PICADOR - Key Persons
I'm a huge crime and thriller fiction fan and this is where my focus has been while growing my list under the Macmillan and Pan imprints. There's nothing quite like being immersed in a gripping crime novel or a sensational thriller that hooks you in and doesn't let go until the final page and that feeling is something I'm constantly searching for when reading submissions. I'm always interested in manuscripts that have unique voices and hooks, breathtaking twists, stylish writing, driving plots and a strong sense of place in either contemporary or historical settings.
As part of the Pan team, I've worked with some of our biggest brand authors including Peter James and David Baldacci, and I also oversee the heritage publishing of Douglas Adams. My list aims to span the spectrum of crime and thriller fiction - from evocative historical crime to razor-sharp psychological thrillers, heart-warming cosy crime to intricately plotted police procedurals and upmarket international thrillers from around the world. My authors include Robbie Morrison, D. V. Bishop, Hayley Scrivenor, Ruth Kelly, R. L. Graham, Lin Anderson and L T Shearer. My authors have won, or been shortlisted or longlisted for CWA daggers, the McIlvanney Prize, The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and the HWA Debut Crown.
Job Titles:
- International Sales and Marketing Executive - Asia
Job Titles:
- International Sales Assistant
I joined Picador at the very end of 2021 with a remit to publish a range of non-fiction, both voice-driven and concept-driven; I enjoy publishing a smart gift book as much as a literary-prize contender. Over the years, I have worked with an array of authors, including politicians, activists, journalists, academics, medics, social entrepreneurs and comedians: all of whom with something important to say about the world. I'm particularly interested in diverse and feminist voices. I am now delighted to be working with Picador authors such as the Secret Barrister, Jeffrey Boakye, Ben Judah, Jenny Kleeman, Graham Robb and Jon Ronson.
I joined Picador in the summer of 2022 after twelve years at Granta, where I published an array of prize-winning literary fiction and non-fiction from around the world in a range of genres; from the very literary to speculative and horror. The authors I have worked with include Gwendoline Riley, Sarah Moss, Eleanor Catton, Catherine Lacey, Patrick deWitt, Margo Jefferson, Sayaka Murata, Mariana Enriquez and Mark O'Connell. In fiction, I look for literary craft and a strong voice; from big, astonishing novels that land like a thunder-clap to perfectly crafted gems that uncover how we harm and love each other. In non-fiction, I am a sucker for a good prose stylist teaching me something new and making me rethink the world. My nascent Picador list includes the writers: Gwendoline Riley, Kaveh Akbar, Louise Hegarty, August Thompson, Mai Sennaar, Mieko Kawakami, Jen Hadfield, Gina Chung, Hanna Bervoets, Neema Shah, Stephanie Sy-Quia, and Samanta Schweblin.
I joined Pan in April 2023, and work across both our new Macmillan Business imprint and the broader Pan Non-Fiction list.
On the Business list, I specialise in publishing fresh under-represented voices, big-idea books with a twist and thrilling narrative exposés. I like to challenge the status quo of what a business book should be, prioritising those titles that force us to question the working world around us, the institutions that govern our lives and the characters at the forefront of enterprise. I have been lucky enough to work on multiple Sunday Times bestsellers, and with a wide range of stellar authors including Rob Copeland, Simon Sinek, Sophie Williams, John Doerr, Anne Boden and Duncan Mavin.
On the Non-Fiction list, I like to work on books that align with my major interests: sports, psychology, sociology, food, personal development and philosophy. Regardless of the genre, I'm always looking for authors that can build a strong narrative around their chosen subject matter - for me, the best non-fiction reads as though it could be a storybook. Some of my authors include Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Steph Curry, Stefan Falk, Ben Ambridge, Donald Robertson and Wendy Wood.
I especially love to commission books that force us to look at the world from a different angle, and that challenge or upend the traditional boundaries of their genres. I strongly believe that diversifying any industry leads to increased revenues and better work.
Job Titles:
- Head of Sales - North America
I was appointed Poetry Editor in 2022, taking over the excellent list built up over twenty-five years by my predecessor Don Paterson. It is my honour to look after the work of some of the best poets in the English language, from celebrated national laureates to the leading lights of a new generation. Picador poets include: Carol Ann Duffy, Robin Robertson, Denise Riley, Raymond Antrobus, Ian Duhig, Kathleen Jamie, Jacob Polley, Rachel Long, P J Harvey, Frances Leviston, Jericho Brown, Karen Solie, Sean O'Brien, Kae Tempest, Harry Josephine Giles and new signings Maya C Popa, Airea D Matthews and Susannah Dickey. I'll be working closely with the team to develop the dynamic and varied list at Picador, as a home for the most original poetry across styles and genres. Please direct queries via Ebruba Abel-Unokan.
