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Magic Explained: Children’s Publishing at Simon & Schuster

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Simon & Schuster's Justin Chanda tells NYU Summer Publishing Institute students about children's publishing.
Simon & Schuster’s Justin Chanda tells NYU Summer Publishing Institute students about children’s publishing.

“Children’s books change lives,” said Justin Chanda, Vice President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster’s children’s trade imprints, including Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and Margaret K. McElderry Books. (He is also the publisher of the company’s new science fiction and fantasy imprint, Saga Press.) As Chanda spoke, about 20 NYU Summer Publishing Institute students listened intently, excited to be on an industry visit and learn more about children’s publishing. They gazed at the framed covers of Simon & Schuster’s many award-winning books, including those awarded the coveted Caldecott and Newbery Awards. “The beauty of what we do here,” Chanda continued, “is to give people their first experience with books.” [Read more…] about Magic Explained: Children’s Publishing at Simon & Schuster

Children’s Publishing: Alive and Thriving

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The Children's Publishing panel (l-r) Moderator Jonathan Yaged; Judith Haut; Jennifer Loja; Deborah Forte; Sara Shandler; Megan Tingley; and Justin Chanda
The Children’s Publishing panel: (l-r) Moderator Jonathan Yaged; Judith Haut; Jennifer Loja; Deborah Forte; Sara Shandler; Megan Tingley; and Justin Chanda

Touching on everything from Clifford the Big Red Dog to Gossip Girl, the amazing conversation at the annual children’s publishing panel captivated the NYU Summer Publishing Institute (SPI) students. Every detail counted for the audience that was quick to clap and gasp at the mention of a cherished series, an interesting fact, or an upcoming new release from authors like Matthew Quick and Cassandra Clare. We were so fortunate to listen to a lineup of children’s publishing rock stars. Jonathan Yaged, President, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, moderated. The panel consisted of Megan Tingley, Senior Vice President, Hachette Book Group USA and Publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Deborah Forte, President, Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President, Scholastic, Inc.; Judith Haut, Senior Vice President and Associate Publisher, Random House Children’s Books; Jennifer Loja, Vice President and Associate Publisher, Penguin Young Readers Group; Sara Shandler, Senior Vice President for Editorial, Alloy Entertainment; and Justin Chanda, Vice President and Publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and Margaret K. McElderry Books. Each panelist presented us with five slides in five minutes about their surprise successes, challenges, and strategies.

[Read more…] about Children’s Publishing: Alive and Thriving

Pop Culture Publishing: Liars, Werewolves, and Mockingjays

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Moderator Justin Chanda, Vice President & Publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and Margaret K. McElderry Books

A sea of familiar faces greeted attendees of the thirteenth NYU Media Talk, sponsored by the NYU-SCPS Center for Publishing Digital & Print Media. Sure, students and faculty filled a jam-packed Rosenthal Pavilion at the Kimmel Center, but what instantly got the crowd buzzing were the displays of book cover blow-ups featuring today’s most beloved characters of young adult fiction, including Bella Swan, Sebastian Verlac, and Emily Fields. The latest NYU Media Talk was titled “Pop Culture Publishing: Young Adult Megahits,” and everyone in attendance wanted the answer to one particular question: “What is the secret sauce to producing hits like Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Mortal Instruments, or Pretty Little Liars?” Indeed, as young adult books continue to transcend their traditional audience and shape a new generation of readers (including plenty of adults!), the publishing industry is actively trying to understand how and why children’s books succeed in acquiring their blockbuster-level status. [Read more…] about Pop Culture Publishing: Liars, Werewolves, and Mockingjays