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ANNA MICHELS
Editorial Director, Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR...
Nonfiction: A wide variety of prescriptive and narrative nonfiction across categories. Smart, practical nonfiction with a unique, commercial hook and prescriptive elements in self-help, parenting, psychology, health and wellness, and more—particularly books that champion marginalized voices and that will change hearts and minds. On the narrative side: history, true crime, compelling deep dives into fascinating topics, and memoir by writers who connect the events of their lives to readers through incredible storytelling. I have a personal weakness for travel books and outdoors-related content.
Fiction: Crime fiction (everything from cozies to thrillers), including crossover literary (think Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger) and anything that fans of Tana French, Louise Penny, or Laura Lippman would devour.
RIGHT NOW, PLEASE DON'T SEND ME...
Romance, YA, children’s books, or poetry
HOW I GOT INTO BOOKS...
After a part-time job at my local library in high school, I majored in English in college and attended the Denver Publishing Institute before joining Sourcebooks.
SOME FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS I DIDN'T PUBLISH...
Everything by Tana French, Nevada Barr, William Kent Krueger, Peter Heller, Andy Weir, Mary Roach, Erik Larson, Emily Oster, and Allie Brosh. Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton; Into the Planet by Jill Heinerth; Evicted by Matthew Desmond; Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser.
ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS AN EDITOR DOES FOR AN AUTHOR IS...
Be a sounding board and an advocate. Developing relationships with authors is one of my favorite parts of being an editor and I would love to someday be one of those veteran editors who has been working with the same brilliant author for 30+ years.
I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE...
There are very few things that make me as happy as a good book—and I get to work with them every day!
I KEEP MY READING PILE...
On one very organized shelf on a color-coded bookcase. Once the book is read, it moves to a different shelf. You could maybe say I’m a little obsessive about my books…
BOOKSTORES YOU SHOULD VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE...
I love the Tattered Cover in Denver and La Feltrinelli in Rome, where I spent many hours searching out English-language books during my exchange student days. Locally, I visit Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville and Townhouse Books in St. Charles, IL.
WHEN I'M NOT READING, I'LL BE...
Biking, playing bass guitar (badly), or planning my next road trip.
I FOLLOW READING, WRITING AND PUBLISHING NEWS AT...
Shelf Awareness and Publishers Weekly
