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STEVE GECK
Editor-at-Large, Sourcebooks Kids and Sourcebooks Fire
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR...
I’m acquiring books primarily for children from toddler through the age of fourteen and I sometimes edit teen fiction. I’m interested in picture books with an emotional hook and distinctive characters. For fiction I’m looking at all genres and subjects, stand-alone, or series.
RIGHT NOW, PLEASE DON'T SEND ME...
Rhyming picture book texts that don't scan well; gross-out chapter book series
HOW I GOT INTO BOOKS...
My mom was an elementary school librarian, and when I was in college she and my dad opened The Tree House Children's Book Store in St. Cloud, MN. After college I moved to New York City and worked as the buyer and manager for Eeyore's Books for Children. I spent many years as acquiring editor for Children's Book-of-the-Month Club. Eventually I entered the world of publishing working for Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers and Greenwillow Books.
ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS AN EDITOR DOES FOR AN AUTHOR IS...
To work thoroughly and patiently so that the book with the author's name printed on it is the best it can be.
I LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE...
I don't doubt for a second that a great book can change a child's life.
I KEEP MY READING PILE...
Overflowing from my nightstand, in my car, on my phone, on my iPad. I'm happiest when there are books everywhere!
BOOKSTORES YOU SHOULD VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE...
Which ones shouldn't you visit?
WHEN I'M NOT READING, I'LL BE...
Wathing Independent Lens on PBS, walking the High Line, or listening to music by British groups with odd names.
I FOLLOW READING, WRITING AND PUBLISHING NEWS AT...
PW Daily, Publishers Lunch, Shelf Awareness, Publishing Perspectives, A Fuse 8 Production, and Read Roger
