Meet Betsy Mitchell

Betsy Mitchell, Editor

Betsy Mitchell has been a New York science fiction/fantasy editor for more than 35 years, holding senior positions at Baen Books, Bantam Spectra, Warner Books, and the Random House Publishing Group, where she spent ten years as Vice President/Editor-in-Chief of Del Rey. As well as being the owner of Betsy Mitchell Editorial Services, she is currently a consultant for corporate clients such as Open Road Integrated Media, where she acquires and republishes backlist science fiction and fantasy.

Mitchell has edited hundreds of titles, including such works as Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon, Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks, Virtual Light by William Gibson, and Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik (all New York Times bestsellers); and the Nebula Award-winner Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler. She received a World Fantasy Award for co-editing the anthology Full Spectrum 4.

Mitchell is also the author of Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave, the fictionalized biography of a young African American who became known worldwide for his exploration of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, in the early 1800s. The book was nominated for several state library awards and was named a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids.

"Betsy Mitchell is hands-down the best editor I've ever had. What makes her such a great editor for writers at every phase of their career? Her ability to discern what the writer is trying to do - to get into a writer's back-brain, into the core of the writer's idea. And she can communicate what she perceives tactfully enough for the thin-skinned to endure and firmly enough for the stubborn to hear, all in the service of making the writer's book better."

Betsy Mitchell, Author

Being an author makes me even more aware of the importance of the author/editor relationship. My book, Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave, the fictionalized biography of a young African American who became known worldwide for his exploration of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, in the early 1800s. The book was nominated for several state library awards and was named New York Public Library Best Book for Kids. Download your free Teacher’s Guide here.

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