Meet GCP
Ben Sevier
President and Publisher
Ben Sevier is President of the Grand Central Publishing Group, a division of Hachette Book Group. Mr. Sevier directs all publishing activities for a collection of twenty imprints across three business lines, including Grand Central Publishing, where he is Publisher, as well as Hachette Nashville and Union Square & Co.
Writers Sevier is proud to have worked with during his three decades in publishing include the New York Times-bestselling novelists David Baldacci, Sandra Brown, Harlan Coben, Patricia Cornwell, Lisa Gardner, Thomas Harris, Callie Hart, Colleen Hoover, Abby Jimenez, Tia Williams, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Kennedy Ryan, Nicholas Sparks, Jonathan Tropper, Scott Turow, Mo Willems, and Reese Witherspoon. He has also edited and published a broad range of nonfiction including the two-million-copy seller No Easy Day by Navy SEAL Mark Owen, Red Platoon by Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, Alone at Dawn by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz, and he directed the acquisition and publication of nonfiction books by Nate Bargatze, Sally Field, Flea, Connie Chung, George Stephanopoulos, Tom Segura, Nick Offerman, Drew Barrymore, Brooke Shields, Dr. William Li, Admiral William McRaven, Daniel Levitin, and Sean Carroll, among many others. Prior to Grand Central, Sevier was Vice President and Publisher at Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, which followed editorial roles at Simon & Schuster, St. Martin’s Press, and HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Beth de Guzman
Senior VP, Deputy Publisher
Let me come clean: I am a cliché. I’ve always been a bookworm. My favorites when I was growing up were The Arabian Nights and The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, and later Agatha Christie’s mysteries, P.G. Wodehouse’s hilarious novels, and E.B. White’s essay collections. In college, I dreamed of landing a job that would pay me to read. Lucky for me, that dream job has been mine for decades. Finding great voices and great stories is as thrilling today as it was back when I was an Editorial Assistant, and how exciting that in my role as Deputy Publisher I work hand in glove with Editorial, Publicity, Marketing, Advertising, Art, and Sales to whip up enthusiasm for our books. Like I said, a dream job.
Colin Dickerman
Senior VP and Editor in Chief
Over the past three decades, Colin Dickerman has held senior editorial and management positions at Bloomsbury, Penguin Press, Flatiron Books, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He has acquired and edited many bestselling and award-winning books and authors, in recent years including The ABC’s of Democracy by Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Anti-Semitism in America, by Senator Chuck Schumer, Promise Me, Dad by President Joe Biden, How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger, Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon, The Deviant’s War by Eric Cervini (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), King: A Life (winner of the Pulitzer Prize), The Sellout by Paul Beatty (winner of the Man Booker and the National Book Critics Circle Award). He acquires across a wide range of categories, including pop culture, memoir, narrative history, and science. He grew up in Vermont and earned a B.A. in English from Amherst College.
Leah Hultenschmidt
VP and Publisher, Forever
My career in publishing started at the local library as a four-year-old. But my first real job in the industry came two weeks after I graduated college and moved to New York to work at a small, independent publisher. After 10 years there, I moved to Sourcebooks, where I acquired the #1 New York Times bestseller If He Had Been with Me and My Life with the Walter Boys, now a hit Netflix series. I joined the Forever team at Grand Central in 2013 as editorial director and became publisher of the imprint in 2023. I’m currently acquiring commercial women’s fiction and romance. In 2024, I’d particularly love to see steamy fantasy romance, any fairy-tale or mythological romance based in a different culture, a twisty-turny sexy modern gothic thriller, or a fabulous big summer contemporary by an author with a strong platform. Some of my current bestselling authors include Abby Jimenez, Kennedy Ryan, Natasha Lester, and Farrah Rochon. When not reading, I’m happiest travel planning, cardmaking, tending my terrace garden, or cheering on the Red Sox.
