The State of Children's Publishing: What's Selling and What's Not: Bria Ragin

State of Children's Publishing: What's Selling and What's Not: Bria Ragin

After a gushing introducing from Sarah Baker, TeMika set the stage for our State of Children's Publishing, where we will discuss what are people buying, not buying, what does the landscape look like, and dive into advice for our authors and illustrators.

TeMika: Please introduce yourself, paint a picture for us! Who you are and what you do? And what a day in the life looks for you?

Bria: Senior editor at Random house, Bria is one of seven at Delacorte. Celebrating 10 years in publishing, she is also a part of Joy Revolution. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives in Brooklyn.

Very much like Sally Kim, Bria has started time blocking her schedule. She starts with emails, copy, etc in the morning and in the afternoon, she can be found reading a manuscript or attending meetings. Bria usually reads one manuscript a week! 

TeMika: Thank you for that! I wanted to humanize the panel and those in publishing. As creators, we can be impatient, and wanted to have you tell us a day in your life so we can see the bigger picture. Set expectations

TeMika: I consider you all as taste makers in publishing. You work on books that will be seen in the next few years. How do you choose what's new, what's next? Do you get any ideas from booksellers, teachers, libraries?

Bria: Bria has a very specific taste. She is attracted to romance as an editor. She works within the YA genre fiction, which narrows down into Romance, Romantasy, Horror, and Thriller.Though they are similar, they all have their own voice. 

Bria never chases trends, she says. She buy what she likes, what appeals to her, and what she thinks is relatable to teenagers.

TeMika: What are you looking for, and not looking for?

Bria:

Bris acquires between 10-12 titles a year, mostly in romance. She even has purchased her first self-published Romantasy, that she is excited to work on, slotted to come out in 2027. Bria feels it's always nice when an indie author can work in house with the editors to find new potential and bonus material.

Bria is likes receiving cozy contemporary Romantasy, dystopian Romantasy, which she gets a lot nowadays. Fewer contemporary romance, but she'd would love more in her inbox. 

What Bria is not looking for or really into is contemporary realism, friendship or family stories. Give her campy horror, and psychological horror! 

TeMika: Submission process: Are you open to queries?
Bria: Bria doesn't accept un-agented submissions but did winter conference, and will consider any SCBWI writers who attended. For her, it takes about a month or two to get back to people who have submitted but she trusts her assistant so if she loves something as well, it goes to the top of Bria's list.

TeMika: Book proposal, any advice on what you'd like to see?
Bria:

-Bria receives a lot of books on proposal and personally enjoys coming up with a synopsis, before the author starts writing. Usually, you'll see a one paragraph summary, and a one page synopsis. With experienced writers, she will ask for less, and for newer authors, more but always open to a not full manuscript. She likes to work with author in the development stage.

Bria: I likes comp titles, especially when the author knows the market, not just the popular books.

TeMika: I know you focus on romance and fantasy, is romance dead?
Bria: "They say romance keeps the lights on in publishing." Bria doesn't think people will "stop wanting love." She does think there will be sub genres that will rise to the top but doesn't think that people don't want romance anymore. "Romance readers love their author so they will always come back. So I don't think it is dead. We've been doing it for centuries, and it's been around forever."

TeMika: How much influence does BookTok have on the marketplace. Does it affect what people are publishing?
Bria:
While Bria is definitely looking at social media, but if you aren't on social media, you won't be forced to be on it. BookTok-ers are very influential, and yes, they will send their books to them but it is just one avenue. Bria has found self-published authors through Booktok and it helps her know what outside people are looking for, so it has its use.

Bria: Bria has a knows that some authors don't show their face on social media, but still have a social media presence. Share quotes consistently, talk about your book consistently— don't put pressure on yourself to be on camera. Be authentic to you.

TeMika: Any thoughts on sales and promotions?

Bria: "Keep your eyes on your own papers, don't compare yourself to others." It's easy to compare yourself, but remember, everyone has their own journey. Some people become best-sellers on first book, some later. Have patience, and believe in yourself. She had to believe in herself as an editor. 

Remember, editors are usually the middle person for many teams, so it can be overwhelming, but there is a team, so let them know what you want and they can assist you.

TeMika: On the Global Market. TeMika has been to Bologna and has learned that the publishing world is very big. Should authors and illustrators be taking into account how their work fairs in a global way?

Bria: On changing language, spelling, etc, Bria doesn't often americanize language in her acquired books.  Some editors might but you want to find someone who gets you. For example, she doesn't italicize Spanish words. It's important that everyone be their authentic selves in their books.

TeMika: Are you seeing anything regarding book bans? Any advice?

Bria: Donate to organizations who are fighting book bans. Spread awareness on the local level, and read banned books.

TeMika:  What keeps you passionate in publishing?

Bria: Bria knew since she was a teenager that she wanted to be a editor. After reading Fallen by Lauren Kate, Bria knew she wanted to be a part of making books. She laughs that she doesn't know anything else. Editing is a "mentorship type of industry" and Bria loves working in it. She loves to read and making people's dreams come true. She works with a lot of underrepresented, and neurodivergent groups, and it makes her feel good to be a champion of those stories! She just wants to keep adding to the space.

About Bria

Bria Ragin is a Sr Editor at Delacorte Press, where she acquires mostly young adult fiction. She also edits novels for Joy Revolution, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books co-founded by bestselling authors Nicola and David Yoon, which focuses on young adult romances written by and about people of color. Her list for Joy Revolution includes Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert, Queen Bee by USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard, and A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya. Her Delacorte list includes Lisa Springer's There’s No Way I’d Die First. and Sher Lee's Fake Dates and Mooncakes. Prior to joining the Delacorte team in early 2021, she worked at HarperCollins for several years.