Job Titles:
- Head of International Sales - Digital & Audio / Trade Marketing
Since joining in 2021, I had the pleasure of working across a number of commercial titles on the Pan Fiction list. From brand authors such as Karen Swan, Peter James, Ann Cleeves and Ken Follett, to author who push the borders such as Blake Crouch, John Marrs, Robert Dinsdale, Lola Jaye and Dr Amir Khan.
I have always loved the escapism a book could offer, whisking a reader into worlds and experiences at time recognisable, while at times beyond our reality. I enjoy tales across all genres, but I particularly enjoy those touched with inspiration from ancient history, mythologies and folklores from around the world.
As I look to start my list, I wish to find stories that bring new characters, with a feminist edge, from lesser-known mythologies to life in the vein of Circe by Madeleine Miller. I am keen to find vivid stories that convey human experiences, from diverse perspectives and across time periods to present to new audiences. Ultimately, I seek escapist reads that transport you into worlds beyond your own, expose you to new and relatable experiences. I appreciate well-loved romantic tropes, a historical setting, a dash of magic (light and dark), loveable but complex characters, with plots that keep the reader at the edge of their seat and wanting to share the book at the end. Recent favourites of mine are Honey & Spic e by Bolu Babalola, Make a Scene by Mimi Grace, Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong and Edge Of Here by Kelechi Okafor.
Job Titles:
- International Sales Executive - France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, E.Europe, M.East ( Ex. Israel, Turkey, UAE ), Africa
I've been a non-fiction editor at PanMacmillan for an unconscionably long time, but only moved across to Picador relatively recently, in 2018. I publish history, historical biography, memoir and narrative non-fiction. I'm looking for authors who combine a deep knowledge and understanding of their subject with a gift for clear and compelling prose. My authors include Peter Ackroyd, Hugh Aldersley Williams, Sophie Ambler, Jeremy Bowen, Michael Burleigh, Yashaswini Chandra, Jane Glover, Natalie Haynes, Adam Hochschild, Channing Joseph, Jackie Higgins, Judith Mackrell, Polly Morland, Catherine Nixey, David Nott, David Olusoga, Suzanne O'Sullivan, Robert Service and Francesca Stavrakopoulou.
As well as being one of the publishers for Tor, with a special interest in romantasy, cosy fantasy and cross over speculative fiction, I also commission selectively for Pan across a range of commercial fiction.
I like big stories, beautifully told, and am drawn to unique voices regardless of genre. In fact I love novels that dare to cross genre divides or play with established tropes. While I'm primarily looking for natural storytellers and character-driven fiction, I also like novels that have something interesting to say about our world whether that's through the lens of historical fiction, or magical, dystopian or contemporary settings.
I've been lucky enough to work with a wide range of authors including Andy Weir, Katherine Arden, Caitlin Moran, Julia Quinn and Rowan Coleman, and my authors on the Pan list currently include Karen Swan, Annie Murray, Lola Jaye, John Marrs, Kate Stewart and Juan Gómez-Jurado, among many others.
I'm a publishing director for Pan non fiction, focusing on books with a strong commercial bent in the areas of celebrity, music, pop culture, true crime, history/military history. On the celebrity side my authors include Louis Theroux, Elton John, Michael McIntyre, Mariah Carey, David Bailey and Amanda Owen (aka the Yorkshire Shepherdess) whose 5 books have all been top 10 bestsellers.
I am also proud to have published the bestselling Lily's Promise, by Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert and her great-grandson Dov and The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku and am always looking for stories that inspire.
I have two bestselling titles with Robert Hardman - Queen of Our Times and Charles III: New Reign, New Court, The Inside Story - and a forthcoming book on D-Day that is a tie-in to a TV series.
Job Titles:
- Senior Sales Manager - China, HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan
I assist across the Pan Non-Fiction and Macmillan Business imprints, and working in particular with Sara Cywinski and Lydia Ramah and their incredible authors, from Christian Lewis and Dan Biggar to Rick Astley and Lisa Marie Presley.
I'm drawn towards memoirs and stories that really draw you in with their lyricism, celebrate diverse backgrounds, including those that are queer and neurodiverse, and especially those that explore the darker sides of our every-day lives - even better with tongue-in-cheek humour.