Krishan Trotman
VP and Publisher, Legacy Lit
Krishan Trotman is the Vice-President, Publisher of Legacy Lit. She joined Hachette Books in 2016. In 2020 she launched Legacy Lit, an imprint dedicated to books that give voice to issues, authors, and communities that have been marginalized, underserved, and overlooked. This includes BIPOC authors, all women, and any group that they believe deserves a spotlight. The imprint is committed to promoting equality, equity, and inclusion for all people. The books are bold, mission-driven commercial works. Social justice and empowerment are Trotman’s passion. She likes to work with authors who are candid, bold, and, in their own unique way, not afraid to shake things up.
Her authors have included a range of award-winning and New York Times bestsellers, including: congressman John Lewis’ Across That Bridge; journalist Stephanie Land’s Maid; MSNBC political analyst Malcolm Nance’s The Plot to Destroy Democracy; New York Times columnist Lindy West’s The Witches Are Coming and Shit Actually; UFC’s Mixed Martial Artist Paige VanZant’s Rise; Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad’s Proud; radio and TV host Zerlina Maxwell’s The End of White Politics; TV personality Ed Gordon’s Conversations in Black; journalist Talia Lavin’s Culture Warlords; Vanity Fair writer Nancy Jo Sales’ forthcoming memoir Nothing Personal; BRAVO’s Million Dollar Listing star Ryan Serhant’s Sell It Like Serhant and Big Money Energy; Morning Joe’s cohost Mika Brzezinski’s Earn It! and Comeback Careers; The Today Show’s cohost Al Roker’s You Look So Much Better in Person; and empowerment coach Gina DeVee’s The Audacity to Be Queen, to name a few.
Krishan has been featured in the New York Times, Essence Magazine, New York Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, Salon, Shondaland, Cheddar TV, MSN, CSPAN, and more. She is the self-described Beyoncé of Books, and mom to her son Bleu.
Nana Twumasi
VP and Publisher, Balance
My career in publishing grew from a genuine love of reading and acquiring knowledge—whether for enjoyment, or for learning, getting into a good book is a thoroughly gratifying experience. My 20-year (and counting) path through the industry has taken me from an independent children’s book publisher in Minnesota, to John Wiley & Sons, and on to Callisto Media, where I built a self-help and trade-psychology publishing program from the ground up, developing such titles as Retrain Your Brain, The Complex PTSD Workbook, and The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners. My focus is on health and wellness inside and out, for all the spaces life occupies, in all the forms and shapes it takes. As Publisher, I keep market analysis and consumers’ needs at the forefront of Balance’s publishing program. As an editor, I seek out a diverse range of authors whose work is steeped in research, education, and innovation — and who are dedicated to helping people be the best version of themselves.
Karen Kosztolnyik
VP, Executive Editorial Director, Fiction
I began my career in book publishing after graduating from college and moving to New York. I worked at several houses, including John Wiley and Harlequin, before landing at Grand Central Publishing’s editorial team where I worked for ten years, before leaving for a stint at Gallery Books/Scout Press, a division of Simon and Schuster, where I acquired and published Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg, longlisted for the National Book Award and Booker Prize. I have since returned to GCP as VP, Editorial Director where I oversee the Fiction program and manage a team of talented editors who primarily acquire fiction for the imprint. I also acquire a list of my own, and I am lucky to work with and publish a number of tremendous authors such as Colleen Hoover (Verity), Patricia Cornwell (Unnatural Death), Sandra Brown (Out of Nowhere), Tia Williams (A Love Song for Ricki Wilde), Kira Jane Buxton (Hollow Kingdom, Thurber Prize Finalist), Lily Brooks-Dalton (The Light Pirate, Dayton Literary Peace Prize Runner-Up), Robyn Harding (The Drowning Woman), Kirthana Ramisetti (Dava Shastri’s Last Day). What excites me most about being in this business is discovering storytellers whose voices can entertain, educate, and enlighten me as a reader. I’m a native Texan who now lives in Manhattan with my husband and son.
Lyssa Keusch
VP, Executive Editor
Having come from a family of doctors and science-oriented professionals, I was very proud to forge my own way as an English major in college. I began my editorial path at Avon Books then shifted over to William Morrow where I continued to work for more than three decades. While there I had the pleasure of launching the careers of #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn, whose beloved Bridgerton novels are the inspiration for the recent Shondaland/Netflix series, and #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author James Rollins (Kingdom of Bones). As my list developed, I published a range of other thriller writers, among them New York Times bestselling authors J.A. Jance (Nothing to Lose) and Gillian McAllister (Wrong Place Wrong Time); and multi-award-winning authors Alison Gaylin (The Collective), Sheena Kamal (The Lost Ones), Glen Erik Hamilton (Past Crimes), and highly acclaimed science-based thriller writer Alice Henderson (A Solitude of Wolverines). In 2023, I took the opportunity to join Grand Central and work with some of the house’s premier authors, among them Harlan Coben, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and Steve Berry. In addition, I’m excited to continue developing new voices in popular fiction. I was born in Bangkok, Thailand but have spent the majority of my life in New York City, where I live with my husband and children, and still hope to find a perfect pad thai.
Suzanne O’Neill
VP, Executive Editor
I joined Grand Central in 2016. In more than two decades in publishing I have held editorial roles at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. I specialize in Nonfiction, including Memoir, Biography, Humor, Women’s Issues, Pop History, Current Events, and Pop Culture (celebrity, music, film, television). Some of my critically acclaimed and bestselling books are Acid for the Children by Flea; I Might Regret This by Abbi Jacobson; Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling, Dad Is Fat and Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan, Sisters First by Barbara and Jenna Bush; Rod by Rod Stewart; and Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust by Loretta Lynn. Upcoming books include titles by Rachel Bloom, Jamie Foxx, Andrew McCarthy and Sutton Foster; a biography of the fascinating and tumultuous relationship between Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh by Stephen Galloway; Stolen, a riveting memoir by Elizabeth Gilpin about herharrowing experience of psychological manipulation and abuse at a “therapeutic” boarding school for “troubled” teens; Rafa the Great, the story of how as a teenager, screenwriter Rafael Agustin accidentally discovered his family was undocumented and how he and his parents navigated their shared secret life; and Five Floors Up, a history of the NYC fire department through the eyes of a four-generation firefighting family by journalist Brian McDonald.
Brant Rumble
Editorial Director
I love working with a variety of narrative nonfiction, ranging from memoir to biography to history to humor to cultural criticism, and more. I appreciate a strong, distinct voice—with purpose—that I can relate to while also learning anew. My early editorial discoveries included Chuck Klosterman’s generational classics, Fargo Rock City and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. I have since been fortunate to publish numerous New York Times bestsellers, most recently including former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn’s Standing My Ground, Rainn Wilson’s Soul Boom, Bill Janovitz’s Leon Russell, Nikki Sixx’s The First 21, Cassandra Peterson’s Yours Cruelly, Elvira, and Marin Fader’s Giannis. I have also worked with acclaimed authors such as Barry Sonnenfeld, Kristian Nairn, Luis Miranda, Andy McCullough, John Bruning, Jack McCallum, Brad Balukjian, John Feinstein, Tom Breihan, Jason Gay, Rob Halford, Joe Trohman, Rick Reilly, Kenny Loggins, George F. Will, Peter Frampton, Julie Andrews, Mike Love, Elvis Costello, Patton Oswalt, Peter Criss, Ken Jennings, Megan Amram, Bill James, Amanda Petrusich, Jonathan Ames, John L. Parker, Gustavo Arellano, and Rob Neyer. I joined the Hachette Book Group in 2018. I was previously at Blue Rider Press for several years, and at Scribner for a number of years before that. I live in Brooklyn with my wife and two children.
