Erica Finkel, Executive Editor at Abrams

Erica Finkel (she/her) is an Executive Editor for Amulet Books and Abrams Books for Young Readers. Before starting at Abrams in 2010, she was, among other things, an English teacher in France, a theater-camp counselor, and an ice-cream scooper.

Erica focuses primarily on chapter books and middle-grade novels and is honored to work with many bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators, including Andrea Beaty, David Roberts, Mac Barnett, Tom Angleberger, and Ellen Potter. Some books she’s edited that are particularly dear to her include Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher, Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald, The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz, Once Upon an Eid edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, Fraidyzoo by Thyra Heder, and a picture-book biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (her hero) by Jonah Winter.

When she gets the chance to read a non-Abrams book, she particularly enjoys the work of Gary D. Schmidt, Maggie Stiefvater, Kristin Cashore, and Rainbow Rowell. Her favorite genres are contemporary realistic, fantasy, and magical realism, and she is not the best fit for thrillers or nonfiction.

Check out her work here: https://www.pinterest.com/ericafinkel/books-ive-edited/

Member Reviews of Erica

Brings Editorial Expertise and Precision

My 30/30 critique session with Erica Finkel was amazing. It was the first time I had a session with an editor vs. an agent and I loved her perspective. She didn’t have to guess what an editor might look for because she KNEW. But just as important, she was honest, positive, and took my project seriously. She referred to my characters by name and pointed out where they were getting lost in the exposition… I likened our session to a surgeon who goes in with a scalpel and helps fix what needs repairing. I still have to do all the recovery work but my prognosis is excellent. I highly recommend working with Erica. She’s super smart and a delight.

Saralee Rosenberg

Clarifies Manuscript Strengths and Edits

Erica was very helpful in giving me specific advice, letting me know which areas in my opening pages needed clarity or needed to be reworked. Not only do I feel good about applying that advice in the opening pages, but also in looking for similar opportunities for betterment in the manuscript as a whole. She let me know my strengths, which I will carry with me and exercise as I continue to work on my craft.

Abby Vail

Erica was great. She was easy to talk to, specific in her comments, and gave helpful tips and suggestions.

Jill Smith

Provides Fresh Insights on Drafts

My meeting with Erica was very helpful. She was friendly and personable, and had insights and questions (even on the eleventh draft and after two writing critique groups) I had never thought of.

Rachel White

Work with Erica

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox within 24 hours of thedate on the calendar.