Kiara Valdez

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GN Editor. Writer. Lowkey Fashionista.

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Kiara, like in lion King 2

Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and graphic novel editor from New York City (shout out to Washington Heights). She graduated from Williams College with a double major in English Literature and Japanese, and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can't keep up with. She is currently an editor with First Second, where she has edited several award-winning and best-selling graphic novels.Though she is proud of every book she’s worked on at First Second, she especially enjoyed working on the Check, Please! series, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Snapdragon, Himawari House, and Frizzy. For her own list she is only looking for graphic novels and is mostly focused on middle grade and young adult. She is open to all genres but is especially interested in magical realism, memoir, #ownvoices stories (especially those from Latinx and Black creators), and stories with LGBTQ+ characters and romance. She likes stories that feel contemporary, real, and are grounded in our world regardless of the genre it’s in, and is a sucker for well-done resolutions/happy endings.Miscellaneous: Virgo | ISFJ | Color: Lilac | Cat & Snake Parent

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Kiara, like in lion King 2

Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and graphic novel editor from New York City (shout out to Washington Heights). She graduated from Williams College with a double major in English Literature and Japanese, and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can't keep up with. She is currently an editor with First Second, where she has edited several award-winning and best-selling graphic novels.Kiara has written various IP storybooks, activity books, and picture books for Scholastic. She is currently working on writing original graphic novels and picture books, and is also interested in writing more storybooks and shorter kids books.She is represented by Britt Siess.Miscellaneous: Virgo | ISFJ | Color: Lilac | Cat & Snake Parent

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interviews & panels

*most recent to oldest

• -PW Star Watch 2023 Finalist: Kiara Valdez

• -Latinas Working For More Diverse Representation in Publishing

• -First Second Editor Kiara Valdez on Frizzy, building a publishing career, and being chronically online

• -Life as an Editor, Traditional Publishing, and More with Kiara Valdez

• -First Second ‘Star’ Editor Kiara Valdez Strikes Comics Gold with Webcomics Format

• -Kiara Valdez: Payouts and Promotions

• -Interview With Writer & Editor Kiara Valdez

• -Stories that Connect

• -U.S Book Show Editor's Pick: Comics and Graphic Novels

• -A Day, or 3+ years, as your Graphic Novel Editor

• -Q&A with Associate Editor Kiara Valdez on Graphic Novel Process

• -The Future of Comic Book Editing: An Assistant Editor's Panel

• -Behind the Scenes in Kids Comics Panel

• -Children's Illustrator Website Interview

• -Kiara Valdez: Shutdown, Twitter & Publishing

• -Creator Resource Spotlight: Kiara Valdez

• -First Second Welcomes Editorial Assistant Kiara Valdez!

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Acquisitions

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Editorial

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edited

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Published Work: IP

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Published Work: Orignal (TK)

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Book News

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