Renée Sedliar
Editorial Director
I was that kid who spent a lot of time rewriting endings to books or plotting sequels (#alwaysaneditor); I’ve been at my one true love for nearly thirty years, with pitstops at HarperSanFrancisco (now HarperOne), Marlowe & Co., Da Capo Lifelong, Seal Press, and Hachette Books/Go. I gravitate toward practical, prescriptive nonfiction that helps readers identify a core issue/need/concern in their own life, and then bravely and concretely meets it head on. And that’s everything from trauma, grief, health and wellness (broadly construed!), self-help (also broadly construed!) to healthy food and cooking. Some of the books I’ve worked on over the years include Carleigh Bodrug’s #1 New York Timesbestselling PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking; Schuyler Bailar’s award-winning He/She/They: How We Talk about Gender and Why It Matters; Heather Corinna’s What Fresh Hell Is This: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You; Mia Birdsong’s How We Show Up, Phoebe Lapine’s SIBO Made Simple; Stephanie Sarkis, PhD’s Gaslighting; and Annie Sklaver Orenstein’s Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner’s Guide to Grief. When I’m not nose down in a manuscript, you’ll find me in the air at San Francisco’s Circus Center or just strolling the glorious 7×7.
Amar Deol
Executive Editor
Amar Deol joined Grand Central in January 2024. He acquires across many categories of nonfiction, including current affairs, sports, politics, history, and memoir, among many others. Amar’s published seven New York Times bestsellers, with his titles having received citations from the Whiting Foundation & J. Anthony Lukas Prize Committee, selected for inclusion on Barack Obama’s Summer 2022 Reading List, and longlisted for the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.
Alex Logan
Executive Editor
My favorite night at home—and we’ve certainly had plenty of those—involves cracking open a new thriller and reading until the crack of dawn. However, I’m always on the lookout for intriguing fiction of any kind. I acquire primarily women’s fiction, historical fiction, thrillers/psychological suspense, and romance/rom com. For nonfiction, I’d love to be able to incorporate my own personal interests by adding heartwarming pet books and art history about well-known artists. Right now, it’s an honor to be the editor of mother-and-son New York Times bestselling authors Iris and Roy Johansen, and I’m so pleased that Nina Laurin’s Girl Last Seen has gone back to press fifteen times. In the near future, I’m looking forward to the publication of WWII women’s fiction from Kelly Bowen and Jaclyn Goldis and upcoming thrillers from New York Times bestselling author Nancy Allen and USA Today bestselling author Cate Holahan as well as Angela Marsons, who has sold over four million copies of her Detective Kim Stone series. And I’d like to give a special shout-out to my hardworking romance authors, including USA Today bestsellers Debbie Mason, Hope Ramsay, Annie Rains, and Melinda Curtis. It’s a thrill to discover new authors and help them find success, and I have always loved sharing my favorite books. After earning a journalism degree from Northwestern, I worked as a bookseller at Borders (remember them?) on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. I did not yet have the dream to come to New York City but I’m so glad that I did.
Karyn Marcus
Executive Editor
With two decades of experience at major New York publishing houses, Karyn Marcus acquires across a wide range of nonfiction including biography, memoir, psychology, arts and culture, and elevated self-help. Over the years, she has acquired and edited both bestselling and award-winning books, including Anna by Amy Odell, The Right Call by Sally Jenkins, Keep It Moving by Twyla Tharp, What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About by Michele Filgate, Whip Smart by Melissa Febos, The Lion in the Living Room by Abby Tucker, On Trails by Rob Moor, Sounds Like Me by Sara Bareilles, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley, and Seinfeldia by Jennifer Armstrong. At Grand Central, she seeks to find the most valuable and engaging stories, and place them in the hands of as many people as possible—publishing into the space where smart and commercial overlap. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her family and a dog named Bear.
John Morgan
Executive Editor
I’ve always been a reader and a bit of a nerd (before it was cool!). This has led me to a varied career, starting out at Ace Books focusing on science fiction and fantasy, then working at DC Comics on books and video games; on digital apps and experiences at Penguin; on books and events and all sorts of creative projects at Melcher Media; on all major formats of children’s publishing at Macmillan Kids; on books featuring Marvel super heroes at Disney; and now I’m editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror here at Grand Central. I love books with relatable and complex characters in a clever plot that keeps me guessing. If there’s also a dragon, a spaceship, or at least an explosion, I’m happy. And when I’m not reading for work or fun, I like to draw, make interactive games, memorize poetry, and just generally be a renaissance man-child wandering around New York City.