Overall, I'm excited about books that bring fresh perspectives, help readers reflect or start conversations, and ultimately transform how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Job Titles:
- International Sales Director - Exclusive Markets
I joined Picador in the summer of 2023 after working for a year at an indie publisher. I assist Ravi Mirchandani with his fiction and non-fiction titles.
I joined Pan in Spring 2023, bringing with me an in-depth knowledge of the retail landscape, having previously worked in both Sales and Editorial at Orion. I am building my own commercial fiction list, while also working on some of Pan's biggest and best-loved brand authors, including Danielle Steel and Lucinda Riley.
I am passionate about publishing bold, vibrant fiction, with a striking package to match. I am looking for: narratives with an unusual setting or strong sense of place; stories with a touch of magic; escapist romcoms and inclusive love stories; upmarket commercial fiction with sharp dialogue and pacy plotting; crossover or speculative fiction, and contemporary retellings of myths, folklore and legends.
Job Titles:
- International Sales - Senior Communications Executive
Lucy Hale - Managing Director
As Managing Director of Pan, I head up an editorial and communications team that prides itself in responsiveness and attention to detail. We deliver exceptional sales results alongside excellent care for our authors and their careers. Pan is a bestseller powerhouse and home to a broad range of titles across fiction and non-fiction.
Whether it's fiction or real life, I love a story - especially one I can't put down from the first page on. As a publisher, I value a clear proposition. As a reader, I relish an eccentric twist. More than anything, I love variety and the infinite possibilities to be found between the covers of a great paperback book .
As well as overseeing all the commercial publishing for Pan Macmillan hardbacks, Pan paperbacks and the Macmillan Business, Mantle and Tor imprints, I am also enormously proud to be publisher of Lucinda Riley and her wonderful legacy.
I'm a Commissioning Editor in the Pan Macmillan non-fiction team. I'm a guilt-free lover of all things popular culture from social media and reality TV to podcasts and music. My eclectic taste is reflected in my publishing career as in recent years I've worked with a diverse range of authors, from global superstars BTS to social media trendsetters like Molly-Mae, comedians Mo Gilligan and Ade Edmondson and every day inspirations like Christian Lewis who walked the UK's coastline for charity.
I'm generating ideas and commissioning commercial non-fiction in my own right at Pan Macmillan. For me, spotting people with special talents and incredible stories and helping them turn their ideas into the perfect book is at the core of what we do here. I'm always excited to find out what's resonating with people and why; capturing cultural moments, creating conversations and engaging readers from all walks of life.
Job Titles:
- Senior Sales Manager - EMEA ( Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, UAE, UK Exporters )
Since joining the Pan team in August 2022, I have had the joy of supporting Vicki Mellor and Trisha Jackson on their dynamic lists of fantastic brand authors and upcoming sensations, including Kristin Hannah, Ann Cleeves, Alexandra Potter and C. M. Ewan.
I love fiction that speaks to the experience of what it means to be human, the highs and, at times, crashing lows that say something revealing about ourselves and the world we live in. Books that can tackle the complexity of life in an accessible way - such as combining the absurdity of humour with grief, or exploring histories untold from fresh perspectives - all really excite me. As do thrillers with pacy writing and plot, serving twist after twist, right through to fiction with a character-driven, emotional pull that keeps me curious and eager to devour the next book…
I have worked in publishing for over twenty-five years. I was thrilled to join Picador, one of the country's finest literary lists, as Publisher in 2022. I publish literary fiction and narrative non-fiction from the UK and around the world. I'm always looking for writers with an original voice. In non-fiction I'm particularly interested in memoir, politics and modern history and I am a great admirer of the poets on our list. I count myself extremely lucky to be working at Picador, on a list of such extraordinary writers and with such a brilliant, insightful group of editors.
I lead our new Macmillan Business imprint and also publish broadly across Pan Non-fiction.
In Macmillan Business, I am seeking expert thinkers at the top of their field and trusted voices who command large audiences. The books can be narrative or more prescriptive, but what matters is that they are exciting, smart, important and genuinely useful. My authors on the list include Bent Flyvbjerg, world expert on project management; Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer at Google; and Matt Abrahams, host of the hit global podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart.
In the Pan non-fiction list, I am drawn to thought-leaders and engaging titles that present new ideas about the world around us, irrespective of subject matter. I am also a sucker for a good story, including by leading figures in sport. Some of my authors, past and present include: Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel, Robin Ince, Isabel Hardman, John Kampfner, Chris Kamara, Martin O'Neill, Nicola Sturgeon, Alice Loxton and Mensun Bound.
I love working closely with authors to develop their ideas into books and publishing bestsellers with both prominent names and debut authors who have something vital to say.
