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Five Questions with Kortney Nash, Assistant Editor at Godwin Books

By on March 12, 2025   /   WNDMG  
Kortney Nash

Kortney Nash, an assistant editor at Godwin Books/Henry Holt, pops in at From the Mixed-Up Files Of Middle-Grade Authors to share books and advice. She has an inextinguishable love for sci-fi. She was part of the editorial team for the middle-grade graphic novel, Oasis, published February 18, 2025, which has received seven-star reviews so far, as well as a shout-out in the New York Times. As an author, her picture book, Tell Me About Juneteenth, will be released in May 2025.

As a newish editor, tell us about your publishing journey. What types of books did you like to read while growing up and how does that impact the type of list you would like to build?
Growing up, I read all types of books! I think the first books I fell in love with while learning to read independently were the Junie B. Jones series. I remember there being a lot of humor in those, and they really drove home to me that reading can be fun––those books may be the reason I ended up in the publishing industry! That series turned me into an avid reader, and before you knew it I was devouring The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and pretty much all of the popular titles that dominated the pop culture landscape during my childhood and teenage years.

When I’m at work, I’m always thinking about these titles that nurtured my love of reading and what made them special for me. I found a lot of excitement in the high-octane fast paced series that I previously mentioned, but was also profoundly touched by books like The House On Mango Street and Walk Two Moons––stories that struck a deep chord within me emotionally. When I’m looking for titles to acquire, this is the balance I’m thinking about. I want a bit of everything, something for every reader out there.

Can you talk about what books you’re currently editing and what attracted you to those projects?
I can’t give too many details at this stage, but I most often find myself drawn to projects that center marginalized voices in multifaceted ways. I love stories with BIPOC and/or queer leads where the main characters are having fun or dealing with the paranormal or stepping into fantasy worlds. When I was growing up, most of the books that had Black main characters dealt with racism as a main focal point of the plot––and left a void for Black readers looking for stories that didn’t just focus on the struggles of Black life, but Black joy as well. I like books that achieve this in different ways, they heal my inner child!

What type of book would you love to acquire but haven’t read yet?
This is incredibly specific, but I’ll throw it into the void anyway: I want a sci-fi boarding school murder mystery! I’ve been putting this request out into the universe for a hot minute now, so I think the energy will (hopefully) come back to me soon. There are so many magic school books, but I haven’t seen a ton of sci-fi that drifts into that zone, which hurts my heart as a devoted Star Trek fan. I think there’s a lot of potential to do some fun stuff in that space, and I’ll be ready to acquire it as soon as it hits my inbox.

For those looking to build up their library of diverse reads, what middle-grade books would you recommend?
Oasis by GuojingI love this question! Middle grade is such a unique space in books, and I think that we can all benefit from reading middle-grade novels no matter how old we are. I seriously can’t recommend Oasis enough. The art is beyond stunning, and the story is just so incredibly moving. It’s one of those books that you wish would never end! I was very fortunate to get to watch things come together behind the scenes for that book, so there is some extra special sentimental value for me there, but even from an objective perspective, I think there’s no denying that it’s a really compelling read that brings something fresh to the sci-fi space. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re looking for something dystopian-leaning with themes about family and hope, then this book is for you! If you’re not looking for those things, this book is still for you. In short, read the book no matter who you are, you won’t regret it.

Otherwise, I’m also always recommending Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams whenever I can because I read it and just really adored it! I found the voice so compelling and appreciated the way the author tackled important issues like colorism and class head-on. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t throw Remy Lai into the mix––I loved the humor and heart in Pie in the Sky and have had Ghost Book on my TBR for a hot minute now! Remy’s art is so fantastic, and she really has a gift for drawing readers in on the very first page.

 

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi FarmerThere’s also Kwame Crashes the Underworld, a middle-grade fantasy steeped in Ghanaian culture that just won the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award. And to round out my recommendation, I’m going to shout out The Haunted States of America, a middle-grade anthology I edited that features 52 different authors––one from every state in the US as well as DC and Puerto Rico. I could recommend books all day, but I’ll stop there for now!

