 20 years of Master Class to Masterpiece |
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2019 FACULTY: Bios Agent
While Kari is open to picture books through adult, middle grade and YA are her favorite age ranges to work on, and she's open to all genres within those. She's most interested in finding stories full of heart; ones that carry readers to faraway places or deep into a character’s mind; action-packed page-turners that surprise her; dark dramas with touches of humor; and, above all, a voice that leaps off the page. She is actively seeking diverse voices across all genres. Additionally, Kari is interested in character-driven stories, new twists on classic tales, empowering themes, epic fantasy, fresh voices and experiences, inventive mysteries, humor, and magical realism.... to name a few! Kari not only edits and represents writers, she has co-authored the popular Menagerie trilogy (for ages three to seven) with her sister, Tui Sutherland, and has written several film-to-book adaptations for Disney. Kari says her experience as a writer makes her all the more appreciative of the agony writers feel when their work is being reviewed. She promises to be encouraging. Equally important, Kari will be "delighted" to participate in our workshop because "I enjoy working with authors on developing their craft and helping to pinpoint what is and isn't working in their manuscripts. I love the opportunity to connect with writers in a relaxed, welcoming environment, and look forward to hearing feedback from this workshop's teen writers as well." And we look forward to sharing this weekend with Kari. Editor Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Before joining Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in 2019, Samantha worked in editorial roles at Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books, where her fiction list included Reach for the Skai by Disney Channel star Skai Jackson. She has worked closely with New York Times bestselling authors Danica McKellar, Megan Miranda, and Raymond Arroyo, Morris Award-winner (YA author) Jeff Zentner, and high-profile authors Jazz Jennings and (novelist) Scott Kelly. Also, for four-plus years at Crown, Samantha worked with Vice President and Publisher Emily Easton, who edited WE SAY #NEVERAGAIN: Reporting from the School That Inspired the Nation. From her editorial perspective, Samantha says of our event, “This sounds like an amazing opportunity. I would love to workshop with your authors.”Editor Mora Couch is an editor at Holiday House. A graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course, she was previously an editorial intern at Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s Books. In chapter books through YA fiction, she is primarily interested in contemporary, sci-fi/fantasy (including animal fantasies), scary ghost stories, and historical submissions (especially in an unusual setting), among others. Mora says, “It’s important to me to raise up underrepresented voices and build a diverse list. I like both literary and commercial writing, as well as projects that walk that line.” |
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Kari Sutherland is an agent at the Bradford Literary Agency, which has offices in both New York and California. She transitioned to agenting after a decade of publishing experience from the editorial side. Previously a Senior Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Kari has worked with bestselling and critically-acclaimed authors on projects such as the #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success. On an encouraging note, 90 percent of her new clients are debut authors. 
Samantha Gentry, editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, acquires middle grade and YA fiction, with a primary focus on middle grade—where she’s especially on the lookout for voice-driven stories with unforgettable characters, a strong friendship at its core, interesting family dynamics, and a touch of magical realism. In YA fiction, Samantha is looking for authors who have a platform, own voices, and stories that tackle tough issues teens face in an authentic way. Anything with a strong and distinctive narrative voice would be a great fit. Samantha is also a sucker for romance and would love to see more positive female friendship stories. While the topics in this small sampling would especially entice Samantha, she is open to reviewing manuscripts in all middle grade and YA genres—such as, but not limited to, historical with a strong voice, character-driven fantasy with a strong commercial hook, and stories about the arts. She loves a narrative with great storytelling at its core, a compelling voice, and characters that stick with you long after the final page.