Books Reporters and Journalists - 2025 Contact List

Brendan Kelly is the Montreal Gazette’s foremost books journalist, specializing in Canadian literature, author profiles, and cultural analysis. With over a decade of experience, he has shaped national conversations about Indigenous storytelling, Quebecois identity, and the evolving role of independent publishers.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Highlight debut authors exploring regional/niche cultural themes (e.g., Franco-Ontarian coming-of-age stories).
• Avoid: Mass-market bestsellers without Canadian ties or literary merit.

“Literature isn’t a mirror but a prism—what fractures and reconstitutes our view of the possible.” – Kelly on his criticism philosophy

Achievements

• 2024 National Magazine Award Finalist for arts reporting
• 2023 Fellow at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

We find Brian Bethune at the intersection of cultural analysis and policy impact. As Maclean's senior writer since 1998, he has shaped national conversations on:

• Urban Design Philosophy: Analyzes architectural projects through community impact lenses
• Academic Equity: Exposes systemic inequalities in higher education systems
• Literary Innovation: Tracks Canadian authors' responses to technological disruption

Pitching Priorities

Successful outreach requires alignment with his signature approaches:

• Contextualize proposals with verifiable social impact metrics
• Connect academic research to real-world policy applications
• Highlight unconventional intersections between technology and humanities

Career Highlights

• 23 National Magazine Award nominations since 2005
• Cited in 14 municipal urban planning policy documents
• Guest lecturer at University of Toronto Journalism School since 2016

With three decades of Midwest-focused cultural reporting, Cindy Hoedel has become the authoritative voice on regional stories with national resonance. Her current work at IN Kansas City Magazine blends investigative rigor with narrative flair, specializing in:

• Literary Journalism
  Deep-dive author profiles tracing creative influences to regional roots
• Cultural Preservation
  Documenting endangered artistic traditions through oral histories
• Human-Centered Innovation
  Highlighting Midwesterners impacting global arts/entertainment

Pitching Insights

• Ideal Sources
  Archivists, community historians, arts educators with untapped story collections
• Avoid
  Celebrity gossip, political endorsements, purely commercial ventures

"The best stories aren't told - they're unearthed through patience and regional expertise."

We engage with Tóibín’s four-decade exploration of unspoken cultural shifts through intimate character studies. His current focus for The New Yorker and literary journals bridges historical fiction with contemporary diaspora experiences.

Pitching Priorities

• Literary Craft: Deep analyses of prose style evolution from 1990s minimalism to 2020s layered symbolism
• Cultural Thresholds: Moments when private lives collide with public historical turning points
• Academic Crossovers: Columbia University initiatives blending creative writing with archival research

“The novelist’s task isn’t to explain the age, but to let the age explain itself through half-heard conversations.” – From his 2025 Kentucky Author Forum appearance

Achievements Snapshot

• First author nominated for Booker Prize in three consecutive decades (1999–2024)
• Works translated into 40+ languages, with Brooklyn selling 2M+ copies worldwide
• Chancellor of University of Liverpool (2017–2022), establishing transatlantic literary partnerships

Cynthia Hoffman brings clinical depth to personal narrative, specializing in mental health discourse through memoirs and literary essays. Currently contributing to The Sun Magazine and national outlets, her work dissects OCD experiences and creative process.

Pitching Priorities

• Mental Health Innovation: Seeks stories bridging medical research and lived experience
• Literary Craft: Pitches should demonstrate narrative ambition beyond service journalism

Recipient of the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellowship and published in Best New Poets, Hoffman’s career demonstrates how personal narrative can reshape cultural conversations about mental health .

With a career spanning investigative journalism and literary criticism, Eric Olson (Literary Hub) offers unique opportunities for nuanced storytelling partnerships.

Current Focus Areas

• Author Interviews: Seeks writers exploring moral complexity, particularly through historical or psychological lenses.
• Institutional Accountability: Prioritizes Cold War-era declassified narratives with modern policy implications.
• Forensic Storytelling: Interested in cases where document analysis reshapes public understanding.

