New York, September 10 — On the eve of its tenth anniversary, Saga Press continues its growth.

Tim O’Connell moves from Vice President, Editorial Director of Fiction at Simon & Schuster to Vice President, Publisher of Saga Press. Throughout his career, O’Connell has edited and published acclaimed speculative fiction by prestigious authors such as Charles Yu, Ted Chiang, Naomi Alderman, Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, Paolo Bacigalupi, B. Catling, Omar El Akkad, Debbie Urbanski, and Karin Tidbeck. “My first fiction publication was Charles Yu’s How to Live Safely in A Science Fictional Universe, and science fiction and fantasy have always been central parts of my list,” says O’Connell. “This is a tremendous opportunity to continue to build upon the fabulous Saga legacy, which is already decorated with award winners and bestsellers.” Among O’Connell’s forthcoming titles for Saga Press are multi-award-winner Daryl Gregory’s When We Were Real, writer for the hit Netflix show The OA Damien Ober’s groundbreaking space fantasy Voidverse, and viral horror sensation Eric LaRocca’s next novel The Unbecoming of Porcelain Khaw. He will continue to acquire literary fiction and select nonfiction for the Simon & Schuster list.

Joe Monti is promoted to Vice President, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director, reporting to O’Connell. A publishing industry veteran who formerly worked as a literary agent, Barnes & Noble buyer, and sales rep, Monti founded Saga Press in 2015 and has helped cultivate it into one of the most revered publishers of genre fiction. He has worked with bestselling and esteemed authors such as Tananarive Due, Charlaine Harris, Stephen Graham Jones, Ken Liu, Rebecca Roanhorse, Andrew Joseph White, and R. A. Salvatore, and has long championed work by marginalized voices. “As Saga Press approaches our tenth anniversary, we have entered a new and exciting phase of growth,” says Monti. “This is a continuation of what I always hoped the imprint might become with a full and dedicated team of passionate genre expertise at every level.”

O’Connell will report to Simon & Schuster Vice President and Publisher Sean Manning. “Since the Saga Press team joined Simon & Schuster in 2023, I’ve been awed by their deep expertise and inspired by their unabashed geeking out over their work,” says Manning. “Genre is now the hottest market in the literary landscape, and this growth ensures our commitment to leading the way.”

Additionally, Ella Laytham joins Saga Press as Art Director. Laytham started her publishing career as a designer for Atria/Gallery and has most recently worked at Penguin Random House. She specializes in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, and her celebrated cover designs include the New York Times bestsellers The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen, All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers, and Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid. Laytham will report to Simon & Schuster Art Director Jackie Seow.

The Saga Press team is rounded out by Senior Editor Amara Hoshijo, Senior Editor Nivia Evans, Editor Sareena Kamath, Assistant Editor Jéla Lewter, Editorial Assistant Caroline Tew, Senior Publicist Christine Calella, Associate Publicist Karintha Parker, and Marketing Associate Savannah Breckenridge.

CONTACT:
Julia Prosser
Vice President, Associate Publisher, Publicity & Marketing, Simon & Schuster
Julia.Prosser@simonandschuster.com