Deirdre Power started her career at Curtis Brown as an assistant, and since then she has worked in children’s editorial at Simon & Schuster and Usborne Publishing. Deirdre joined David Higham Associates in January 2023 to assist Caroline Walsh on her phenomenal list.
Prior to working in publishing, Deirdre attended Trinity College Dublin for her BA in English Studies and MPhil in Children’s Literature, and previously worked as a bookseller on Grafton Street in Dublin.
“I’m drawn to contemporary stories of any age group, that captures some aspect of the experience of growing. In YA, I love a romcom with any blend of rom and com, thrillers and horror, and I’d love to see some elements of modern life like social media or technology drawn into something with a pacy plot,” says Deirdre.
“In middle grade, I love fantasies that feel fresh and exciting, with adventure at their heart, but I’m also hoping to see more family stories or “quiet” fiction for this age group. I love laugh-out-loud books for younger readers, anything high-concept with a strong hook.”
“My taste in picture books are quite broad, ranging from the nonsensical to the extremely heartfelt, but I am often drawn to something with a strong storytelling flair and a heartfelt message at its core,” adds Deirdre.