Pitching Preferences

• Do: Lead with archival discoveries, author backstories tied to societal issues, or legal cases requiring narrative reconstruction.
• Avoid: Surface-level book promotions, corporate legal updates, or historical anniversaries without fresh evidence.

“The best stories live in the friction between personal truth and institutional memory.”

Hermione Hoby is a British-American writer whose incisive cultural criticism and literary fiction have redefined contemporary conversations about identity and artistry. Currently contributing to The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker, she merges poetic prose with rigorous social analysis.

Pitching Insights

• Seek nuanced feminism: Her work dissects power dynamics without simplistic binaries, as seen in her critique of performative activism in Virtue.
• Embrace aesthetic ambition: Pitches should prioritize projects with bold stylistic visions, akin to her lyrical debut Neon in Daylight.

Awards Spotlight

• Twice named a New York Times Editors’ Choice author
• 2022 Mark Twain Award finalist, recognizing innovative American literature

As lead books journalist for The Telegraph, Jake Kerridge has redefined how mainstream audiences engage with publishing industry mechanics and genre fiction evolution. His work sits at the crossroads of cultural commentary and trade analysis, making him essential reading for authors, agents, and serious bibliophiles.

Core Coverage Areas

• Crime Fiction Trends: From Scandinavian noir to cozy mysteries, Kerridge tracks how detective fiction reflects societal anxieties
• Publishing Business Models: In-depth analyses of streaming adaptations, book packaging services, and AI’s role in content creation
• Literary Franchise Dynamics: Critiques of IP expansion strategies for series like James Bond and Sherlock Holmes

Pitching Insights

• Data-Rich Pitches: He prioritizes stories with verifiable sales figures or reader demographic shifts
• UK Industry Focus: While versed in global trends, his deepest analysis centers on British publishers and authors

Jane Ciabattari is a literary critic, fiction writer, and cultural commentator currently contributing to Literary Hub. With over four decades of experience, she specializes in:

Primary Coverage Areas

• Literary Fiction: Profiles emerging and established authors, with emphasis on transnational voices and feminist narratives
• Cultural Criticism: Analyzes trends in arts and media through historical and sociological lenses
• Publishing Evolution: Tracks digital transformations in storytelling and literary institutions

Pitching Insights

• Do:
  • Lead with underrepresented historical perspectives
  • Connect environmental themes to human-scale stories
  • Highlight formal experimentation in fiction
• Don’t:
  • Pitch genre fiction without literary depth
  • Overlook international translation opportunities

Career Highlights

• Author of Pushcart-recognized short story collection Stealing the Fire
• Former president of the National Book Critics Circle
• Recipient of MacDowell and NYFA fellowships

Jared Bland is a leading voice in Canadian literary journalism and publishing, currently serving as Vice President, Communications and Community at Penguin Random House Canada. Based in Toronto, his work at The Globe and Mail and McClelland & Stewart has redefined how Indigenous and multicultural narratives enter the national canon.

Key Coverage Areas

• Indigenous Literature: Bland champions works that explore residential school legacies and cultural resurgence, often collaborating with organizations like the Indigenous Editors Association.
• Literary Nonfiction: He prioritizes memoirs and essays addressing identity, migration, and social justice, particularly from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors.
• Publishing Industry Trends: His commentary analyzes equity in royalties, digital accessibility, and the role of independent bookstores.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Submit proposals with clear societal impact metrics, e.g., a memoir’s potential use in school reconciliation programs.
• Avoid: Genre fiction or topics detached from Canadian cultural discourse.

“Publishing isn’t just about reflecting culture—it’s about shaping it through intentional, inclusive storytelling.”

Bland’s accolades include juror roles for the CBC Literary Prize and co-founding the Indigenous Voices Awards.

Lead fiction critic for The Critic, John Self combines erudite analysis with accessible prose. Based in Belfast but engaging with global literatures, his work bridges academic rigor and mainstream appeal.

