Wall promoted to publisher for literary fiction at Viking

Isabel Wall has been promoted to publisher for literary fiction at Viking.

Wall will oversee the strategic and creative direction of Viking’s literary publishing, under the leadership of fiction publishing director Harriet Bourton, and continue to acquire literary fiction and select non-fiction for the imprint. Her wide-ranging list includes prize-winning, bestselling authors Elif Shafak, Hisham Matar, Elizabeth Strout, Anna Funder, Miranda Cowley Heller and Ann Napolitano.

Recently Wall snapped up an unpublished novel by Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez and secured a new deal with the award-winning, bestselling author of Middle England, Jonathan Coe. She also acquired two sought-after debuts: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, in a nine-way auction, and Scream School by Catherine Airey, in a 24-hour pre-empt. This year she has celebrated a raft of successes, including two instant Sunday Times bestsellers with debut novel In Memoriam by Alice Winn and the second novel from Costa prize-winner Caleb Azumah Nelson, Small Worlds.

Bourton said: “Isabel has been making an exceptional contribution to our fiction publishing. I know she will bring her signature clarity, creativity and confidence to this new role as she and her team bring their ambitious vision for our literary publishing to life.”

Wall added: “I joined Viking as an editorial assistant in 2015 and I feel just as excited now to be taking this next step in my career at one of the best imprints in the industry. It is a real privilege to be leading Viking’s literary publishing and nurturing the careers of some of the most exceptionally talented writers at work today, from acclaimed and established names to original and distinctive debut voices. I look forward to all that lies ahead.” 

Wall’s promotion is effective immediately. She will continue to manage two new direct reports, Edward Kirke, editor, and Olatoye Oladinni, editorial assistant.