Overview
Whatever project I'm working on, I always bring my full engagement and enthusiasm, and my greatest pleasure comes from working closely with authors. My role is that of a facilitator: my suggestions are based on my 18 years of publishing experience and market knowledge, and my goal is to help every book shine, in terms of structure, consistency, accuracy and tone of voice.
As well as being an editorial professional, I am also a published author, so I understand deeply how important communication is at every stage of the publishing process, and I know how tenderly manuscripts need to be looked after!
I offer Development Editing, Proofreading, Query Letter Review and Editorial Assessment. If you have any questions about my services and areas of expertise, please do drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.
Finally, here are some testimonials from authors and companies I've worked with:
‘Abbie made the process of editing my books not just painless, but actively pleasurable. She has a terrific eye for detail, an astonishing ability to choose exactly the right words, and impeccable judgment and tact when it comes to what should stay and what should be cut. She also has a fine sense of humour and is stunningly efficient. In short, she is easily the best editor I have ever worked with.’
Beth Miller, author
‘I know I've said this before, but Abbie Headon really is terrific. I never want anyone else to be the first person to read anything I write.’
Isabel Rogers, author
‘Abbie is a joy to work with and always provides a diligent and careful proofread. She has been patient and flexible with project timings, with a very fast turnaround for urgent projects. Abbie is one of my most reliable proofreaders and I highly recommend her.’
Emily Bedford, Senior Commissioning Editor, Canelo Books
‘Abbie is simply outstanding. She has a deep understanding of every aspect of the publishing process, from her unfailing instinct for the right tone for a tweet to an iron grip of schedules and budgets. It’s incredibly rare to find someone with her breadth of skills and experience who’s also creative and commercially savvy. (She’s also one of the world’s loveliest people, which is a bonus.)’
Alison Jones, Director, Practical Inspiration Publishing
‘We are so pleased to have Abbie on Team BookMachine. She is enthusiastic about everything relating to publishing; and has a great grasp on current trends and what the readership will be interested in. A great asset to a publishing team, with many skills – and definitely one to watch!’
Laura Summers, Co-Founder, BookMachine
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Bookseller Rising Star, 2018
Work experience
Self-employed
I provide a wide range of editorial services to publishing clients, including structural editing, proofreading, and submission assessment. I commission and edit articles for the BookMachine blog ( and I also provide social media help to various organisations. As well as private clients, I work with Bloomsbury, Canelo, DK, Duckworth, HarperCollins, Octopus and Quarto.
HarperCollins
I created original, trend-led new book concepts for the Gift & IP Team at HarperNonFiction. This involved contacting potential new authors and developing proposals with them, writing attention-grabbing copy and researching the market for each proposal.
Duckworth Books
I commissioned and edited over forty comic novels for the Farrago list of ‘fiction to make you smile’, as well as a popular science book and a historical novel for the Duckworth list. I set up a new content management system, and worked with Nielsen to approve the ONIX feed and collaborated with Bookswarm to design and build the Farrago website.
I had regular meetings with agents and authors, presented titles at book fairs and signed rights deals, and I also worked with authors, narrators and studios to create audiobooks.
Summersdale Publishers, Chichester
I commissioned new titles across travel, gift and self-help, and I also wrote, edited and copy-edited typescripts and managed all production schedules. I implemented a new content management system across the company, developed a new company website and contributed to social media activities.
Oxford University Press
I held a range of increasingly responsible positions, beginning as Editorial Assistant (Science Books) and progressing to Assistant Commissioning Editor, Biology. I project-managed books for academic and trade markets from proposal to publication, and prepared financial forecasts for all new projects, using Excel and SAP.
Portfolio
Abbie has 5 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Séamus M.
Oct, 2022
Kate R.
Sep, 2022
Riya A.
Jul, 2022
Rebecca K.
Apr, 2022
Kevin C.
Mar, 2022