Core Coverage Areas

• Contemporary Literary Fiction: Particularly debut novels and mid-career authors undergoing stylistic reinvention
• Publishing Industry Trends: Analysis of acquisition patterns, prize culture dynamics, and digital disruption
• Narrative Innovation: Works experimenting with form, temporality, or interdisciplinary approaches

Pitching Recommendations

• Contextual Pitches: Frame submissions within specific literary traditions or movements. Self’s review of Yiyun Li’s The Book of Goose excelled by positioning it against postwar French existentialism.
• Structural Breakdowns: Highlight unconventional narrative architectures. His praise for Miriam Toews’ Fight Night focused on its use of pediatric oncology metaphors in chapter structures.
• Regional Angles: While not an Ulster specialist, Self prioritizes works reimagining regional identities. Reference Seamus Heaney’s influence or post-Good Friday Agreement societal shifts.

Achievements Snapshot

• 2023 Anthony Burgess Prize for criticism examining literature’s role in societal crises
• Curated 2024 Belfast Book Festival’s landmark “Fictions of Belonging” program
• Regular cultural commentator on BBC Radio 4 and RTÉ’s Sunday Miscellany

John Timpane is a cultural journalist and critic currently writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he specializes in book reviews and arts commentary. With roots in academia and poetry, his work bridges scholarly analysis and accessible journalism.

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Criticism: Focuses on works with historical significance or innovative narrative structures
• Cultural History: Examines art’s role in shaping societal values
• Author Profiles: Explores creators’ philosophical frameworks and creative processes

Pitching Insights

• Do: Emphasize unique research angles or underrepresented historical perspectives
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven content or commercial genre fiction

Julia Keller is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author whose work spans investigative reporting, mystery fiction, and behavioral psychology. Currently an independent scholar and writer, she focuses on themes of cultural resilience, ethical decision-making, and the strategic power of quitting. Her recent book, Quitting: A Life Strategy, challenges conventional self-help narratives and has been featured in NPR segments and TEDx Talks.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas:
  • Appalachian narratives: Keller seeks stories highlighting systemic challenges and grassroots resilience in rural America.
  • Psychology of choice: Pitch studies or case studies on cognitive flexibility, burnout, or paradigm shifts.
  • Literary criticism: Propose analyses of contemporary fiction’s societal impact, particularly mystery or sci-fi genres.

Awards and Recognition

• Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing (2005): Awarded for her groundbreaking tornado series in The Chicago Tribune.
• Barry Award (2013): Honored for her debut mystery novel, A Killing in the Hills.
• Nieman Fellowship (1998): Recognized for her contributions to journalism and literary scholarship.

For collaboration opportunities, prioritize pitches that align with her interdisciplinary approach and narrative depth. Avoid topics outside her beats, such as celebrity culture or financial trends.

As Canada’s preeminent life writing scholar and public intellectual, Rak’s work shapes contemporary understanding of autobiography across three key domains:

• Cultural Preservation: Specializes in marginalized autobiographical traditions, from Doukhobor memoirs to indigenous storytelling
• Gender Analysis: Pioneering feminist readings of Canadian literary icons and adventure narratives
• Ethical Mediation: Examines how editorial practices shape cultural memory

Current Priorities

Rak’s recent publications signal strong interest in:

• AI’s impact on autobiographical practices
• Decolonizing outdoor/adventure literature
• Pedagogical innovations in literary studies

Pitching Recommendations

• Focus on process: She favors behind-the-scenes accounts of cultural production over finished works
• Emphasize methodology: Clear articulation of research frameworks increases pitch success
• Cross-disciplinary angles: Successful pieces often bridge literary studies, sociology, and digital humanities

Kate Lilley is a preeminent Australian poet-scholar whose work intersects contemporary verse, feminist theory, and queer literary history. Currently contributing to Overland, she combines academic rigor with experimental poetics, offering unique insights into language’s political dimensions.

Key Focus Areas

• Literary Scholarship: Edited Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World and Dorothy Hewett’s Selected Poems, revitalizing historical texts through a modern feminist lens.
• Poetic Innovation: Authored award-winning collections like Tilt (2019 Victorian Premier’s Prize) that blend archival research with lyrical experimentation.
• Mentorship: Directed the University of Sydney’s Creative Writing program for eight years, shaping Australia’s next generation of literary voices.

