We're delighted to announce that Dena Neusner will assume the post of Executive Editor at Behrman House, effective January 1, 2014, to lead our Creative Team and manage our publishing program.
Many Behrman House friends and colleagues already know Dena from her work as Senior Editor. During her time here she has developed a wide range of books, including the upcoming Frogs in the Bed: My Passover Seder and Activity Book, the Building Jewish Identity series, Experience Modern Israel, and Simply Seder: A Passover Haggadah. She is currently developing a multidisciplinary course, Jewish Holidays, Jewish Values, as well as an environment book that questions Our Place in the Universe, both to be released in Spring 2014.
"This is a deep pleasure for me," said David Behrman, President and Publisher. "All my colleagues and I have increasingly come to value our professional association with Dena in addition to our friendship—she has become an essential member of our team. We’re looking forward to her leadership of our Creative Team, and to working with her for many years to come."
Dena had a significant career in children’s publishing before arriving at Behrman House. She held senior editorial positions at Scholastic, Parachute Publishing, Puffin Books, and Golden Books. Her worked ranged from pre-school through young adult, and spanned both fiction and non-fiction. She wrote and edited a number of character-based books, too; we her colleagues perhaps know her best for her work on the John Deere series of children’s books about farm and construction equipment, because to this day her office still contains several models of those cute green tractors!
Most importantly, Dena has a passion and commitment to our work. She has a curiosity that translates into eagerness to learn, a dedication to engaging children with Judaism, and a strong creative streak. She’s also a great editor—Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “I’m sorry this letter is so long, if I had more time I would have written you a shorter letter,” and Dena is a master at distilling written work to its essence.
Dena is a cum laude graduate of Tufts University (English, of course). She lives with her husband Andy and their two children, close enough to the office to make us all jealous,
