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?
I 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.
There’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!
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!
