What are some upcoming trends?

It’s not a trend strictly for genre publishers/readers, but it’s been thrilling to see so much sci-fi/fantasy and geek culture becoming more mainstream. It makes the books we publish more accessible when we can guide people from Guardians of the Galaxy to a space opera series or satiate those waiting for The Winds of Winter with some of the amazing epic fantasy that’s available right now. I love seeing books that have subtle flavors of sci-fi/fantasy getting lots of attention, because it’s a great opportunity to expose a whole new crowd to the joys of genre!

What book/genre/topic would you like to see cross your transom?

I need to add this to my #mswl, but I really want to see some fun, original stories about time travel. I’m always on the lookout for dark contemporary fantasy that can scare the bejesus out of me while reinventing the monster under the bed. And my obsessive consumption of the podcast Invisibilia has me desperate for stories that can take these “powers” that surround us and explore some fantastical explanations. 

What topic don’t you ever want to see again?

I’m still fairly new to this world, so I really hesitate to cross a certain topic/genre off my list. There’s always going to be somebody who can breathe new life into tired tropes—and those are some of the most exciting books to find! 

What is unique about your corner of the industry?

We’re certainly not the only ones doing this, but Harper Voyager’s digital-first imprint, Voyager Impulse, is a really exciting development. We’ve got fresh new voices writing amazing stories that we can put out very quickly at a more dynamic price point. It also gives us more opportunities to explore genres or stories that might be a bit niche, which is really fun. 

Any interactions with indie authors lately?

Yes, and we also work with many hybrid authors! Authors like Chuck Wendig, Beth Cato, Joseph Nassise…and that’s just a few from Voyager alone. I think hybrid (and indie) authors have a really unique perspective on the publishing world, and it always lends itself to fascinating discussions. There’s a lot we can learn from each other!

Kelly O’Connor joined Harper Voyager in 2013 and is an assistant editor. She works with authors like Viola Carr, Alex Gordon, Mel Odom, and Caitlin Kittredge on books ranging from military sci-fi to dark fantasy. Her passions include cheese and the Tenth Doctor. She can recite The Princess Bride verbatim on command.