New Place to Submit YA and MG Books

Algonquin Books will start publishing young adult and middle grade books by the end of 2012 and has hired Elise Howard, formerly svp and associate publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, to oversee the program. Howard plans to start the new list with up to a half dozen titles next year and build “gradually” from there. She will work out of Algonquin’s New York office, starting in mid-November.

“Developing a brand-new young adult and middle-grade readers’ list is a rare opportunity,” Howard said in the announcement. “The really thrilling challenge is to do it within a program as esteemed as Algonquin’s, with the goal of building a small, focused, literary list that reflects and honors its origins in every way.” Howard spent the past twelve years at HarperCollins, most recently providing editorial oversight for the HarperTeen and Harper imprint fiction publishing programs.

Algonquin publisher Elisabeth Scharlatt added: “Over the years, a number of Algonquin’s adult titles have attracted young adult readers. If we’re to grow beyond our adult trade list, then publishing books geared explicitly for younger readers seems to be the most logical way to extend our reach.”

If you would like them to consider your manuscript, please send a short (no more than 15-20 double-spaced pages) sample of your work, a cover letter, a self-addressed envelope, and a check to cover return postage to:

Elise Howard
Algonquin Books
225 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014

http://www.algonquinbooksblog.com/submission-guidelines/

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy