Kimberly Meilun – Editor

I recently joined PublicAffairs, an imprint of Hachette, as an Associate Editor specializing in Business and Economics. Previously, I was an Assistant Editor at Portfolio, the business imprint of Penguin Random House. My authors included the founder and CEO of the Bail Project, Robin Steinberg, internationally-recognized DEI consultant, Deanna Singh, Lyrical Lemonade founder Cole Bennett, time-management expert Laura Vanderkam, business consultant Joey Coleman, Salesforce executive Tiffani Bova, PopCom founder Dawn Dickson, and journalist Robert Evans. Portfolio specializes in books by and for ambitious people, and my authors are no exception.

Spanning self-help, entrepreneurship, DEI, professional and personal development, and business strategy categories, I acquire and edit books that help people become innovators, leaders, and inspire the next generation of change agents.

A few of my books that are out now/forthcoming in 2023:

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER by Deanna Singh (available for pre-order; DEI category)
TRANQUILITY BY TUESDAY by Laura Vanderkam (available for pre-order; time management/personal development)
NEVER LOSE AN EMPLOYEE AGAIN by Joey Coleman (forthcoming; business strategy)
THE EXPERIENCE MINDSET by Tiffani Bova (forthcoming; business strategy)
THE COURAGE OF COMPASSION by Robin Steinberg (forthcoming; criminal justice reform/memoir)
CONVERTED by Neil Hoyne (available now; marketing)
CUES by Vanessa Van Edwards (available now; professional/personal development)
THE PRACTICE OF GROUNDEDNESS by Brad Stulberg (available now; personal development)
BE 2.0 by Jim Collins (available now; business strategy)
THE MIDDLE FINGER PROJECT by Ash Ambirge (available now; self-help/memoir)
DREAM FIRST, DETAILS LATER by Ellen Bennett (available now; self-help/memoir)
THE TIME-BLOCK PLANNER by Cal Newport (available now; paper product/time management)
HOW TO CHANGE by Katy Milkman (available now; science/personal development)
and many more.

The best part of my job is helping authors create the best, most authentic expression of their ideas. While I can correct grammar issues, I don't see my job as a "red pen" editor, but rather, someone who can help you understand your book's position in the marketplace, the best shape and structure for your book, how your ideas can best shine and have maximum impact, etc. You'll find my edits and notes helpful and packed with context, so you're never left wondering, "What the heck does that mean!?" I love to collaborate with my authors and hash out ideas for stories, headings/subheadings, takeaways, activities in the book, packaging, titles, and other parts of the creative process.

Before beginning my career in publishing, I worked as a financial crimes consultant for global banks and criminal defense paralegal in a widely-publicized NYC trial. I also worked as an editor/research assistant for Fordham Law Professor Tanya Hernández, fact-checking and editing her 2018 book, Multiracials and Civil Rights: Mixed-Race Stories of Discrimination. All this to say, I have lots of corporate business experience, particularly legal experience!

I look forward to working together!