Ben Schafer
Executive Editor
I specialize in acquiring and editing books about music, popular culture, biography, memoir, and popular science, and I have an overarching affinity for American counterculture. I’ve published several New York Times bestsellers, including Scattershot by Gershwin Award-winning lyricist Bernie Taupin, Unrequited Infatuations by musician and actor Stevie Van Zandt, and Trouble Boys by Bob Mehr (the acclaimed, definitive biography of The Replacements). I also published the national bestseller two-volume history of L.A. punk Under the Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World by John Doe (of X) and music publishing veteran Tom DeSavia, Do What You Want, the official biography of Bad Religion co-authored by Jim Ruland, the international bestseller Sing Backwards and Weep by Mark Lanegan, and many biographies by veteran rock journalist David Browne, including his latest opus, Talkin’ Greenwich Village. I’ve been lucky to have memorable experiences working on books with the likes of Christopher Hitchens, Lou Reed, Buddy Guy, Dave Van Ronk, Brian Wilson, The Lunachicks, and the physicist Brian Cox. I am based in Southern California where I divide my time between Los Angeles and the deep Mojave Desert in Wonder Valley. Prior to Grand Central Publishing, I held editorial positions at Hanuman Books, William Morrow, and Da Capo Press, where I acquired for the music list for 17 years. When the deal goes down, I hope to leave behind a bookshelf that tells the larger story of how performing arts and several varieties of bohemia across many decades intersected with and influenced culture all over the world in the 20th and into the 21stcentury.
Diana Ventimiglia
Executive Editor, Balance
Ever since reading Norma Jean Jumping Bean, I’ve been obsessed with the power of books and their ability to help people feel seen. I remember following that kangaroo from home to school and finally not feeling alone in my own journey of fitting in. So, it’s no surprise that I knew I needed to establish a career in Publishing. For the last 17 years my passion has been working with authors who speak to the diversity of our lived experiences. I’m drawn to strong voices in spirituality, identity & sexuality, relationships, psychology, mental health, female empowerment, and LGBTQ+ rights. I believe that everyone has a story to tell and lessons to share, and the best part of my job is partnering with incredible individuals who are dedicated to starting bigger conversations and inspiring individual and collective healing. I truly couldn’t imagine doing anything else! When I’m not working with authors, you’ll find me working through the 5 plus books on my nightstand and yelling at my cat, Phillip, to stop knocking things off the shelf. But he’s so cute!
Madeleine Colavita
Senior Editor, Forever
When it comes to romance, I’m a bit of a late-bloomer, having not discovered the genre until I was a publishing intern. But I’ve been making up for lost time, consuming every happily-ever-after I can get my hands on. Since joining the Forever team in 2013, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many bestselling and critically acclaimed writers including A.J. Pine, Tessa Bailey, Paula Quinn, Lauren Smith, Piper J. Drake, April Hunt, Cecilia Tan, and Carly Bloom, among others. As an Editor, I’m looking for fun, fresh, diverse voices across all subgenres of romance—especially historical, cowboy, small-town contemporary, and romantic suspense—as well as in romantic comedies and women’s fiction. I want to be surrounded by characters who mostly make me laugh, only occasionally make me cry, and always make me believe in true love. When not helping my authors craft HEAs, I enjoy baking, watching old movies, and needlepointing Christmas ornaments.
Junessa Viloria
Senior Editor, Forever
I’ve loved romance since probably before I should have, and I enjoy all forms of HEAs. I joined the Forever team in 2019, after spending eleven years at Penguin Random House, and I acquire all subgenres of romance and commercial women’s fiction. I love when stories make me feel things, whether they make me laugh out loud or sob uncontrollably, and stories that highlight women’s relationships and experiences, both modern and historical. I am particularly drawn to #ownvoices, fun romcoms with unique hooks, and emotional dramas about family, sisterhood, and friendships. Throughout my career, I have worked with many New York Times, and USA Today bestselling authors and I’ve been lucky enough to work with authors such as Mariah Stewart, K.A. Linde, Monica McCarty, Emily March, Christy Craig, Jenny Holiday, R.C. Ryan, among many others. When not immersed in romance, I love hanging out with my kids, watching football, and discovering new restaurants.
