Penguin Publishing Group
Amanda Maurer, Assistant Editor
Amanda Maurer (she/her) joined Berkley in 2022, after graduating from Loyola University Chicago. She acquires contemporary and paranormal romance, feel-good mysteries, and propulsive book club fiction with Gen Z appeal. In any genre, she is particularly drawn to heartwarming stories with a smart voice, quirky characters, and fresh twists on classic tropes. Amanda is also a…
Read MoreAnnie Odders, Assistant Editor
Annie Odders (she/her) has been at Berkley since 2022 and is a graduate of Tulane University. In past lives, she has been a Wisconsinite, New Orleanian, and Hollywood assistant. Annie acquires in the mystery and fantasy spaces, and in either genre, she enjoys feel-good stories with a strong romantic element, witty sense of humor, or historical…
Read MoreCandice Coote, Associate Editor
Candice Coote (she/her) is an Associate Editor who joined Berkley in 2021 and acquires genre-blending thriller/suspense, horror, sci-fi/speculative, and fantasy. She likes stories that are dark and propulsive as well as cozy, healing stories and often if they speak to the world around us in a fresh way. She is especially interested in works of fiction…
Read MoreAce Overview
Ace Books, the oldest continuously operating publisher of science fiction/fantasy in the United States, is known for publishing groundbreaking speculative novels that push the limits of imagination and redefine the way we see the world. Ace is home to some of the most influential novels in the science fiction and fantasy genre: Frank Herbert’s bestselling Dune series;…
Read MoreDaphne Ming Durham, Executive Editor
Daphne Ming Durham joined Putnam in 2023 from MCD / Farrar, Straus & Giroux and publishes genre-blurring fiction with sharp edges, diverse perspectives, and spiky protagonists. She loves voice-driven, surprising novels that readers might devour in one sitting, but come away having learned something—vivid, gripping stories that upend familiar tropes and push boundaries in crime,…
Read MoreElla Kurki, Assistant Editor
Ella Kurki joined Dutton in February 2023, after starting her career at Penguin Michael Joseph in London. She loves voice and character-driven fiction with unique storytelling and unpredictable characters. On the nonfiction side, she’s interested in deeply researched stories that entertain, educate, and engage with contemporary issues. Ella has editorially contributed to Cherry Lou Sy’s…
Read MoreIsabelle Alexander, Assistant Editor
Isabelle Alexander (she/her/hers) joined Penguin Life in January 2023 assisting Meg Leder and Amy Sun. She graduated with an International Relations B.A. from Tufts University. After working as an administrative assistant at a healthcare facility, she transitioned to the world of publishing and enjoys nonfiction books from diverse voices that interrogate the established systems of…
Read MoreLeila Sandlin, Assistant Editor
Leila joined Portfolio in April 2023. She’s excited to acquire and edit idea-driven nonfiction by brilliant thinkers and innovators who change the way we see the world, and to amplify marginalized and underrepresented voices. She graduated from New York University with a BA in linguistics. Before moving to New York, she lived in Jackson Hole,…
Read MoreMegan Wenerstrom, Associate Editor
Megan joined Sentinel in 2022, drawn to big ideas that push boundaries and inspire new perspectives. Her authors span a diverse range of thinkers—entrepreneurs, philosophers, environmentalists, tech experts, activists, and even cowboys —bringing fresh insights to readers. Before publishing, Megan’s career began as a public school teacher, where she cultivated her talent for sparking curiosity and meaningful dialogue.
Read MoreLara Blackman, Executive Editor
Lara Blackman joined Dutton as an Executive Editor in March 2026, with a focus on acquiring mysteries and thrillers. She’s drawn to propulsive plots, complex characters who challenge social and cultural norms, and stories that take readers to places they’ve never been. Prior to Dutton, she held editorial positions at Simon & Schuster and Audible,…
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