Julia Byers – Editor

I'm a former children's book publishing professional, now earning my MFA in Film & Television Production at the University of Southern California. I previously worked as an Assistant Literary Agent and Foreign Rights Manager for iconic children's literary agency Sheldon Fogelman Agency, where among other responsibilities, I read slush, edited client books, and assisted in selling titles to Big Five and independent publishers alike. Before that, I interned in the editorial department of Scholastic, at the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency, and at Folio Literary Management. I've worked with NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and award-winning authors of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels.

I am a graduate of the University of Michigan, where I studied Creative Writing & Literature and Global Media Studies (Film), along with the Summer School in English Literature at St Peter’s College, Oxford University and the Columbia Publishing Course UK. My own writing has received a variety of recognitions, including Highest Honors for my creative writing undergraduate honors thesis, a Hopwood Award and Arthur Miller Award from U of M, and first place in the children’s/YA fiction category of the WRITER’S DIGEST Annual Writing Competition. I'm the screenwriter behind several short films as well, which will begin hitting the festival circuit later in 2025.

My passion for storytelling is at the core of everything I do and I would love to share that passion and my industry knowledge to help your writing become the best it can be.