This summer has brought a few changes to the editorial team at Cast of Wonders. Alexis Goble has stepped back to concentrate on episode artwork and her own projects, including her pin badge business. Katherine Inskip has joined Marguerite Kenner as co-editor. And, we have two new Assistant Editors joining the team. There were a number of very strong contenders for the role, and Marguerite and Katherine didn’t have an easy time with the final decision. So, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that that the new Assistant Editors for Cast of Wonders are Andrew K. Hoe and Karissa Sluss!

Andrew teaches and practices Choy Li Fut Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Southern California, where he also writes speculative YA fiction. He has been a high school English teacher, an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan, and a college professor. His academic work in children’s literature can be found in The Looking Glass. Follow him on Twitter.

Karissa lives with in North Carolina with her family and a hairy husky named Bonnie. Her favorite things are coffee, dark chocolate, Star Wars, and Princess Bride. By day she wrangles cases and hearing schedules for a small administrative court. At night, after cooking dinner, checking homework, and walking the dog, she writes and reads as much as possible. You can find out more about her writing online at karissalaurel.com, and she loves making friends on Twitter @karissalaurel.

Our audience will already be familiar with Karissa from her work with the editorial team during Artemis Rising 5 earlier this year, and if you’ve not heard Andrew as a narrator or host yet, check out his previous episodes. What you won’t necessarily be aware of is how much amazing work they’ve done in the Cast of Wonders slushpile for the last few years – their comments and insights have always been tremendously useful, and Andrew has read just about every story submitted! As well as their breadth of expertise, their sheer enthusiasm and love of YA fiction is priceless, and we’re really proud they’ve agreed to join us backstage.

Here’s what they both have to say about their new roles:

[AKH] I first encountered CoW after an internet search for venues that published YA fiction. I couldn’t believe what I’d found. I’d been only looking for print venues, so the idea of a podcast and electronic magazine blew my mind. There was a Banned Books Submission call for 2017, and I decided to go for it. That began a journey with the coolest people around who also love YA fiction. I’m honored to become an assistant editor for my favorite podcast. I look forward to continuing to curate story submissions, but also stepping out from the curtains and hosting episodes, representing CoW in communicating with authors, and learning the other myriad tasks of running a SFWA-qualifying market.

[KS] One of my favorite things about being on staff at Cast of Wonders is our community. The sense of fraternity we have here at both Cast of Wonders and among the entire Escape Artists Community has been so empowering, encouraging, and welcoming. I think a strong community helps with communication and an overall sense of satisfaction and well-being among our staff and authors that winds up being reflected in the excellent quality of stories we produce. Stories are my passion, and going forward, I hope to participate in more forms of storytelling, not only as an author putting literal pen to paper, but as part of a team that finds great stories and helps build the path that brings those tales into the world for others to enjoy.