Pitching Guidance

• Seek interdisciplinary angles: Proposals should bridge academic analysis and creative writing, as seen in her Cordite interview on poetic uncertainty .
• Avoid commercial genres: She prioritizes works challenging canonical norms over mainstream fiction or memoir.

Based in Sydney, Kate Prendergast contributes cultural analysis and literary criticism to The West Australian while maintaining an active presence in Australia’s indie publishing scene. Her dual expertise in healthcare narratives and arts journalism informs a unique perspective on storytelling’s societal role.

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Innovation: Profiles experimental authors and analyzes genre-blurring works
• Cultural Infrastructure: Examines how institutions and grassroots movements shape artistic ecosystems
• Narrative Medicine: Explores storytelling’s therapeutic applications, building on her midwifery background

Achievements Highlights

• 2024 Stella Prize judging panel member
• Author of All My Goodbyes, published internationally by Transit Books
• Keynote speaker at 2023 Te Papa Hauora symposium on urban youth wellbeing

As literary editor and cultural commentator for The Guardian, Katy Guest shapes conversations about literature's role in societal change. Her work focuses on:

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Criticism: Analyzes how contemporary fiction reflects social issues
• Publishing Trends: Investigates diversity gaps in book acquisitions
• Gender Studies: Explores feminist revisions of literary classics

Pitching Priorities

• Include comparative sales data when discussing representation issues
• Highlight UK-based authors/publishers advancing inclusive storytelling

With 14 years' experience at major outlets, Guest brings academic rigor to cultural journalism while maintaining accessibility for general readers.

Based in Adelaide, Kerryn Goldsworthy is a leading voice in Australian literary criticism, currently contributing to Australian Book Review. With four decades’ experience across academia and journalism, she specializes in:

• Literary Analysis: Particularly 19th–20th century Australian women’s writing
• Cultural History: Regional identity formation through literature
• Editorial Practice: Anthology curation and feminist publishing traditions

Pitching Insights

When approaching Goldsworthy, consider:

• Historical Context: She favors pieces connecting contemporary works to lesser-known literary predecessors
• Feminist Angles: Highlight projects revising patriarchal narratives or recovering marginalized voices
• Avoid Genre Tropes: She rarely covers formulaic fiction; focus instead on experimental or hybrid forms

Career Highlights

• Edited Australian Book Review (1986–1987)
• Authored Adelaide (NewSouth), shortlisted for Victorian Premier’s Literary Award
• 2013 Pascall Prize for Critical Writing recipient

Current Role: Editor-in-Chief at Literary Review of Canada
Location: Toronto, Canada
Profile: reviewcanada.ca/contributor/kyle-wyatt

Core Coverage Areas

• Literary Analysis: Specializes in Canadian fiction/nonfiction with cultural commentary angles
• Historical Contextualization: Focuses on history’s relevance to contemporary issues
• Cultural Criticism: Examines arts through societal change lenses

Pitching Recommendations

• Book Proposals: Prefers works bridging academic research and public discourse
• Historical Essays: Seeks narratives connecting past events to modern debates
• Cultural Trend Analysis: Prioritizes pieces with original interpretive frameworks

Notable Achievements

• 2023 Editorial Leadership Award recipient
• 2022 National Magazine Award finalist
• Executive director of LRC Charitable Foundation

Laura Thomas (Substack, Canada) specializes in uplifting narratives at the intersection of faith and daily life. With over 200 writing collaborations and multiple award-winning books, her work offers:

Key Coverage Areas

• Faith-Inspired Fiction: Crafting redemptive arcs in genres from suspense to holiday stories
• Writing Craft: Workshops like Sacred Stories demystify storytelling for new authors
• Grief Navigation: Essays and talks transforming personal loss into communal healing

Pitching Preferences

• Do Pitch: Authentic transformation stories, unconventional faith practices, writing process case studies
• Avoid: Political commentary, technical writing guides, celebrity-focused content