Kirsiah Depp
Editor
I’ve been with Grand Central Publishing since 2017, but my love of books goes all the way back to first grade when I used to sneak Harry Potter books into my room to keep reading them because my mom just couldn’t keep reading out loud anymore. And since then, I’ve cultivated a love of commercial fiction that whisks me away on an amazing adventure in a fast-paced read that I can’t put down. Which of course means I acquire and have on my list speculative fiction, historical and contemporary women’s fiction, retellings (mythic and fairy tale), and more! I am also proudly a part of David Baldacci’s editorial team which has been such an honor. Other authors I’ve had the immense pleasure of working with include Freida McFadden, Emily Hourican, Phong Nguyen, Adam Plantinga, Nicole Trope, and many more. What they have in common is that they make me feel ALL the feels, and between you and me, if there’s that spark of magic in the story, all the better. Before joining GCP, I worked at HarperCollins and Penguin Random House, both in children’s and adult publishing, and I have a Master’s in Publishing from NYU and a Bachelor’s in Literary Studies from Bard College.
Jacqueline Young
Editor
Since joining GCP in 2019, I’ve worked on a wide range of nonfiction and fiction, from New York Times bestseller Play Nice to Indie Next pick Colton Gentry’s Third Act. Increasingly, I’ve gravitated towards contemporary commercial to book club fiction with a distinct voice, a sense of humor, and big-hearted themes. I’m also sucker for an unexpected, quirky bent or a though-provoking speculative edge. I’m particularly enthusiastic about projects centered on queer characters.
My popular culture fanaticism lends itself to both sides of my list, as with Scheana Shay’s memoir My Good Side and Lovell Holder’s debut novel The Book of Luke, which each delve into the world of reality television. Across nonfiction and fiction, I’m also always drawn to a comedic sensibility and a singular point of view.
Sam Brody
Associate Editor, Forever
I’m a hopeless romantic, so it’s no surprise I love bringing happily-ever-afters to life. But like any good story, it’s the journey that’s important: I spent over five years at literary agencies and in sales before joining Team Forever in 2019. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with New York Times bestselling authors such as Mia Sheridan, Abby Jimenez, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Rachel Van Dyken. Recent acquisitions include BookTok hit Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, USA Today bestseller I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram, and a New York Times best romance of the year, Wake Me Most Wickedly. I’m specifically looking for works from queer and BIPOC voices and from people of underrepresented genders and faiths: I particularly love heart-wrenching, emotional romance and high-concept pitches. I’m drawn to the paranormal and fantastic as well as the untold eras of history, and I have a soft spot for retellings, found family, and unforgettable worldbuilding (I also can’t resist an unexpected genre mash-up!). And when not reading or editing, I can usually be found singing (and pretending) my life is a musical or practicing for my future win on The Great British Bake Off.
Sabrina Flemming
Associate Editor, Forever
My love of romance novels began when I started sneaking them out of my mom’s room as a teen. Eventually, I was caught by a librarian who scolded me about reading books with bare-chested men on the covers. I’ve since been obsessed with books that push the boundaries, bring readers pleasure, and create safe spaces for the imagination. So after graduating from GSU’s creative writing program, I joined Grand Central Publishing’s Forever imprint in 2019. I revel in acquiring steamy love stories, angsty new adult, and dark romance. My current authors include Morgan Bridges, Carian Cole, and Lucy Eden. When not searching Goodreads for romances with warning labels, I succeed at killing vegetable gardens and enjoy having one-sided conversations with my dog, Loki.
