We all know how important the first page of a manuscript is. But what do editors look for in this crucial first page, and what makes a first page shine? Kat will live-review first pages from attendees, talking about the strengths of the page and areas where the pages can be improved. Even if you don’t submit a page, you’ll come away with valuable advice and insight from a seasoned children’s book editor. This event will be recorded and available for 30 days for those who registered for the live event. Participants who register by July 9, 2023 will receive an email with instructions on where and when to send their first page (12 pt, double-spaced). Bio: Kat Brzozowski is a senior editor at Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Childrens Publishing Group, where she has worked since 2016 after seven years at St. Martin’s Press. She has edited a wide range of titles, including Anna-Marie McLemore’s When the Moon was Ours and The Mirror Season, both longlisted for the National Book Award, and new Fear Street books in R.L. Stine’s best-selling series, which has sold over eighty million copies worldwide. Kat is looking to acquire young adult fiction, especially contemporary, realistic YA with a strong hook; dark, contemporary fiction; and mysteries, suspense and thrillers. When it comes to speculative elements, she looks for projects mostly rooted in the real world. In the picture book and middle grade space, she is drawn to stories she’s never seen before that feel both timeless and timely. Across the board, she’s drawn to authors who bring a new perspective to their readers.