Van Metre hired by Walker Books US

Susan Van Metre has been named executive editorial director of the new Walker Books US imprint. 

Van Metre has spent the past 15 years at Abrams where she founded the Amulet Books imprint, eventually becoming s.v.p. and publisher of the children's division for six years, running four imprints: Amulet Books, Abrams Books for Young Readers, Abrams Appleseed, and Abrams ComicArts. Prior to Abrams, she spent 12 years in editorial roles at Penguin USA.

Van Metre said she was excited to help the "distinctive" list to grow. She will be based in New York and will spend time in the group’s Boston and London offices.

"I have admired Walker and Candlewick from the early days of my time in publishing and, like many, been influenced by the integrity and care with which the books are made," she said. "The list stands out for its exciting editorial choices and beautiful design and production, and I am excited to contribute to such distinctive publishing and help it grow.”

President and publisher of Candlewick Press and group managing director of the Walker Books Group, Karen Lotz, said: "We are extremely lucky to have someone of Susan's keen talents and vast knowledge join us at this important moment in our corporate history. Helping the Walker Bear take up new digs in the US will be vastly more fun with Susan to welcome him home."

The Walker Books US list will launch for Candlewick in autumn 2018 following the company’s purchase of the Walker trademark from Bloomsbury. It will focus on expanding global rights acquisitions and increased commercial publishing in North America, particularly in middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction. 

The first official addition to the launch list will include Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton’s UK series, Football School, which will be known in the United States as Soccer School.