Pitch Hero with Callen Martin from Madeleine Milburn

Callen’s very keen to find new MG stars right now. He says: “With 2026 being the Year of Reading, I’m prioritising Middle Grade that’ll get children – especially boys – back into books and the escapist world of stories. There’s so much vying for a child’s attention nowadays (gaming, social media, tv and film) and I want the stories that can compete, capturing the thrill of gaming or adventure or the laughs of a social media trend on the page. I want big adventures, brilliant worlds, and pacey stories for readers aged 7+ in any genre that are told in accessible ways – ideally with a shorter wordcount and a sense of real returnability – with a clear, emotional heart. Stories that I have enjoyed recently include A Box Full of Mysteries, the Skandar series, Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo, Isaac Turner Investigates: The Clockwork Conspiracy, and Grumpfort.”

You can find out more about his wishlist at the MMA website.