Publishers Weekly, in association with Frankfurter Buchmesse, has announced the five finalists of the fifth annual PW Star Watch award from among its 50 previously-announced honorees. Publishers Weekly magazine will feature a profile of the five finalists in its September 9, 2019 issue.
The finalists are:
Jennifer N. Baker, production editor, Teachers College Press, and founder of the podcast Minorities in Publishing, New York City
Nicole Brinkley, floor and digital manager, Oblong Books & Music, Rhinebeck, N.Y.
Andrea DeWerd, marketing director, Currency, Convergent, Crown Forum, and Image, New York City
Emily Folks, publishing sales director, Andrews McMeel, Kansas City, Mo.
Nick Thomas, senior editor, Levine Querido, New York City.
“The PW Star Watch class of 2019 represents some of the most vibrant and talented future leaders in publishing and bookselling,” Jim Milliot, editorial director of Publishers Weekly, said in a statement. Juergen Boos, director of Frankfurter Buchmesse, added: “We are excited to celebrate this year’s PW Star Watch honorees and finalists who bring new perspectives, visions, and innovation to their work and the industry as a whole.”
PW Star Watch, now celebrating its fifth anniversary, was founded in 2015 in partnership with Frankfurter Buchmesse as a way to honor accomplished up-and-comers in the U.S. and Canadian publishing communities and to bring recognition to them on a global stage. A panel of judges comprised of Publishers Weekly editors, representatives from Frankfurter Buchmesse, and other members of the publishing industry vetted nominations to identify 50 honorees, from which the jury then selected the finalists.
One “Superstar” will be named at the PW Star Watch celebratory event on Wednesday, September 18 at Marquee New York in Chelsea from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. The winner receives a sponsored trip to the Frankfurt Book Fair, courtesy of the fair organizers.
