TARA WALKER is the Publisher of Penguin Random House Canada Children’s Publishing Group, which comprises four imprints: Tundra Books, Doubleday Books for Young Readers, Puffin and Razorbill. She got her start in children’s publishing more than twenty years ago at Kids Can Press where she worked for sixteen years as an editor before joining Tundra Books as Editorial Director in 2011. Tara has had the pleasure of working with some of Canada’s most accomplished writers and illustrators for children, including Mélanie Watt, Susin Nielsen, Kyo Maclear, Isabelle Arsenault, Linda Bailey, Ashley Spires, Julie Morstad, Cybèle Young, Shane Peacock, Frank Viva, Stéphane Jorisch and the Fan Brothers. For many years she oversaw the beloved Franklin the Turtle series and acquired and edited the best-selling Scaredy Squirrel series. This past year, she had four books shortlisted for a GG award: Mélanie Watt’s Bug in a Vaccuum, Kyo Maclear and Marion Arbona’s The Good Little Book, Susin Nielsen’s We Are All Made of Molecules and Dan Bar-el’s Audrey (cow). She also has upcoming books by Commander Chris Hadfield and Lemony Snicket.

Events:

Workshop 2: Speed Dating: Pitch your Book/Idea to Publishers, Agents and Editors