Amina Iro
Associate Editor, Legacy Lit
Amina Iro is an Assistant Editor at Legacy Lit. She started her publishing career as an Editorial Assistant at Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, where she worked on titles by esteemed authors such as Cicely Tyson and Zora Neale Hurston. A writer and performance poet originally from Prince George’s County, MD, Amina was a 2020 Fellow for the Watering Hole Winter Writer’s Retreat. She has performed at venues in the US, England, Nigeria, and South Africa. Amina is a graduate of the First Wave program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied Neurobiology and English Creative Writing. She is interested in books with brave motifs that invite readers to the juncture of identity and social change. She is particularly passionate about books that illuminate the vastness of Black and queer life.
Nicole Luongo
Associate Editor
If you asked six-year-old me and present-day-me what a “perfect day” looked like, our answers would be identical: hot cocoa, a loaded bookstore gift card—with unlimited browsing time—mint chocolate chip ice cream, and an evening of uninterrupted reading. (I’m nothing if not consistent.) After working my dream high school summer job as a bookseller, I earned a joint B.A. in English and International Development from McGill University, then landed an editorial assistant role at Mango Publishing. From there, I moved to Park Row Books (HarperCollins), where I helped edit New York Times bestselling authors Mary Kubica, Heather Gudenkauf, and Pam Jenoff, among others, before building my own list. Some of my past acquisitions include Mansi Shah’s A Good Indian Girl (2024), Saumya Dave’s The Guilt Pill (Apr 2025), and Emily Buchanan’s Send Flowers (Jul 2025).
I joined the GCP team in 2024 and am looking for a wide range of edgy, voice-driven, commercial book club fiction, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices. My editorial interests include anything upmarket speculative (magical realism, horror, sci-fi, dystopian, cozy fantasy—you name it—especially if there’s a feminist bend!); genre-subverting psychological thrillers (cunning female perpetrators, unreliable female narrators, etc.); select coming-of-age stories; and feminist satire/dark comedy (I’m a sucker for biting, whip-smart humor). While I primarily acquire fiction, I also consider select narrative nonfiction/memoir, with specific interests in mental health, feminism, pop culture, psychology, social justice, and environmental activism.
Natalie Bautista
Assistant Editor, Balance
Working with books has always been a dream of mine! After graduating college with a B.A.in Creative Writing, and taking a detour through a few other professional industries, I found myself coming back to what I’ve always been passionate about: amplifying the voices and stories of others. I managed to make an industry switch, and after interning with Folio Literary Management and Catapult, I eagerly accepted an Editorial & Marketing Assistant position with GCP Balance. I am passionate about perspectives that reflect the nuanced, in-between spaces that many of us occupy, and believe we can only be the best versions of ourselves (physically, emotionally, spiritually) when we honor and nurture these diverse facets of who we are.
Ian Dorset
Assistant Editor
I started at GCP in 2023 with an interest in narrative non-fiction including cultural history and criticism, entertainment and sports, popular history, and natural science. My own list includes The Wonder Boy from ESPN correspondent Tim MacMahon and The Mighty Moo by Nathan Canestaro, and I have assisted on high-profile projects like The Harder I Fight The More I Love You by Neko Case, The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos, Free by Amanda Knox, SNAFU by Ed Helms and the upcoming Night People from Mark Ronson. Stories from music, film, sports and comedy are endlessly exciting to me, especially if they explore subcultures, counterculture spaces, and against-the grain (my past life in the punk scene never really left me, it seems). I love natural science, especially when it crosses disciplines with memoir, history, or philosophy. I’m also looking for narrative history, whether that be journalistic deep dives into lesser-known subjects that deserve attention, or page-turning history with larger-than-life characters. While I acquire in these spaces, I continue to support Colin Dickerman and Karyn Marcus.