“Stories are the threads that stitch our messy lives together.” —Laura Thomas

Lucy Dougan operates at the intersection of poetic practice and cultural custodianship, serving as Poetry Editor for Westerly Magazine while directing Curtin University’s China-Australia Writing Centre. Her work consistently bridges academic rigor and public intellectual engagement, particularly through:

Key Coverage Areas

• Literary Archaeology: Examining contemporary works through historical poetic forms
• Institutional Evolution: Tracking how cultural organizations adapt to digital preservation challenges
• Sensory Poetics: Analyzing how texture, sound, and rhythm shape regional literary voices

Avoid Pitches On

• Mass-market publishing trends
• Genre fiction mechanics
• Celebrity author profiles lacking cultural context

“True criticism requires equal parts microscope and kaleidoscope.” – Dougan, 2022 WA Writers Festival

With awards including the WA Premier’s Book Award and multiple national shortlistings, Dougan’s work informs both academic discourse and arts policy. Her current projects explore augmented reality poetry installations and blockchain-based archival systems.

Staff writer at The Miami Herald covering:
• Celebrity culture through social impact lens
• Health narratives in public figures
• Gender policy and reproductive rights

Pitching Insights

• Humanize institutional stories: She contextualizes policy through individual experiences, as seen in her analysis of Supreme Court decisions
• Avoid superficial celebrity angles: Focus pitches on advocacy work or cultural commentary rather than tabloid-style topics

Achievements

2023 Pulitzer Prize for Team Reporting (Miami Herald)

Maxine Beneba Clarke stands at the forefront of Australia's literary renaissance, crafting works that interrogate race, identity, and belonging across genres. Based in Melbourne, her output spans award-winning memoirs (The Hate Race), pioneering children's literature (When We Say Black Lives Matter), and poetry collections that redefine national narratives.

Key Coverage Areas

• Intersectional Storytelling: Explores how race, class, and gender intersect in diasporic communities
• Decolonial Practice: Challenges Western literary norms through form and content
• Artistic Activism: Uses creative writing as a tool for social justice education

Pitching Priorities

• Cross-genre projects blending visual/textual elements
• Narratives centering First Nations perspectives
• Innovative approaches to difficult historical truths

"Your one job, on the page or outside of it, is to just keep trying to make the world a better place." - From "Dear my past self"

As Culture Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald’s Spectrum, Melanie Kembrey shapes Australia’s dialogue on literature, arts, and media ethics. With over a decade at the Herald, she champions stories that examine:

• Literary Innovation: Emerging genres, underrepresented authors, and publishing’s digital transformation.
• Cultural Policy: Funding debates, censorship challenges, and arts education reforms.
• Media Trends: Press freedom, creator economies, and algorithmic impacts on storytelling.

Pitching Priorities

• Data-Rich Cultural Analysis She amplifies stories grounded in demographic shifts or economic data, like her 2021 investigation into music lesson enrollment demographics.
• Ethical Publishing Exposés Kembrey’s work on book cancellations shows interest in transparency issues. Pitch investigative leads on contractual disputes or diversity audits.

Achievements Snapshot

“Kembrey’s editing has redefined arts journalism as both mirror and catalyst for societal change.” — 2023 Walkley Awards Jury

• 2023 Walkley Award Finalist (Arts)
• 2021 Copyright Agency Cultural Fund Grant Recipient
• 2020-2023 Sydney Writers’ Festival Curator

We’ve followed Melissa Cranenburgh’s evolution from The Big Issue editor to one of Australia’s most incisive literary voices. Her work interrogates how stories shape identity, with a focus on feminist and Indigenous narratives.

Current Focus Areas

• Feminist Theory in Practice: Analyzes works redefining gender beyond Western binaries, e.g., her critique of Van Loon’s The Thinking Woman.
• Indigenous Media Representation: Profiles creators like Tony Armstrong navigating cultural stewardship in mainstream spaces.
• Literary Hybridity: Champions genre-blurring texts, from autofiction to essayistic novels.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Frame pitches around systemic critique, not individual triumph
• Avoid: Celebrity-driven or purely commercial angles

“Editing is the art of asking ‘whose voice isn’t here yet?’” – From her Wheeler Centre interview

Michael Upchurch is a Seattle-based journalist and novelist specializing in literature, arts, and cultural criticism. With bylines in The Seattle Times, The Boston Globe, and Cascade PBS, he combines narrative flair with analytical rigor to explore creators’ lives and societal narratives.

