Editor Panel: Jennifer Rees

From Your House to My House: What Makes Me Choose Your Book
This editor panel is being moderated by Krista Marino.

Where have you been and and what books have you worked on in the past?

Jennifer was a bookseller at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati before she made the move to NY and began working for Scholastic Press. She acquires picture books, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction. She acquires based on personal love, and pushes something she really wants to work on.

Some of the authors she works with are: Wendy Mass, Suzanne Collins (she is one of her editors), and Sarah Darer Littman, plus many others.

Voice or Plot? What would you rather get in a submission?

It’s all about voice for Jennifer. She can work with an author to straighten out plot.

Every writer has books that inspire them, can you give me two books that have inspried your career or you wish you were a part of?
 
A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson
 
Do any of you find inspiration for your work outside the trade book world?
 
Jennifer tries to have her ear to the pulse of what other people are talking about, reading the newspaper, listening to NPR, and going to movies.
 
What specifically are you looking for for your list right now?
 
Finding a story that has not only fanstastic writing, great characters, great story, and great voice, but also has good commercial potential, menaing a wide audience.
 
Any pet peeves, or things not to do when submitting?
 
A package that's just not quite professional. She's always looking for someone who can promote themselves in a professional way.
 
Do you accept/read slush?
Scholastics policy is not to accept slush. Jennifer doesn't personally read slush but has assistants who do.