Meet the Team: Emily Byron, Senior Commissioning Editor

Introducing Emily Byron, Commissioning Editor

What was your first acquisition or the first book you worked on for Orbit?

I can’t remember what order I acquired my first few books for Orbit, but Kings of the Wyld was the first one that hit the shops – and it set a high bar!

What was the first SFF book you were obsessed with as a child?

The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix. I love everything about that series, which reminds me, I think I’m due a re-read…

Name an Orbit cover you love?

There’s so many! But I have a particular soft spot for The Gutter Prayer illustrated by Richard Anderson because it ended up exactly how I imagined it. With a special mention for the sheer prettiness of For the Wolf (designed by Orbit’s very own Lisa Marie Pompilio).

What’s been your career highlight at Orbit?

It’s something I can’t talk about because it hasn’t been announced yet! So, I’ll just say that it was giving very good news to one of my longtime authors who is incredibly talented, has been working hard for years and really deserved it. Hopefully that’s vague enough!

What are your top 5 TV shows of all time?

There are so many I could choose, and if you asked me again tomorrow the list could be different, but I’ll go with Buffy, Brooklyn 99, Firefly, Ghosts (UK version, of course) and Blue Eye Samurai.

What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind?

Probably Buffy the Vampire Slayer. which was a major teenage obsession. Or, these days, maybe the books of Julia Donaldson because I have two small children and can basically recite her entire oeuvre!

What one book do you wish you had published?

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Masterpiece.

What’s your favourite trope?

Found family all the way! Especially when there are deep platonic friendships built on years of trust and shared experience.

What would your DnD race and class be?

To my shame, I have only played DnD once but I think I would be a half-elf druid. I like the idea of being connected to nature and being able to wild shape.

Star Wars of Star Trek?

I was raised on Star Wars thanks to my SF-loving mum, so it has to be that. (Though I do have a soft spot for a certain bald captain of the Enterprise.)