Stacy Whitman, publisher and founder of the diversity-focused Lee & Low Books’ Tu Books imprint, is stepping down. She will be succeeded by senior editor Elise McMullen-Ciotti, effective immediately. Whitman is transitioning to editor-at-large and will continue to work on her novels while promoting and supporting her authors.
Whitman established the children’s and adult imprint in 2010 with the goal of diversifying the sci-fi/fantasy and mystery genres. Tu Books has since grown to encompass all genres of middle grade, YA, and graphic novel literature. Throughout her tenure at Lee & Low, Whitman worked with authors including A.M. Dassu, Guadalupe García McCall, and Tony Medina. In 2012, she launched the New Visions Award Contest, recognizing unpublished BIPOC authors—a middle grade and YA counterpart to the New Voices Award for picture books. The contest has helped jumpstart the careers of debut authors such as Supriya Kelkar, Valynne Maetani, and Axie Oh, among others.
Jason Low, publisher and co-owner of Lee & Low said in a statement, “Stacy has always been open to the myriads of ideas we threw at her. Over the years, her ability to translate those ideas to work within the framework of an imprint that not only found its footing but is now a respected conduit for creativity and powerful stories is major accomplishment.”
McMullen-Ciotti will take on the position of senior executive editor of novels at Tu Books. She started with Lee & Low as a freelance editor in 2017 and joined the publisher full-time in October 2021. Authors she has worked with include David Anthony Durham, Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell, and Doan Phuong Nguyen. An enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, McMullen-Ciotti is one of a few Indigenous children’s book editors and seeks to nurture Indigenous creators through her work.
Low said, “Elise has always been a rock and an excellent interdepartmental collaborator. Her strengths lie in her ability to always keep the company’s best interests in mind, especially when it comes to her process and decision making.”