Bardon promoted to publisher at HarperVoyager and Magpie Books

Natasha Bardon has stepped up to publisher at HarperVoyager and Magpie Books amid a string of promotions. 

Vicky Leech Mateos moves up to editorial director, Elizabeth Vaziri joins as assistant editor from HarperCollins Children’s books and Millie Prestidge is appointed publishing apprentice as part of the LDN London Apprenticeship scheme. Jane Johnson continues as publishing director for HarperVoyager.  

The promotions come as R F Kuang’s Babel was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year and named Blackwell’s Fiction Book of the Year, while Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag award for Fiction. 

In February the team will launch their YA list, Magpie Books, with authors including bestselling and award-winning author Laura Purcell and number one Sunday Times bestseller Rebecca Ross. 

Bardon has been publishing director of HarperVoyager for the past seven years and in that time has published bestselling and award-winning authors including Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight and Empire of the Vampire, Shannon Chakraborty’s The City of Brass and forthcoming The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, R F Kuang’s Babel, Cari Thomas’ Threadneedle and Kester Grant’s The Court of Miracles, among others. Alongside Johnson, she has also played an integral part in the series publishing of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, and led the launch of VoyagerCon, Voyager’s digital science fiction and fantasy festival. Bardon is also launching the imprint expansion into YA with the upcoming launch of Magpie Books in February. 

Leech Mateos, a 2022 Bookseller Rising Star, has delivered bestselling publishing over the past five years, including top Sunday Times bestselling authors Sue Lynn Tan for Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Sunyi Dean for The Book Eaters in 2022. She has also played an essential part of the publishing behind many of Voyager’s brand authors including Raymond E Feist and Jay Kristoff. She will lead the newly created Magpie Books list and continue to report to Natasha Bardon. 

Vaziri previously worked as desk editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books and has held positions at Tor US and OUP US.  

Kimberley Young, executive publisher, said: “I’m thrilled to announce the Voyager team promotions. Voyager has a unique and legendary history and is home to many of the world’s best authors. Natasha is a visionary publisher who blends strategic nous with creative flair. I know Voyager and its newest fledging Magpie are in the very best of hands under Natasha’s stewardship. Natasha has been key to creating a new vision for the future; with the brilliant Vicky Leech Mateos heading up the Magpie list, Jane Johnson continuing to play a key role, and an expanded team, there are even more exciting things to come.” 

Bardon added: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at HarperVoyager. A prestigious imprint already, our talented team and brilliant authors have taken it to new heights and continue to do so. Without them, HarperVoyager wouldn’t have achieved so much, and we wouldn’t be embarking on this exciting new venture in Magpie Books. Vicky is indispensable and her publishing eye is second to none. She is exactly the right person to expand our YA list and it is a pleasure to see her talent rewarded with this well-deserved promotion. It is an honour working with Jane Johnson, and I’m excited to see the team expand and grow even further with our newest team members Elizabeth and Millie.” 

Leech Mateos also commented: “In the five years since joining Voyager, I’ve had the privilege of working with a brilliantly gifted and supportive team, and with the best authors in the business. Watching Voyager go from strength to strength and launching Magpie with Natasha Bardon has been nothing if not magic. I am delighted to be stepping up to the role of editorial director at such an exciting time for the list.”