 

 

Ghost Book by Remy Lai   Haunted Staes of America (Anthology)   Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

 

 

 

 

 

What advice would you give to others looking for a career in publishing?
For those looking for a career in publishing, I’d recommend reading widely first and foremost! Besides that, pay attention to who published the books you’re reading––if you notice you’re reading a lot of books produced by the same imprint, try seeing if you can have an informational interview with someone who works there to learn more about their approach to book publishing. You only live once, so I would overall say don’t be afraid to reach out to folks (in a respectful way) to ask questions about what the day-to-day looks like in different departments. Everyone I’ve met has entered the industry from a different angle, so I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all method for beginning a career in publishing. However, persistence and patience go a long way!

Bonus Question:

If you could swap lives with any character from a novel, who would you choose?
I would swap lives with Mark from Andy Weir’s The Martian. I need some time to chill out on a different planet, even if it means getting stranded:) I would eventually work hard to get back to Earth though! Eventually!

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Author Spotlight: Rosanne Parry + a GIVEAWAY

By on March 10, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

Author Spotlight: Rosanne Parry + a GIVEAWAY                                                            

Today, I’m excited to shine the Author Spotlight on children’s author and fellow MUF member Rosanne Parry! Rosanne’s latest MG novel, A Wolf Called Fire, praised by Kirkus as “an exciting and thoughtful portrait inspired by a real animal who succeeded by being different,” was out February 4 from Greenwillow Books and is a 2025 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and a #1 Indie Best Seller.

Interview with Rosanne

Welcome, Rosanne! Congratulations on the release of your beautiful new novel! It’s a pleasure to highlight the work of a fellow MUF member. A Wolf Called Fire is such a wonderful addition to the Voice of the Wilderness Series. Can you tell us a little background about what inspired these books?

Over the years I’ve gotten many letters from young readers who loved A Wolf Called Wander and were very worried about what happened to the brother he loved so much. So I was happy to return to the world of my wolf pack in the Wallowa Mountains. And there is much more research now about the dynamics of how wolf packs are lead and what kind of wolf grows up to be the alpha. So I wanted to explore how a wolf pup who starts out his life as the omega pup goes on to become a leader.

Point of View

It is so interesting that this story was inspired by a real wolf who became such an extraordinary pack leader, and I was amazed at how you were able to truly capture the point of view of an animal. I’d love to hear about your process and how you manage to write from this perspective so effectively. 

The work of reading fiction is to step outside of the self for a time and live as the fictional character does. So the work of the writer of fiction is to describe that fictional life and world with accuracy and detail that is not just vivid but accessible to the reader.

I have to reach out toward the wolf and ask myself what does this environment feel like. What color is the dirt and how does it feel under my feet and what does it smell like and what does the smell of this particular patch of dirt I’m standing on tell me about the world I need to survive in.

And then I also have to reach toward that child reader and ask myself what words will make this particular wilderness come to life. Because my reader has almost certainly never been to the backcountry of the Eagle Cap Wilderness and probably has not spent any time at all in the wilderness. So how can I choose words that will make them feel a part of that wilderness experience. It takes a lot of research and a lot of time spent in the actual settings of the story.

Voice

You describe the natural world so vividly through all the senses. Your writing is beautiful and lyrical. What advice do you have to new writers as they strive to find their voices?

I would encourage new writers to think of their voice as not so much something external to quest after, as though you might, at last, arrive at the Tree of Symbolism and pluck your own voice from among its fruits. Your voice has always resided within. So it’s more an enterprise of listening deeply to yourself and asking yourself what you hope to communicate in a particular story. And then thinking what a story needs in terms of tone and structure. Your own voice is already there. It’s more a matter of being humble enough to recognize it and proud enough not to let the editing process knock off all the interesting edges.

Characters

Along with Warm, the book includes many other memorable characters. Do you have a favorite secondary character? Who and why?

I really enjoyed writing Snow and Pounce in this story. Both are female wolves with plenty of leadership qualities who find themselves is a pack they don’t like. The one gathers her courage and leaves her pack. But the other quietly forms alliances within the pack she hates and in the end forms a new pack with them.

