Katy Loftus promoted to publisher as Viking expands fiction publishing

Viking is expanding its fiction publishing programme and has bolstered its team by promoting Katy Loftus to publisher, while Vikki Moynes is also joining from HQ.

Loftus, previously editorial director of Viking, is now publisher for the imprint with responsibility for a team dedicated to publishing commercial and crossover fiction. Moynes, previously editorial assistant at HQ Stories, has joined as assistant editor. She has worked with authors such as Adele Parks and Linwood Barclay.

Also in the four-strong team is Georgia Taylor, campaigns manager, who will be overseeing campaign strategy for all commercial titles as well as working on high-profile marketing campaigns. Her campaigns of the last year include the phenomena One Day in December, Tana French’s relaunch with The Wych Elm, and the Waterstones Thriller of the Month The Last.

Additionally Ellie Hudson, campaigns executive, has stepped into a new role, transferring from the Penguin General main communications team to the commercial fiction communications team to deliver high-impact marketing campaigns across the list, reporting to Taylor. She has previously assisted on the brand-building and marketing campaigns of commercial authors such as Cara Hunter and Jane Corry.

Viking said that the newly boosted team, going from three to four, was part of the expansion of its fiction publishing programme.

Loftus said: “Viking has always been a home for brilliant storytelling, and I have loved welcoming some extraordinarily talented new authors into the fold. I believe that what sells—and what continues to sell—is simply good storytelling published with creativity, expertise and a bit of magic, and the team here have that in spades. Now is a really exciting time to be publishing fiction at Penguin General.”

Venetia Butterfield, publisher at Penguin General, said: “Since her first acquisition—My Husband’s Wife, which sold over 200,000 copies and marked a change in company strategy for e-book publishing—Katy has transformed the way that Viking publishes commercial fiction. Her editorial instinct and innovative publication strategies have led to extraordinary commercial success, from multiple Sunday Times and Kindle bestsellers, to Richard and Judy Book Club picks and Waterstones books of the month. We are delighted that she is heading this team of experts and continuing to make sure that Viking is the very best home for the most talented fiction writers writing today.”