Rubin Pfeffer

Rubin Pfeffer is a veteran of more than 50 years in Trade Publishing. For nearly three decades with Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Pfeffer rose from designer to President of HBJ’s distinguished Trade division, working with world-renowned writers among them Alice Walker, Mark Helprin, Umberto Eco on the adult side and Virginia Hamilton, Don and Audrey Wood, and Nancy Willard in children’s. During this period, HBJ earned coveted awards including the National Book, Pulitzer, Nobel, Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King.

He went on to serve as SVP, Chief Creative Officer for Pearson, coordinating cross-company product development among Penguin and DK and the corporation’s K-12 textbook publishers. He joined Simon & Schuster as SVP, Group Publisher of S&S BFYR, Atheneum, McElderry Books and launched a successful new imprint for picture books, Beach Lane Books which won a Caldecott Honor in its first year. During his tenure, his imprints achieved impressive growth each year. He had the pleasure of introducing acclaimed adult writers to children’s publishing, including Sean Covey and the 7 Habits franchise, Frank McCourt, Mary Higgins Clark, and Paula Deen. He maximized subsidiary rights income, a highlight of which was to sell educational rights to Jon Sciezka’s Trucktown program.

Pfeffer agented with East West Literary Agency before launching Rubin Pfeffer Content in 2014. Prominent and award-winning talents he serves include Newbery medalists Kwame Alexander, Patricia MacLachlan, and Susan Cooper; Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Medalist Ekua Holmes, and National Book Award finalists Elana K. Arnold, Caren Stelson, and multi award-winning Carole Boston Weatherford. He enjoys introducing and mentoring new and emerging talents to the publishing community. He speaks at industry events and illustration college classes.

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