Viking promotes editors Brown and Moynes as imprint grows

Penguin General imprint Viking has promoted editor Connor Brown and Vikki Moynes as it continues to grow its non-fiction and fiction publishing.

Brown (pictured, top) has been promoted to commissioning editor and former assistant editor Moynes (pictured, below right) has been promoted to editor.

The publisher said Brown "has become Viking non-fiction’s science expert", working with distinguished authors including James Poskett and Devi Sridhar, and "has been invaluable" working jointly with publishing director Daniel Crewe on authors including Simon Jenkins and Sinclair McKay.

"Moreover, he has an unusual track record of acquiring world rights for books by academics such as Arik Kershenbaum, Vaclav Smil and Tomoko L Kitagawa and Timothy Revell, and then working closely with the rights team to secure strong international deals," the publisher said. Recently Brown has published the agenda-setting Cut Short by Ciaran Thapar and this autumn is publishing the proactively commissioned The Habit of Excellence, the only official British Army book on how to become a better leader.

The commercial fiction team at the imprint, led by publisher Katy Loftus, is said to be "in growth mode" following "a stellar year" with the publication of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, Richard & Judy Book Club pick Cara Hunter’s The Whole Truth, and bestseller Jane Corry’s The Lies We Tell.

Viking said Moynes "has been a vital part of the team, working closely with Katy on both edits and publication strategy for the list" and has also acquired and published two novels by New York Times-bestselling author Emily Henry—Beach Read and You and Me on Vacation—which have both been e-book bestsellers. Moynes recently pre-empted world rights in a six-figure deal for debut novel The Things We Do To Our Friends by Heather Darwent, scheduled for 2023.

Crewe said: "Connor has already shown impressive talent as a publisher, combining proactiveness and ambition in acquiring, drive and care in publishing, a finely tuned ability to secure stellar advanced quotes and strong relationships with authors and agents. As part of Viking non-fiction’s ongoing growth, he will continue to develop our science list while publishing current affairs and ideas books too."

Loftus added: "Vikki has shown all the hallmarks of a great future publisher: a thorough and instinctive understanding of the market, inspired editing skills, sensitive author care and a keen eye for new writers. She will be taking on more responsibilities on my list, as well as developing a list of her own. I can’t wait to see what she finds for us."