An award-winning editor with decades
of experience, at both a celebrated independent house
and a Big Five publisher
Starting on his first day as an editorial assistant for Farrar, Straus and Giroux’s Michael di Capua Books at their famously shabby Union Square offices, Wes dusted off an abandoned desk, found a new ribbon for a battered IBM Selectric, and learned by doing, helping out on projects by legends such as Maurice Sendak, Fred Marcellino, Natalie Babbitt, William Steig, Larry Woiwode, Uri Shulevitz, James Marshall, Seamus Heaney, Tor Seidler, Margot Zemach, Arthur Yorinks, Richard Egielski, Seamus Heaney, and Leonard Michaels.
Soon he began acquiring his own books by authors such as Kate McMullan, Jerome Charyn, Jack Gantos, Kathleen Karr, George Booth, Daniel Pinkwater, Michael Chesworth, Jonathan Bean, and Marc Rosenthal. He also edited many imported projects by U.K. creators such as Ted Hughes, Rosemary Sutcliff, J. G. Ballard, Robert Westall, Catherine Rayner, and Raymond Briggs. Eventually, Wes began attending the Bologna Book Fair annually, to scout for new projects and befriend rights directors and agents from all over the world.
In 2008, FSG Books for Young Readers became an imprint of the newly formed Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. As an Executive Editor, Wes acquired and oversaw 15 to 20 children’s books for all ages a year, both fiction and nonfiction; cultivated relationships with authors, agents, illustrators, and foreign rights managers; coordinated with Design, Copyediting, and Production to achieve the highest quality standards balanced with careful attention to schedule and budget considerations; and led in-house promotion of authors and projects, from acquisition and launch to day-to-day meetings, coordinating with Rights, Publicity, Marketing, Sales, Legal, and other departments.
In between all this, like harried editors the world over, he found the time to read submissions and edit, mainly at night and on weekends.
Wes specializes in picture books, humor, adventure and survival stories, graphic novels, middle-grade fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoirs. He relishes stories for kids of all ages where the characters are either up against it and somehow find a surprising way to pull through, or who make him laugh—ideally both.
Wes loves finding, developing, and leading the charge for . . .
- Unheard, instantly unforgettable voices
- Impactful, overlooked stories
- Humor
- Survival fiction and nonfiction
- Eye-opening true tales
- Mind-blowing made-up tales
- Edgy stuff for any age
- Mysteries
- Humor- and character-driven picture books
- Middle-grade fiction from creators who really understand their audience
- Standalone illustrated chapter books
- Upmarket series fare
- Quality commercial projects
- New perspectives on familiar subjects
Select Awards and Accolades
Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Stay Home by Zach Weinersmith Amazon Editors’ Pick | New York Times Bestseller
Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt, adapted and Illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard Indie Bestseller | Best Book of the Year selection by Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal
Tegan and Sara: Junior High A graphic novel by Tegan and Sara Quin, illustrated by Tillie Walden Indie Bestseller
Northwind by Gary Paulsen New York Times Bestseller | Audible.com Best Audio Book of the Year
My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement by Willie Mae Brown ILA Children’ Book Award Winner | Audible.com Best Book of the Year
The Christmas Book Flood by Emily Kilgore, illustrated by Kitty Moss Indie Bestseller
Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter by Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long Best Book of the Year selection by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Chicago Public Library
Beach Toys vs. School Supplies by Mike Ciccotello Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award Winner
Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen Best Book of the Year selection by Kirkus Reviews, New York Times Book Review, Parent’s Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness
A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner Lambda Literary Award Honor
Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Books for Older Readers | Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children’s Books of the Past 20 Years | National Jewish Book Award Finalist
Soldier Boy: A Novel Based on a True Story from the Ugandan Civil War by Keely Hutton Booklist Editors’ Choice
This is My Home, This is My School by Jonathan Bean Perennial bestseller in the homeschooling community
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose Robert F. Sibert Award Honor | Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
Building Our House by Jonathan Bean Boston Globe/Horn Book Picture Book Award
The Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins series by Andrew Lane Inspiration for Amazon Prime’s Young Sherlock Series, directed by Guy Ritchie
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos New York Times Bestseller | Newbery Medal | Scott O’Dell Award
The Interrogation of Gabriel James by Charlie Price Edgar Award Winner for Best YA Mystery
Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith International Bestseller | ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers
Saturday Night Dirt: A Motor Novel by Will Weaver ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers
At Night by Jonathan Bean Boston Globe/Horn Book Picture Book Award | Charlotte Zolotow Award
Beegu by Alexis Deacon New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book of the Year
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos Printz Honor | Sibert Honor
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos Newbery Honor
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos National Book Award Finalist
Wes Adams 