Andrew Harwell, senior editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, was named PW Star Watch Superstar at a party at New York's Dream Downtown hotel on September 15.
"I genuinely believe that if publishing is going to have a healthy future, it has to start with people of marginalized identities being given the same job opportunities and incredible mentors that I have had the privilege to receive," Harwell said in his acceptance address, after thanking former and current mentors including HarperCollins Children's Books v-p and editorial director Rosemary Brosnan, who nominated him for the award. "Diversity is not a trend, it is the future, and it is one that publishing will have to work very hard to be sure we are a part of."
The event was well attended, with roughly 200 members of the publishing community turning out, according to PW marketing and events director Bryan Kinney. The event marked the second anniversary of the PW Star Watch program.
During his tenure at HarperCollins, Harwell has had a number of successes, including signing author Madeleine Roux, who went on to write the bestselling Asylum series. Another successful acquisition is Noelle Stevenson's Nimona, an Eisner Award–winning graphic novel that was also nominated for the National Book Award. The four colleagues who nominated Harwell—Brosnan among them—praised "his blend of creativity, smarts, and ability to inspire others.”
As part of winning the award, Harwell will travel to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be going to Frankfurt this year," Harwell told PW. "I studied German in college, I've been dying to get back to Germany, and this is a huge honor for me."
