Allison McKechnie

Allison McKechnie – Editor

Non-fiction editor with extensive experience in many subjects, gained over 25 years from publishers including Routledge and Palgrave

Overview

After completing a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism I worked as a journalist for a few years before moving into book editing, which I discovered was my true passion. I worked as an editor for two major publishing houses, gaining great experience before going freelance as an editor, proofreader and indexer. I have not looked back, and now have a range of loyal clients ranging from mainstream publishers to government departments and European Union agencies. Subjects I work on include philosophy, politics, fashion, history, religion, the environment and social sciences. Africa and the Middle East are speciality subjects.

I think the core of an editor’s job is to gain the trust of the author, while also acting as an advocate for the potential readers of the book by making sure it’s engaging, logical, lucid and leaves no loose ends. I have worked with many authors of various backgrounds and nationalities over the years and I’m very experienced at putting authors at ease so that we can both ensure their book is as good as it can be.
Services
Non-Fiction
Education & Reference Fashion & Textiles History Humanities & Social Sciences Life Sciences Nature Philosophy Political Science & Current Affairs Religion & Spirituality
Languages
English (AUS) English (SA) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Bachelor of Journalism
  • Diploma in European Humanities, Open University

Work experience

Self-employed

Dec, 1997 — Present

After working for a newspaper and two major publishers, I became a full-time freelancer working for a variety of traditional publishers and non-traditional clients such as government departments, consultancies and EU agencies.

Struik Publishers

Nov, 1987 — Apr, 1994 (over 6 years)

I worked as a senior editor for this large publishing house, working on books ranging in subject matter from natural history to popular science titles and tourism guides. I also helped compile a number of successful travel guides while working here.

Human & Rousseau Publishers

Oct, 1985 — Sep, 1987 (almost 2 years)

I worked as an editor for this company, on non-fiction titles, specifically educational and reference books such as family encyclopedias and travel guides.

Financial Gazette, Harare, Zimbabwe

Jun, 1983 — Aug, 1984 (about 1 year)

After graduating with a degree in Journalism and English I worked as a reporter for this well-known financial paper.

Portfolio

Screen Addict: Parenting Success Stories That Will Change Your Life

Shah, Munur

Models of Mental Health (Foundations of Mental Health Practice)

Gavin Davidson

A good understanding of the different theoretical models is essential when working in the field of mental health. Not only does it help with understanding experiences of mental health difficulties and to find meaning, but it also provides a framework for expan... read more
Reimagining Spaces for Learning in Higher Education (Palgrave Teaching and Learning)

Andrew Middleton

Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan

Shrabani Basu

*This is the remarkable biography of Noor Inayat Khan, code named ""Madeleine"". The first woman wireless transmitter in occupied France during WWII, she was trained by Britain's SOE and assumed the most dangerous resistance post in underground Paris. Betr
Dance and the Body in Western Theatre: 1948 to the Present

Sabine Sörgel

Dance and the Body in Western Theatre
Fashion Drawing (Basics Fashion Design)

John Hopkins

Edexcel A Level History, Paper 3: Poverty, public health and the state in Britain c1780-1939 Student Book + ActiveBook (Edexcel GCE History 2015)

Rosemary Rees

Fashioning the City: Paris, Fashion and the Media

Agnes Rocamora

The fashion media have been central to the consecration of the city of Paris on the fashion map, as well as its celebration in the collective imagination. Indeed, with its conjunction of images and words, the fashion press constitutes a rich platform for an in... read more
The Politics of Water in Africa: The European Union's Role in Development Aid Partnership (International Library of African Studies)

Christopher Rowan

The dilemmas of African development continue to haunt both African and western institutions and governments. Here Christopher Rowan offers an original interpretation of the evolving concept of partnership as it operates within the current relationship between ... read more
The Routledge History of Genocide (Routledge Histories)

Routledge History Of Genocide BY Cathie Carmichael, 9780415529969
Invasion Ecology

Julie L. Lockwood

This new edition of Invasion Ecology provides a comprehensive and updated introduction to all aspects of biological invasion by non-native species. Highlighting important research findings associated with each stage of invasion, the book provides an overview o... read more
Losing an Empire, Finding a Role: British Foreign Policy Since 1945

David Sanders

Informed by Winston Churchill’s famous metaphor, successive British governments have shaped their foreign policy thinking around the belief that Britain’s overseas interests lie in three interlocking ‘circles’: in Europe, in the Commonwealth, and in the ‘speci... read more
Contemporary Political Theory

