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Meeting Up in the City

Caragh O'Brien and Kate Jacobs,  Senior Editor, Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan.

Caragh O’Brien and Kate Jacobs, Senior Editor, Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan.

I met up with my editor Kate Jacobs for lunch last week, and it was lovely to have a chance to visit with her. We have many emails and phone calls, but our face-to-face meetings are rare treats. We chatted about families, books, readers, and bibliotherapy. We considered why Anne of Green Gables works on a deep level as a survival story. We admired the design work of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, which I had with me. It’s gratifying to agree with each other about bookish matters.

On the work front, I had sent Kate my latest draft of Vault 3 the week before, and she made a point of reading it on a quick turn-around so we could discuss my progress. I was so relieved to learn that she thinks the draft is in good shape! It still has a way to go, of course, but it’s a huge boost to know Kate is enthusiastic about the changes I’ve made already.

The Flatiron Building, home of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

The Flatiron Building, home of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Later the same day, I met with my agent Kirby Kim for a chat over tea and lemonade. We’ve known each other for eight years now, through all the decisions of my YA writing career, and I respect him enormously. It was great swapping ideas with him. He always gives me new perspectives to consider, like when he points me toward films or other novels related to concepts I’m developing. Best of all, we can laugh together.

I’m lucky, I know, to have such allies in my corner. I’m grateful, too. Now I’m all revved up and inspired.

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Caragh's Latest Favorite Reads

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Every Day
The Dog Stars
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Fault in Our Stars
Two of a Kind
Until It Hurts to Stop


Caragh's books »
Book Trailer for Promised