Julie Strauss-Gabel, publisher of Dutton Children’s Books since 2011, is known for her harsh editorial letters that tear an author’s work to shreds. She is also known for her knack of spotting talent and transforming it into the next breakout star of young adult fiction. (In this week’s New York Times young adult best-seller list, five of the ten spots are held by novels she edited, including John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns.)
In 2014, revenue from adult fiction and nonfiction sales fell by 1.4 percent, while revenue from young adult and children’s books rose by a whopping 21 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, adults aged 18-44 made up 65 percent of young adult fiction buyers, purchasing the books for their own reading pleasure.
“We’re in an era where the definition of a young adult book is completely up for grabs, and people are willing to reinvent it,” says Strauss-Gabel. “There’s no one saying ‘You can’t do this in a book for children.‘”
Julie Strauss-Gabel, pictured here with John Green.
To read the full New York Times article on Julie Strauss-Gabel and the future of YA publishing, click here.