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Bookouture’s Maisie Lawrence will take over Dialogue Books during publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove’s parental leave from July.
Lawrence is currently a commissioning editor at Bookouture, after joining as a publishing executive in 2018. She will join the imprint to cover Lovegrove’s parental leave with effect from 8th July 2021. She will report to Clare Smith, executive publisher for the literary division at Little, Brown.
Lawrence has published Kindle authors including Beth Miller, Betty Rowlands, Ella Carey and Verity Bright. Previously she was the junior editor at Simon & Schuster UK, working with poet Rupi Kaur among others and also worked at digital publisher Canelo. In 2017, she co-founded Pride in Publishing, the network for LGBTQ+ people who work with books. She is also a member of writing collective Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, which is focused on craft, community and development, and she co-edited the forthcoming anthology, Too Young, Too Loud, Too Different (Corsair).
“I am truly delighted that Maisie Lawrence will be taking the reins at Dialogue while I focus on my family,” Lovegrove said. “Maisie’s commitment to intersectional values and wide-ranging narratives is impressive and inspirational and I know our authors are in great hands. With a vast knowledge of digital, an author-first and team-engaging approach I am excited to see which direction Maisie takes Dialogue in over the next year. I came into leading Dialogue Books having never worked in a publishing house, and what we have achieved over four years is nothing short of extraordinary. I am blessed to have this time away and have the opportunity to watch Dialogue reach new levels under Maisie’s leadership.”
Lawrence said: "I’ve loved the three years I’ve spent at Bookouture. To be a part of such an exciting, forward-thinking publisher has been so special. I’ve learned a great deal about publishing bestselling fiction, and I will miss my colleagues and authors very much. When I saw the position at Dialogue, it felt like a once-in-a-career opportunity to be a part of something exceptional. Since Sharmaine Lovegrove founded the imprint, I’ve followed her fabulous publishing and the community she’s created around the books. It’s a huge honour to be working with her authors and with such a creative and committed team."
She added: "Publishing marginalised voices is the reason I wanted to join the industry, and I can’t wait to take this inspiring and important list forward.”
Lawrence can be contacted on Maisie.Lawrence@littlebrown.co.uk