Laura Whitaker-Jones

Prior to moving to the UK from the USA at the end of 2019 for her Welsh husband (whom she met while visiting Jane Austen’s house on holiday in 2017 – it’s quite the story!), Laura worked in children’s book publishing at Farrar Straus & Giroux (Macmillan), HarperCollins USA, Bloomsbury USA and Phoenix International Publications (PIP). She joined Watkins Media in 2020 to manage the marketing and publicity team for the adult list, and was overjoyed to take over as Head of Moon + Bird in 2025 and return to her heart’s passion: championing the children’s book publishing community. She was named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2023. 

Laura is currently open to submissions for picture books, chapter books, and older middle grade (especially books aimed at reluctant / SENCO readers!) from locally diverse / distinctive / under-represented voices and author-illustrators. She particularly loves books that cover real conversations parents are having with their children, like making new friends after moving homes, disengaging from technology, online and school bullying, multi-generational family households, global warming and self-esteem. She’s also a BIG fan of authors and illustrators with connections to local bookstores and who champion their local schools & library systems.