Alison S. Weiss.jpg

After more than fifteen years editing children’s and young adult books, my favorite part is still working one-on-one with authors and illustrators, helping them to realize the very best version of their projects. To me, an editor is a coach; sometimes tough, sometimes supportive, but always on your side.

Growing up in Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving’s legend of a headless horseman and a hapless school teacher wove storytelling into my soul. I was always reading and writing.

While attending the University of Pennsylvania, I participated in Random House’s internship program, working at Delacorte Books for Young Readers where I knew on Day 3 that editing children’s books was all I ever wanted to do. After graduating, I joined Egmont USA where I helped launch the company and learned the ins-and-outs of every part of the publishing process. After six-and-a-half years, I joined Sky Pony Press, the children’s imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, where I launched their chapter book program, built out their fiction list, and eventually became Editorial Director, guiding the company’s children’s and YA program. And most recently, I served as acquisitions editor at Pixel+Ink, where I helped launch the company and worked on a wide range of projects told across platforms (and even had a few books optioned for film).

I’ve edited hundreds of books in my career, picture book through YA (and an occasional adult title), across genres. My authors’ and illustrators’ books have received many accolades and awards, among them a Willliam C. Morris Award finalist, an Edgar Nominee, Agatha Award, an Anthony nomination, an ITW finalist, Whitney nominations, an IndieNext pick, Junior Library Guild selections, starred reviews, end of year lists, and state lists.

When I’m not editing, you’ll likely find me curled up reading, watching movies, stalking bookstores, or opining on all manner of topics on Twitter and sometimes Bluesky and Threads.