Editor and Imprint of the Year
Editor and Imprint of the Year Winner and Shortlist
Proudly sponsored by Clays
This award brings the Editor of the Year and Imprint of the Year categories back together for the first time since 2013. It has no fewer than 12 nominations – a reflection of the proliferation of imprints, but also of the success of so many lists and the talented leaders who shape them. They include four Hachette imprints and two apiece from HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, and nine of the editors are appearing at the Nibbies for the first time.
Winner
Yasmin Morrissey and Simon & Schuster Children's Books
“A force of nature in children’s publishing”; “A talent I’m honoured to work alongside”; “I sometimes wonder if she ever sleeps.” These are just three of the many glowing testimonials for Yasmin Morrissey, who helped make Simon & Schuster Children’s Books one of the most successful, bold and diverse publishers of 2025. Or, as another put it succinctly: “Yas has all the jazz.”
The commercial results speak for themselves. Morrissey’s division had a best-ever year, with 12% growth in TCM sales in a flat 12 months for children’s books, and even sharper spikes in digital, audio, exports and rights. She is the editorial power behind the phenomenon of Lauren Roberts, who in 2025 earned £4m through the TCM with three of its top 50 children’s titles. Beyond that, Morrissey helped MC Grammar’s The Adventures of Rap Kid become the top children’s fiction debut.
The numbers are the result of Morrissey’s ability to spot trends early – especially via TikTok – and to acquire proactively. She has also helped to improve the structure and identity of S&S’ children’s publishing with new imprints like Gallery Kids, Simon YA and the just-launched Scarlett Press, which has got the company ahead of the curve on new adult books. On top of that, she provides outstanding author care and is a prominent advocate for better representation in children’s books.
“Yasmin seems to have indefatigable energy for all parts of publishing… she’s a savvy editor who is beloved by authors,” said the judges. “She’s collaborative, creative, focused, strategic and passionate about championing inclusive books, storylines and characters… and the best is yet to come.”
The Shortlist
Federico Andornino and Sceptre
Under Federico Andornino, Hachette’s literary fiction imprint Sceptre comfortably outpaced the market in 2025. David Nicholls’ You Are Here had a lot to do with that, spending five weeks at number one. Andrew Miller and Kaliane Bradley reached the bestseller lists too, and there were a handful of prize wins. “Federico has a brilliant eye for quality storytelling and a knack for launching new voices with impact,” said one bookseller.
Natasha Bardon and HarperVoyager
Natasha Bardon and HarperVoyager, respectively Editor and Imprint of the Year in 2023, soared to even greater heights last year. The SFF imprint propelled 22 books into the Sunday Times bestseller lists, including RF Kuang’s Katabasis, which was HarperCollins’ biggest earner of 2025. It rode the romantasy wave brilliantly and ramped up subscription-box sales. “HarperVoyager is an absolute dream team,” said one of its authors.
Mike Heron and Autumn Publishing
Bonnier Books UK’s Autumn imprint has made excellent use of big brands in the children’s learning and non-fiction spaces. Head of licensed publishing Mike Heron was behind strong growth in domestic, IP and co-edition sales, with the Little Nature Stories and Help with Homework ranges and Disney spin-offs leading the way. Supermarket sales were particularly good, and it launched Barn Owl, a new boutique list for illustrated books.
Gina Luck and Piatkus Fiction
Little, Brown’s Piatkus Fiction has gone from strength to strength since winning the 2024 Imprint of the Year Award. It sold nearly 15 million books in 2025, with Rebecca Yarros delivering three of the TCM’s top 20 titles of the year. Beyond romantasy, Piatkus is building Elsie Silver, Ana Huang and Chloe Walsh into big genre brands. Fiction publisher Gina Luck and her team have also been replenishing the pipeline with new voices and poaches.
Francesca Main and Phoenix
A decade on from being named Editor of the Year at Picador, Francesca Main led a transformative 12 months for Phoenix. It publishes no more than 10 books a year, but had a very impressive hit rate with Florence Knapp’s The Names and Alison Espach’s The Wedding People, two of Orion’s three biggest books of 2025. Phoenix and Main are renowned for author care; “One couldn’t hope for a better publishing partner,” said one agent.
Anna Michels, Jenna Jankowski and Poisoned Pen Press
Sourcebooks’ Poisoned Pen Press, distributed in the UK by DK, was the dominant force in crime and thrillers last year. Freida McFadden, 2025’s biggest selling adult author, gave the press no fewer than seven of the TCM’s top 50 books. Senior editorial director Anna Michels has used the success to lead it into other genres like fantasy and horror, revitalise its rich backlist and ensure that it is a UK-focused list rather than a US import.
Lisa Milton and HQ
HQ celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, having become one of the biggest genre fiction and non-fiction powerhouses in publishing. It is unashamedly commercial, with 11 books reaching the Sunday Times lists last year. But MD and executive publisher Lisa Milton has made it a thoughtful and inclusive list too, transforming the profiles of authors like AA Dhand and Robert Thorogood and launching Akan Books, a new home for writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Sophie Missing, Chris White and Scribner
A best-ever year for Simon & Schuster’s Scribner was the result of a thoughtful reinvention by publisher Sophie Missing and deputy publishing director Chris White. TCM sales more than trebled, with Roisin O’Donnell’s Nesting providing its first Sunday Times bestseller in a decade. Brand identity, retailer engagement, live events and backlist promotion all stepped up a gear in 2025. There was also the launch of a sister list, Scribner Editions.
Yasmin Morrissey and Simon & Schuster's Children's Books
Since joining as editorial director in 2023, Yasmin Morrissey has made a huge difference to the S&S lists including Gallery Kids, Simon YA and the just-launched “new adult” Scarlett Press. She is an innovative and inclusive editor who often seems one step ahead of the market, with Lauren Roberts’ success a prime example. “Yasmin is a force of nature in children’s publishing – passionate, creative and dynamic,” said one agent.
Gillian Green, Bella Pagan and Tor
Pan Macmillan’s SFF imprint Tor had its best-ever year in 2025, with TCM value up by a third and audio growing even faster. VE Schwab, Carissa Broadbent and Olivie Blake all delivered Sunday Times number ones, and eight more authors hit the top 10. Under co-publishers Bella Pagan and Gillian Green, sales have grown more than fourfold in just five years. “There’s so much enthusiasm and dedication from every member of the talented, hardworking team,” said one author.
Molly Powell and Hodderscape
SFF and YA imprint Hodderscape had its best year yet in 2025, with 14 Sunday Times bestsellers and steep growth across digital and international as well as print. Associate publisher Molly Powell and her team have been excellent at finding diverse new voices, but it was a much more experienced one, Callie Hart, who powered the year. “Molly is the kind of editor everyone wants,” said one Hodderscape author.
Daniel Seton and Pushkin Vertigo
Pushkin Press’ crime list may be the smallest imprint of these 12, but it punches way above weight in terms of retail profile and reputation. Sales grew fourfold in 2025, thanks in large part to Japanese crime-writing phenomenon Uketsu, whose sales and rights income are both way into six figures. It was steered by editorial director Daniel Seton, through agile acquisitions as well as some brilliant reinventions of old books.
