Book Winners – Kudos – Industry Changes

BOOK WINNERS:

Cathy Stefanec Ogren won WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?! by Robin Newman

Angie Quantrell won NEXT LEVEL by Samara Cole Doyon

Lindsay H won FIRST FRUIT by Amalia Hoffman

Winners please send in your addresses and mention the title of the book you won.

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KUDOS:

Schneider Family Book Award Winner Shannon Stocker’s IZZY’S WHEELS, a biography about Izzy and Ailbhe Keene, who realized the fashion options available to Izzy, a wheelchair user, weren’t the same as those for her sister; the two founded their own company and now create stylish wheel covers for wheelchair users throughout the world, illustrated by Diana Mayo, to Jessica Garrison at Dial, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2026, by Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio for the author, and by Andrea Morrison at Writers House for the illustrator (world).

INDUSTRY CHANGES:

HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

Mark Kent, Hachette Book Group’s vp of operations planning and corporate real estate, will retire at the end of May after 15 years with the company.

DUTTON

Rachael Kelly has joined as editor. She was previously at Grand Central.

LERNER PUBLISHING GROUP

Fran Greenman-Schmitz has been named publisher of Jewish-themed children imprint Kar-Ben Publishing. She will succeed current publisher Joni Sussman on July 1, when Sussman retires. Fran Greenman-Schmitz previously worked for Highlights for Children and other brands.

MARSAL LYON LITERARY AGNCY

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong has joined as agent. She was previously at The Purcell Agency.

STEEL WORKS LITERARY:

Lori Steel has founded SteelWorks Literary where she will continue to build her list of authors and illustrators, from picture books and graphic novels to YA and select adult crossover titles. She was previously at Red Fox Literary.

DHH LITERARY AGENCY:

Diana Beaumont will join on June 3, moving over from Marjacq Scripts.

Charlote Peters and Ella Kurki have been promoted to assistant editor.

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO:

Katie Lakina has joined as assistant acquisitions editor.

Shannon Blackbriar has joined as art rights associate.

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Talk tomorrow,

Kathy