Where the Cool Kids Are: The Rise and Rise of YA and Children’s Literature

Moderated by Rena Rossner, Literary Agent, The Deborah Harris Agency, Israel

Rena Rossner is a literary agent at The Deborah Harris Agency, which represents Israeli, Palestinian and other Internationally-based authors Rena is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s Writing Seminars Program, she studied at Trinity College, Dublin and holds an MA in History from McGill University. She is the author of the cookbook Eating The Bible (Skyhorse, 2014) and the novels THE Sisters Of The Winter Wood (Redhook/Orbit, 2018) and The Light Of The Midnight Stars (Redhook/Orbit, 2021). She mainly represents Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction, with a specific interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Barbara Marcus - President and Publisher, Random House Children’s Books PRH, US

Barbara Marcus is a leading business and marketing strategist in the areas of children’s content and distribution and is currently President and Publisher of Random House Children’s Books. Previously, Barbara was President at Scholastic Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution where she led the publishing effort for six out of the seven Harry Potter titles as well as leading the Book Clubs and Book Fairs. Ms. Marcus serves on the Advisory Board of First Book; the Board of Directors of Graham Windham; and the Executive Publishing Committee of UJA.

Photo courtesy of PRH

Natasha Farrant - Literary Scout and Author, UK

Natasha Farrant has been a literary scout for twenty years, specialised in books for children’s and young adults. She works with Kinneret-Zmora in Israel, with publishers across Europe and with audio and production companies in the UK. She is also the author of twelve books for young people, including VOYAGE OF THE SPARROWHAWK, which won the Costa Book Award in 2020. Farrant has two grown-up daughters and lives in London with her family.

Thille Dop - Senior Publisher, Children’s & YA Literature Luitingh-Sijthoff, Netherlands

I studied library sciences and history at the UvA. I worked as a marketing and publicity manager and in 2001 I became children’s book editor. I became a (senior) publisher for the children’s and YA market in 2004. Three times in my career I was asked to build a children’s book publishing house from scratch. The last time was seven years ago at Luitingh-Sijthoff. My list ranges from original Dutch titles in both fiction and non-fiction and illustrated originals to commercial & literary titles in translation.

Photo © Bonnita Postma

Marta Mazza - Editor in Chief, Mondadori Children’s Books, Italy

Marta Mazza is Editor-in-chief for Mondadori Children Books, the biggest Italian publisher with the widest catalogue for children. Some of the most important authors I work with are: David Grossman, Jerry Spinelli, Brian Selznick, Patrick Ness, Frances Hardinge, Rick Riordan, Neil Gaiman etc. Our recent bestseller is Goodnight stories for rebel girls by Elena Favilli. Our best-selling Italian projects abroad are Mortina/Ghoulia series by Barbara Cantini and Davide Morosinotto’s middle grade novels.

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen - Managing Director of Macmillan Children's Books, UK

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen is the Managing Director of Macmillan Children’s Books, a leading UK Children’s Publisher renowned for publishing bestsellers and prize-winners alike. Rasmussen has led the business through eight consecutive years of growth, driven by focus on brand management, investment in new areas of publishing and international partnerships. She has an MBA from the London Business School, was born in Italy, grew up in Denmark, speaks five languages and cycles everywhere.