Berkley Team

Penguin: Because Reading Matters

Carly James, Editorial Assistant

Carly James (she/her) is an Editorial Assistant who joined the Berkley team in 2022. She’s acquiring horror, thrillers, and suspense, and she’s particularly keen on stories with a dash of romance, supernatural elements, genre-blending, and Gen Z appeal. Carly is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied jazz vocals and urban…

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Gabrielle Pachon, Editorial Assistant

Gabbie Pachon (she/her) joined Berkley as an Editorial Assistant in August of 2022 after realizing that reading fiction was far more fun than reading legal briefs. She is looking to acquire fantasy, romance (especially contemporary and paranormal) and science-fiction with crossover appeal and is drawn to fun, distinct voices, propulsive pacing, and unique and vibrant…

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Amanda Maurer, Editorial Assistant

Amanda Maurer (she/her) joined Berkley as an Editorial Assistant in 2022, after graduating from Loyola University Chicago. She acquires smart and fresh romance, feel-good mysteries, and charming fantasy with crossover appeal. Her upcoming projects include a new paranormal romance series from Olivia Dade and Alys Murray’s steamy rom-com, A Little Buzzed. Amanda is also a…

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Annie Odders, Editorial Assistant

Annie Odders (she/her) has been an Editorial Assistant at Berkley since 2022; she is also 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…

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Candice Coote, Assistant Editor

Candice Coote (she/her) is an Assistant Editor who joined the Berkley team in 2021 and acquires genre-blending thriller/suspense, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. She gravitates to stories ranging on a spectrum from dark and propulsive to sweet and healing and is always seeking works by authors from underrepresented communities with an eye on issues or interests…

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Mary Baker, Assistant Editor

Mary Baker (she/her) is originally from St. Louis and is a graduate of Emerson College. She joined the editorial team in 2021 after starting her career in Penguin’s subsidiary rights contracts department. Mary acquires swoony contemporary romance and romantic comedies, feel-good mysteries, fantasy of both the heart-poundingly romantic and heartwarmingly cozy varieties, and fresh book club…

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Sareer Khader, Editor

Associate Editor Sarah Blumenstock joined Berkley in 2016. Prior to joining Berkley she sold foreign and domestic rights for Penguin Young Readers. Sarah acquires commercial women’s fiction and romance—both historical and contemporary. Some of her recent and upcoming titles include The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman, A Touch of Forever by USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore and Faker by Sarah Smith.

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Liz Sellers, Associate Editor

Associate Editor Sarah Blumenstock joined Berkley in 2016. Prior to joining Berkley she sold foreign and domestic rights for Penguin Young Readers. Sarah acquires commercial women’s fiction and romance—both historical and contemporary. Some of her recent and upcoming titles include The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman, A Touch of Forever by USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore and Faker by Sarah Smith.

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Jenn Snyder, Assistant Editor

Associate Editor Sarah Blumenstock joined Berkley in 2016. Prior to joining Berkley she sold foreign and domestic rights for Penguin Young Readers. Sarah acquires commercial women’s fiction and romance—both historical and contemporary. Some of her recent and upcoming titles include The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman, A Touch of Forever by USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore and Faker by Sarah Smith.

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Miranda Hill, Assistant Editor

Associate Editor Sarah Blumenstock joined Berkley in 2016. Prior to joining Berkley she sold foreign and domestic rights for Penguin Young Readers. Sarah acquires commercial women’s fiction and romance—both historical and contemporary. Some of her recent and upcoming titles include The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman, A Touch of Forever by USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore and Faker by Sarah Smith.

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