Niyati Patel
Assistant Editor
My path to books has been winding—I always feel like I have one leg in and out of this world. After years working in psychiatric clinical research, I pivoted to earn an MFA in fiction at Sarah Lawrence College, then passed through the Columbia Publishing Course and an internship at Norton before joining Hachette Books in 2022. At GCP, my interests continue to revolve around books about the brain and the world the brain lives in—which is to say, I’m a generalist that values intention. Practical or narrative nonfiction, if the book has a strong message or a purpose for humans and humankind, and it keeps readers both relevant and entertained, I’d love to hear from you. Think: social justice, history, and geopolitics; science, psychology, and philosophy; biography & memoir, business, and so on, written for—or editable for—the masses. As a poet, I value brevity and clarity; as a novelist, I value story and stakes; and as a trained scientist, I value truth and scope. I bring these skills to shepherding books and hope that, together, we can make something great.
Grace Fischetti
Editorial Assistant
My love of reading began when my favorite local librarian, Stephanie, nurtured my passion for books. Since then, I have known I wanted to be part of the process that brings great stories to readers. After graduating from Boston University, I joined HBG as a publicity intern. My genre of choice has always been romance, so I am excited to now be a Forever team member, especially on the editorial side of things. Although I favor rom coms, I enjoy exploring women’s fiction, historical fiction, and narrative nonfiction titles. When I’m not reading romance, I’m probably watching a romantic movie or creating videos for BookTok about the genre. I assist Alex Logan and Madeleine Colavita.
Mahito Indi Henderson
Editorial Assistant, Legacy Lit
After randomly selecting David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day for a high school summer reading assignment, I knew that I was destined for a literary career. I studied creative writing, film, and art theory and practice at Northwestern University before moving to Ireland, where I received my MA in creative writing from University College Cork. I then moved to Dublin, where I worked as an editorial assistant and program coordinator for Skein Press, an independent publishing house that supports marginalized communities across Ireland. I am passionate about books that sit at the intersection of race, culture, and humor, and I’m delighted to be working for Legacy Lit, reporting to Krishan Trotman, where I can help promote and champion diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the publishing industry.
Jordyn Penner
Editorial Assistant, Forever
Since I could pick up a book, I have loved reading and storytelling. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in creative writing, I became the assistant manager of a woman-owned independent bookstore in Minnesota. Going into publishing was the natural next step in my career. I moved to New York to get my master’s degree in publishing and began interning at HBG. I am so excited to be a part of the Forever team since I love all things romance! I’m also an avid horror and fantasy reader. When I’m not reading, I love trying the local coffee shops and exploring my New York City neighborhood. I assist Leah Hultenschmidt and Junessa Viloria.
Morgan Spehar
Editorial Assistant
My path into publishing began as a kid who, every week, wanted to check out so many books from the library that I couldn’t lift the extra-sturdy tote bag my mom brought with us. After studying journalism and environmental studies at Ohio University, I spent a year and a half at Princeton University Press as a fellow and, later, an assistant on the history and economics lists. I still love to read anything I can get my hands on! I’m incredibly excited to be working on compelling nonfiction at Grand Central, where I am supporting Suzanne O’Neill and Maddie Caldwell.
Nzinga Temu
Editorial Assistant, Balance
As many childhood book lovers turned English majors before me, I was hurtling toward publishing sometime shortly after my first school library visit. After earning my bachelor’s degree from Howard University, and completing an internship at Electric Literature, I hopped straight into working at Hachette Go and Hachette Books. I am so pleased to now be working at Balance where I support Renee Sedliar and Diana Ventimiglia on all kinds of riveting nonfiction and beautiful cookbooks.
Danielle Thomas
Editorial Assistant
My love for books stems from my passion for all things storytelling, no matter the medium. Words have a way of eliciting powerful emotions when strung together the right way, and after consistently reading the acknowledgments of books I loved, I realized that I wanted to be one of the people that gets to contribute to the stories that are published for all to experience. After a brief detour where I earned my bachelor’s degree in mathematics, I worked as an author’s assistant to S. A. Cosby and a publicity intern for Little, Brown Spark and Voracious while I earned my masters in publishing from NYU. I’m so grateful to have gotten my start in editorial at GCP, where I assist Karen Kosztolnyik and Lyssa Keusch.