In fiction, I'm looking for contemporary character-driven narratives that sit in the upmarket/literary crossover sweet spot. I like a tangled family drama and stories that span decades and continents. I'm always hoping to find literary fiction with a speculative element, something a bit ‘weird' that plays with genre and grounds a strong concept in emotional truth. I also love lush, immersive historical fiction, and gothic or light fantastical elements are very much welcomed. I am keen to publish more fiction in translation. I like narrative non-fiction that drops me into a moment in history, through memoir or an investigative approach, and writers who can make sense of the issues we are currently grappling with and explain them to readers in fresh and fun ways. My authors include Elizabeth O'Connor, Harriet Gibsone, Brian Bilston, Lizzie Pook, Elaine Hsieh Chou, Éric Vuillard, Laurent Petitmangin, Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Bette Howland and Sanaka Hiiragi.
Job Titles:
- International Sales Manager - South Africa and India
Job Titles:
- International Sales and Marketing Manager - China
Job Titles:
- International Sales Director - Open Markets
I joined Picador in 2014 and became the imprint's Editor-In-Chief in 2019. I publish literary fiction (in English and in translation), speculative fiction, popular science, history, memoir and narrative non-fiction. My authors include Aravind Adiga, Philip Ball, Gary Bass, Steve Brusatte, John Carreyrou, Ted Chiang, Emma Donoghue, Omar El Akkad, David France, Henry Gee, Nathan Hill, Michel Houellebecq, Rian Hughes, Julia May Jonas, Patrick Radden Keefe, Dorian Lynskey, Chetna Maroo, China Miéville, Madhumita Murgia, Kathryn Schulz, Douglas Stuart, Hanya Yanagihara, Michelle Zauner, Alice Zeniter and Carl Zimmer.
Job Titles:
- International Sales and Marketing Assistant
I joined the Picador team in 2022, and I work with George Morley and Anne Meadows on their respective lists, which include Rose Boyt, Natalie Haynes, August Thompson, Jen Hadfield, Gina Chung and Kaveh Akbar. I also look after Henry Hoke and Jamaica Kincaid's publishing here at Picador.
In fiction, I love to be completely immersed in new worlds, historical and contemporary, real or imagined. I like a pacy page-turner, full of secrets and questions right to the final minute, that doesn't compromise on beautiful writing. I have always been a sucker for a love story.
In nonfiction, l enjoy historical or political stories told with the verve and urgency of a novel, whether that be a scandalous news story, or a deeply-researched retelling of a historical moment I thought I knew.
I have worked in commercial non-fiction for over 15 years and I unashamedly love pop culture, sport, music, true crime and a deep dive into internet culture. I also love to publish agenda-setting and compelling memoirs.
I have originated and acquired multiple books that have hit both the Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers list, including the #1 spot. My authors include Rick Astley; Lisa Marie Presley; Adrian Edmondson; Jill Halfpenny; Dan Biggar; Tom Felton; Molly-Mae Hague; Christian Lewis; Mindy Kaling; Lily Collins; and Dan Howell + Phil Lester.
Job Titles:
- Literature for the People
I have been working at Picador since 2010 and have been lucky enough to build a wide-ranging list about which I am passionate. I mostly publish literary fiction, where I look for stories that are rich in voice and expansive in scope, that move across the world and backwards and forwards in time. I love fiction that combines a perfectly handled plot, vivid characters, genuine wit, and truly beautiful - even lyrical - writing. I'm interested in how a book's form contributes to its intrigue, and I love literary fiction that dips a toe into other genres. I publish some non-fiction too, and am always looking to find unique personal narratives and books with a cause: writing that will ignite passion and debate. Across my publishing I am particularly interested in stories that engage with the identity of place. My authors include Sarah Moss, Emily St. John Mandel, Hernan Diaz, Maddie Mortimer, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Jessie Burton, Mariam Khan, Emma Stonex, Lily King, Hannah Kent, Elizabeth Macneal, Tim Winton, Jim Crace, Cecilia Rabess, Megan Hunter and Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi.
Job Titles:
- International Sales Manager - Scandinavia, SE Europe, SE Asia, Israel, Turkey
As Publishing Director for fiction, my authors include the phenomenon that is Danielle Steel, also bestselling authors Alexandra Potter and Kristin Hannah, and up and coming crime writing star Fiona Cummins.
I love commercial fiction and escaping into a page-turner whether it's dark domestic suspense or a thriller with a big twist, or about strong women who triumph in the face of adversity. It's all about a great story that remains with me long after I've turned the final page.
I'm Vicki Mellor, Publishing Director for Fiction at Pan Macmillan.