Back Matter

With its wonderful educational content, this book is sure to be a huge hit with teachers, and the exciting, fast-paced story and beautiful illustrations throughout will be so appealing to kids. Your back matter is very interesting and an excellent supplement. Young readers are going to absolutely adore learning about the real wolf behind the story, as well as the map of Warm’s journey and the pictures of the animal tracks. I love all you say about how kids can make a difference. How did you decide what to include in the back matter? 

When the first Voice of the Wilderness book was written I could not find an American publisher for it, so it was the British publisher Andersen Press who took it on. I had a meeting with them in London when we were at the beginning of the editing process. A British audience knows so little about the American wilderness that we talked at length about how to make the text accessible to them. Illustrations were my editor’s idea. I asked for the back matter to make the book work for teachers who also have to teach map reading and ecosystems and natural history and human history. They agreed that teachers need every bit of support we can offer, and so they set the standard for the books that followed. I’m grateful that Greenwillow has stuck with the format because the price of paper is rising and absolutely every page counts.

What was your biggest challenge in writing this story?

Greenwillow was very keen to have FIRE come out in 2025–their 50th anniversary year. And my approach to writing is not a speedy one. Honestly, the biggest challenge was getting the story researched and written in time to have it so beautifully illustrated and designed. It was a huge team effort. Much gratitude to the illustrator, Mónica Armiño, art director Sylvie Le Floc’h, and editor Virginia Duncan.

Writing Process

Will you tell us a little about your writing process? Where/when do you prefer to write?

I love to write outside when it’s warm enough for that. My treehouse is a favorite spot, but the truth is I can write almost anywhere and I often have to make due perching in whatever space is available. Research is probably the most defining aspect of my writing. I do a lot of it and it requires a fair amount of camping at the moment. Fortunately I love that!

Takeaways

What do you hope readers take away from this story?

Literacy is my primary objective. Because it’s a relatively short book, it’s often a 7 or 8 or 9 year olds first middle grade novel that they have read on their own, and they are a better reader by the time they get to the end of it. I want my reader to feel empowered to read ever more complex and challenging books and newspapers. I want them to care about the wilderness and believe that they have something to say in the defense of land and creatures who cannot speak for themselves.

Influences

What are some current books that have influenced you as a kidlit writer?

I really enjoy books that test the limits and try something new. Virginia Euwer Wolff is a long time friend and mentor. She’s also one of the first YA authors to write in verse. Her Make Lemonade was a game changing read for me.

I have heaps of admiration for Brian Selznick who pioneered an alternating text and sequential illustration story that stands apart from all the rest and makes me think about story in new ways every single time. If you haven’t read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, you are in for a treat.

I’m also a big fan of the graphic novel Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case. It’s a climate future story about a middle school girl and her scientist guardian who are traveling a west coast almost devoid of humans. The story alone is fabulous but the author included non-fiction touches large and small that I very much appreciated. There are pages of the main character’s homework which provide useful back story and fun facts. There are directions on how to tie knots or get into a backpacker’s hammock or navigate by stars. Every new setting has the GPS coordinates in case you wanted to find the place for yourself. A real innovation — blending traditional graphic novel panels with the finest in illustrated nonfiction.

Can you give us some insights into what you’ll be working on next?

My next Voice of the Wilderness novel will be about ravens.

And for the lightning round:

Coffee or tea? Cocoa

Sunrise or sunset? Sunset

Favorite place to travel: The homeward journey has always been my favorite.

Favorite dessert: Ice cream

Superpower: Moral Courage and Compassion are the superpowers we most need.

Favorite music: When I was writing A Wolf Called Fire I listened to a lot of classical pieces by Vivaldi and Respighi. They made me think of the forest.

Favorite book from childhood:  A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin

Thanks again, Rosanne! It was so much fun to learn about you and get a behind the scenes look at your amazing novel! Learn more about Rosanne on her website and follow her on Instagram.

Bio

Rosanne grew up in Oregon loving its wild places and fabulous libraries.  She’s the author of the bestselling Voice of the Wilderness novels and nonfiction picture books. Her newest is A Wolf Called Fire. Rosanne sells books at Annie Blooms, and writes in a treehouse in her backyard.

For a chance to win a signed copy of A Wolf Called Fire, comment on the blog!  (Giveaway ends March 17, 2025 MIDNIGHT EST.) U.S. only, please. 

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