Award-winning independent children’s book publisher Sweet Cherry has appointed Bookseller rising star Laura Whitaker-Jones to Head of Editorial, effective 6th July.
Whitaker-Jones joins Sweet Cherry from Moon + Bird, the children’s imprint of Watkins Media she co-founded in 2024 and has led as Publisher since January 2025. Over a two-year period, Whitaker-Jones notably doubled Moon + Bird’s publishing program with the addition of acquisitions from award-winning authors Alastair Chisholm, Zanni Louise, Helen Docherty and renowned author-illustrators Ged Adamson and Claire Barker. Before starting Moon + Bird, she oversaw the marketing and publicity teams for Watkins’ adult trade imprints for four years, first as Marketing & Publicity Manager and then as Head of Marketing & Publicity.
Before moving to the UK in 2019, Whitaker-Jones was previously the Senior Marketing & Publicity Manager and Acquisitions Editor at Phoenix International Publications (PIP), an Associate Editor at Bloomsbury USA, and a Marketing Assistant at HarperCollins USA.
“Laura is exactly the kind of editorial leader Sweet Cherry has been waiting for! She brings genuine commercial acumen, a proven track record of building bold publishing programmes, and a deep, personal understanding of why the books we make matter,” said Publisher Sanjee de Silva. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the team and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on the business.”
“I’m utterly delighted to have found a home at Sweet Cherry, especially in the midst of the national year of reading.” Whitaker-Jones shared. “Not only have I long admired and utilised their publishing program as the parent of a neurodiverse, reluctant reader teenager, but I’m incredibly grateful to work for a company that actively strives to break down the socio-economic barriers that often get in the way of access to books.”
Whitaker-Jones adds: “Anyone who has ever dived into Sweet Cherry’s publishing program knows the indelible impact they’ve made on the children’s publishing industry in such a short span of time. They are truly passionate about producing books that delight and engage all readers, a mission that is extremely dear to my heart. I feel incredibly fortunate to lead a team of rising stars within the publishing industry and work alongside brilliant colleagues who are as dedicated to creating incredible, accessible, fun, and authentically inclusive books as I am!”
For more information, please contact Publisher Sanjee de Silva at sanjee@sweetcherrypublishing.com.
