Overview
My area of expertise and specific interest is in illustrated children's books - picture books and heavily illustrated middle grade fiction as well as non-fiction. I adore the economy of language required to write a really blinding picture book (it's much harder than you'd think!), and the way the words and pictures work together to tell the story in both picture books and illustrated middle grade fiction. I love working with authors and illustrators to develop their ideas and characters and their storytelling. The process of pinging ideas back and forth until the best version of a story or an illustration is worked out is such fun. I see my role, when editing, as that of a guide. I am there to help and to tease ideas out of authors and illustrators and to push them to do their very best work (but in a super nice way, of course!). The author/illustrator relationship with an editor, in my experience, is a close one, and must be based on mutual trust and respect, all of which hopefully comes as one works together. A designer is also closely involved in this team, especially with highly illustrated books. I have found, in the past, that one often forms a very tight creative unit with the editor, designer, author and illustrator, and this is one of the big upsides of the job, in my opinion. And the really fabulous thing is that at the end of it all, you have a book! A gorgeous, tangible object to launch out into the world.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Self-employed
I worked at Random House Children’s Publishers for 9 years (now PRH) and since 2010 I've been a freelance editor, writer and project manager, specialising in illustrated children's books.
At Random House, where I began in 2001 as an Editorial Assistant and left in 2010 as a Commissioning Editor, I learnt my trade. During my time there I worked with established authors and illustrators as well as developing and nurturing new talent, working on a variety of books from baby and toddler titles to pre-school novelty books, best-selling series, classic fiction, non-fiction, activity books, TV tie-ins and picture books. Among other things, I edited and brand-managed the million-selling Princess Poppy series by Janey Louise Jones, the award-winning The Spooky Spooky House by Andrew Weale and Lee Wildish, co-managed the Dahl Estate publishing programme and commissioned the original Fairytale Hairdresser by Abi Longstaff and Lauren Beard, which has gone on to become a successful series. I have a strong track record in commissioning, editing and project managing children’s books.
In my capacity as a freelancer, I have been picture book editor at Editor at David Fickling Books since 2011, a role that also includes managing the colour list. I am developing an innovative and exciting illustrated list with a mixture of new talent and established names, including Sarah McIntyre, Polly Dunbar and Michael Morpurgo. I also work on illustrated fiction (most recently the acclaimed Thornhill by Pam Smy and the forthcoming young fiction debut from Chris Wormell, The Magic Place), non-fiction (Martin Brown's fabulous series, Lesser Spotted) and graphic novels (Philip Pullman's first original graphic novel, John Blake).
At Egmont I have worked on many things since I started freelancing for them in 2010, including Kristina Stephenson's Sir Charlie Stinky Socks series, the relaunch of Gwynedd Rae's classic Mary Plain books, newly illustrated by Clara Vuillamy and with Adam and Charlotte Guillain on School for Dads. At PRH I edited and project managed the first three Very Little books by Teresa Heapy and Sue Heap, among other things.
In addition to my work for publishing clients, I provide manuscript evaluation for picture books and young fiction ideas for private clients.
DETAIL ON RECENT AND FORTHCOMING WORK:
DAVID FICKLING BOOKS:
Recent and forthcoming books include Magical Pets by Anya Glazer, The New Neighbours by Sarah McIntyre, Lesser Spotted Animals 2 by Martin Brown (of Horrible Histories fame); The Magic Place by Chris Wormell.
EGMONT:
Sir Charlie Stinky Socks: The Dinosaur's Return; 4 relaunched Mary Plain titles; 2 new picture books plus various writing projects, including Winnie-the-Pooh and the Grand Christmas Surprise.
CAMPBELL BOOKS:
Boris's Body (as writer), a pre-school non-fiction novelty book (2012).
TEMPLAR:
Several Little Grey Rabbit titles (as writer - 2012 and 2013).
PRH:
Editing: Princess Poppy: The Royal Parade & The Holiday and adapted 10 Princess Poppy picture books into Colour First Readers; Teresa Heapy and Sue Heap's Very Little series.
THE DICK KING-SMITH ESTATE:
I wrote content for and project managed the official Dick King-Smith website:
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
* Commissioning writers and illustrators
* Development and creative editing
* Art direction
* Costing/budgeting projects
* Working out production specifications (in liaison with production experts)
* Negotiating contracts
* Project management
* Forward planning/strategy for publishing programmes
* Writing texts to a brief: novelty, picture book, novelty formats and young fiction
* Developing ideas (concepts, series and format)
* Pitching ideas to sales teams
Portfolio
