Kathy Dawson to Launch Her Own Imprint at Penguin Young Readers Group
September 21, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
KATHY DAWSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, DIAL BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS, TO LAUNCH HER OWN IMPRINT AT PENGUIN YOUNG READERS GROUP
Kathy Dawson Books to launch in Winter 2014
New York, NY – Kathy Dawson will launch an eponymous imprint at Penguin Young Readers Group, Kathy Dawson Books, it was announced today by Don Weisberg, President, Penguin Young Readers Group. The imprint will focus on emotionally-driven middle grade and young adult novels that explore the human condition. Dawson was previously Vice President and Editorial Director for Fiction at Dial Books for Young Readers. In her new role, she will continue to work with her established authors and series while actively searching out new talent. Kathy Dawson Books will launch in Winter 2014 and will publish across all genres.
Kathy Dawson commented, “The authors with whom I work don’t just write good books, they write intense, emotionally-driven books that celebrate the human condition -- from the tiniest moments to the biggest events – with poignancy, humor, and courage. I’m thrilled to offer them—in a house that provides the incredible care for which Penguin Young Readers is known—their own wing.”
Don Weisberg said, “Since Kathy returned to Penguin this has been in the back of my mind and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition. I look forward to reading the many wonderful books that Kathy will acquire and edit.”
Kathy Dawson began her career at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and was most recently Vice President & Editorial Director for Fiction at Dial Books for Young Readers. Kathy is the editor of New York Times bestselling authors Kristin Cashore, whose Fire was an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner, and Gennifer Choldenko, whose Al Capone Does My Shirts was a Newbery Honor Book; as well as K.L. Going whose Fat Kid Rules The World received a Printz Honor and is now a nationally-available movie picture. Kathy edited Chime by Franny Billingsley, a National Book Award Finalist and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book for Fiction, Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, an Andre Norton Award Finalist and New York Times bestseller, and Getting Near To Baby by Audrey Couloumbis, a Newbery Honor Book.
NOTE TO THE PRESS:
Penguin Young Readers Group includes such preeminent imprints as Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Philomel, Puffin, Speak, Firebird, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times- bestselling authors as Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen,John Green, Eric Hill, Anthony Horowitz, Brian Jacques, Mike Lupica, Richard Peck, Patricia Polacco, Jacqueline Woodson and dozens of other popular authors.
Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as The Little Engine That Could, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Strega Nona, Madeline, Mad Libs, Alex Rider, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Flower Fairies, and Pippi Longstocking, among many others.
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.
# # #
Media contact:
Shanta Newlin
Director of Publicity
