelling angle, balancing information with storytelling, and making complex ideas accessible and engaging.
- “SEEMINGLY SIMPLE” PICTURE BOOKS: creating emotional resonance with very little text, allowing art to carry the story, and making every word count.
The session will also help creators at every stage think more strategically about editorial fit.
