The Paris Review announced on Thursday that Emily Nemens, 34, will be the new editor starting June 1. Nemens lives in Baton Rouge, where she has co-edited the Southern Review since 2013. A graduate of Brown University, she has worked in editorial roles at the Center fo Architecture and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she has published writing in n+1, Esquire and The Gettysburg Review. The NYT says, “Nemens’ eclectic taste and creative ambitions proved to be a draw for the Paris Review board, which chose Ms. Nemens over a pool of candidates better known in New York’s literary circles.” Indeed she was not mentioned in a recent Vulture piece that focused on a number of people who were being interviewed for the position.
Nemens said in a statement that she hopes to strike “a balance between stewardship and innovation” at the journal. “I think I have an ability to understand and appreciate a publication’s history and prioritize incremental, thoughtful growth.” She told the paper she will continue “meritocratic approach that I’ve had in my editing practice” and wants to have “a spirit of collaboration” with the staff. Publisher Susannah Hunnewell said in her own statement that Nemens has a “proven track record for finding diverse new voices outside of established networks.” Hunnewell added, “Emily prides herself on working closely with writers, grooming and mentoring them in an open and collaborative process with her staff.”
President of The Paris Review Foundation Terry McDonell added, “We are grateful for the continued exceptional contributions made by our staff, and especially thankful for the dedicated leadership of Nicole Rudick, The Paris Review’s managing editor, who took on additional responsibilities as interim editor over the past six months. Rudick took over when Lorin Stein resigned last December amidst sexual harassment allegations.
Separately, Samantha Schutz is joining Little, Brown Children’s as publishing director, brand, licensed, and tie-in publishing. She was most recently associate publisher, licensing at Scholastic.
In the UK, Jo Henry will join BookBrunch in the part-time position of managing director, as David Roche moves to non-executive chair.