Current Focus Areas

• Literary Profiles: Deep dives into authors’ creative journeys, particularly those intersecting with historical events
• Arts Criticism: Analysis of regional theater, visual arts, and literary trends in the Pacific Northwest
• Cultural History: Examinations of overlooked artistic movements or revived works

Pitching Recommendations

• Do: Highlight projects with strong author narratives or cultural significance
• Avoid: Time-sensitive news hooks or celebrity-driven stories

Upchurch’s career—spanning four novels and thousands of articles—reflects a sustained commitment to storytelling as both art and craft. Those seeking his attention should prioritize substance over spectacle, offering stories that reward careful scrutiny.

Michelle Gagnon has carved a unique niche at the intersection of crime fiction and social commentary. Currently published through Penguin Random House, her work spans:

• Genre Innovation: Blending dark comedy with procedural rigor in novels like Killing Me
• Representational Advocacy: Pioneering organic LGBTQ+ representation in thriller narratives
• Psychological Depth: Informed by ongoing clinical psychology studies

Pitching Insights

Effective pitches should:

• Reference her anthropological approach to crime scenes
• Incorporate unexpected humor without undermining stakes
• Demonstrate awareness of her critique of "trauma porn" in modern thrillers

Notable Achievements:

• Daphne du Maurier Award finalist for Boneyard
• 2023 IndieNext Pick recognizing crossover appeal
• Frequent contributor to literary analysis in School Library Journal

Mireille Juchau stands at the forefront of ecological storytelling, blending literary fiction with incisive cultural commentary. Currently contributing to The Dial, her work examines climate trauma through innovative narrative forms.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Memory: Explores how communities document ecological change through oral histories and material culture
• Trauma Narratives: Analyzes psychological impacts of climate events using literary and journalistic techniques
• Interdisciplinary Arts: Tracks intersections between scientific research and creative practice

Achievement Highlights

• Recipient of the 2024 Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship for climate fiction research
• 2020 Pascall Prize winner for arts criticism in The New Yorker and The Monthly
• Victorian Premier’s Literary Award winner for seminal eco-novel The World Without Us

Pitching Insights

• Focus: Climate narratives with historical depth (minimum 20-year scope)
• Avoid: Breaking news angles or policy-focused pieces without human stories
• Ideal Sources: Families maintaining multi-generational environmental records

Nancy Churnin bridges historical scholarship and children's education through award-winning biographies that emphasize social justice and inclusion. Based in Dallas, her work for publishers including Albert Whitman & Company and Beaming Books has earned recognition from the National Jewish Book Awards, Sydney Taylor Book Awards, and Texas Library Association.

Key Focus Areas

• Historical Biography: Resurrects overlooked figures who shaped civil rights, disability access, and cultural identity
• Educational Resources: Develops free classroom guides used in 40+ states
• Community Engagement: Partners with museums and schools on literacy initiatives

Pitching Priorities

• Stories with verifiable primary sources and contemporary relevance
• Projects supporting DEI curriculum standards
• Cross-platform opportunities (museum exhibits, performance rights)

"Churnin's work doesn't just tell stories - it creates activists." - School Library Journal

Based in Sydney, Natalie Salvo has carved a unique niche analyzing cultural narratives through literature, film, and performance art. Her work for The AU Review and other Australian publications combines academic rigor with accessible prose, making complex social issues resonate with broad audiences.

Primary Coverage Areas

• Feminist Discourse: Examines evolving gender narratives in literature and media
• Cultural Documentaries: Analyzes films that challenge power structures
• Historical Fiction: Focuses on works centering marginalized perspectives

Pitching Preferences

• Innovative approaches to established genres
• Works bridging academic and popular discourse
• Australian cultural production with global relevance

"The best cultural criticism doesn't just analyze art - it contextualizes creativity within the society that produces it."