Emma D. Dryden

Emma D. Dryden is a children’s book author, editor, and publisher, and the co-author of What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur? with Rana DiOrio. She is the founder and principal of drydenbks LLC, a children’s editorial and publishing consultancy that offers editorial and coaching services for authors, illustrators, and publishers. Before establishing drydenbks in 2010, Dryden spent about twenty-five years in children’s publishing, holding positions at major houses including Random House Children’s Books, Margaret K. McElderry Books (then an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books), and later serving as Vice President and Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books at Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Over the course of her career, she has edited more than 1,000 books for young readers, many of which have received major awards and honors.

As an independent consultant and educator, Dryden works on books and digital content for audiences ranging from infants to young adults, advises on publishing strategy and career development, and teaches about writing craft and both traditional and non-traditional publishing. She has also been noted as a board member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and is based