Andrew Shorten

This comprehensive and engaging new text introduces the key concepts, approaches and debates in contemporary political theory and shows how philosophical ideas can be applied to real-world politics. Fully up-to-date, each chapter summarizes recent developments... read more
Ashes to Light: A Holocaust Childhood to a Life in Music

Nelly Ben-Or

Born into a Jewish family in Lvov, Poland in the early-1930s, Nelly Ben-Or was to experience, at a very young age, the trauma of the Holocaust. This narrative of her life's journey describes the miraculous survival of Nelly, her mother and her older sister. Wi... read more
The Contested Diplomacy of the European External Action Service: Inception, Establishment and Consolidation (Routledge/UACES Contemporary European Studies)

Jost-Henrik Morgenstern-Pomorski

The creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU’s new diplomatic body, was accompanied by high expectations for improving the way Europe would deal with foreign policy. However, observers of its first years of operation have come to the opp... read more
International Political Theory and the Refugee Problem

Natasha Saunders

‘The refugee problem’ is a term that it has become almost impossible to escape. Although used by a wide range of actors involved in work related to forced migration, these actors do not often explain what exactly ‘the problem’ is that they are working to solve... read more
Institutional Capacity for Climate Change Response: A New Approach to Climate Politics (The Earthscan Science in Society Series)

In a period of rapid climate change and climate governance failures, it is crucial to understand and address how effectively different political institutions can and should react to climate change. The term 'institutional response capacity' can be defined as a... read more
Fashion Cultures Revisited: Theories, Explorations and Analysis

Following on from the ground-breaking collection Fashion Cultures, this second anthology, Fashion Cultures Revisited, contains 26 newly commissioned chapters exploring fashion culture from the start of the new millennium to the present day. The book is divided... read more
The History of Central Asia: The Age of the Steppe Warriors

Christoph Baumer

The epic plains and arid deserts of Central Asia have witnessed some of the greatest migrations, as well as many of the most transformative developments, in the history of civilization. Christoph Baumer's ambitious four-volume treatment of the region charts th... read more
The History of Central Asia: The Age of Decline and Revival (Volume 4)

Christoph Baumer

For more than a hundred years, Central Asia was the heartland of the mightiest military power on the planet. But after the fragmentation of the all-conquering Mongol polity, the region began a steep decline which rendered this former domain of horse lords peri... read more
The History of Central Asia, Volume 3: The Age of Islam and the Mongols

Cristoph Baumer

Between the 9th and the 15th centuries, Central Asia was a major political, economic and cultural hub on the Eurasian continent. In the first half of the 13th century it was also the pre-eminent centre of power in the largest land-based empire the world has ev... read more
Arab-American Women's Writing and Performance: Orientalism, Race and the Idea of the Arabian Nights (International Library of Cultural Studies)

Somaya Sami Sabry

The public image of Arabs in America has been radically affected by the ""war on terror."" But stereotypes of Arabs, manifested for instance in Orientalist representations of Sheherazade and the Arabian Nights in Hollywood, have prevailed for much longer. Here... read more
Gender and Identity in North Africa: Postcolonialism and Feminism in Maghrebi Women's Literature (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

Abdelkader Cheref

Literary fiction has always provided an outlet for social and political critique. In the writing of key North African women authors, the dissection of Maghrebi society is at the very heart of the narratives. Here, Abdelkader Cheref charts the rise of postcolon... read more
Jerusalem: From the Ottomans to the British (Library of Middle East History)

Roberto Mazza

In December 1917, British troops entered Jerusalem, thereby ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and important era in the history of Jerusalem. Roberto Mazza discusses the period of transition from Ottoman rule to the British administration, focusing on the s... read more
The Ottoman Origins of Modern Iraq: Political Reform, Modernization and Development in the Nineteenth Century Middle East (Library of Ottoman Studies)

Ebubekir Ceylan

As a result of the various reforms of the mid-nineteenth century Tanzimat (""reorganization"") era, Ottoman authority in Iraq was much stronger and better administered by the 1870s, than it had been when the Ottomans imposed direct rule over the region in the ... read more

Allison has 7 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Micah T.

Micah T.

Nov, 2024

Thank you for your help with my project. Your changes brought me closer to a final draft and gave me more confidence in my work.
Uriel M.

Uriel M.

Aug, 2024

Allison gave me a fair review of the manuscript, emphasizing its strong points, and also gave me a good amount of suggestions, even though this was meant to be merely an editorial assessment. This exceeded my expectations.
Imogen D.

Imogen D.

Jun, 2023

Allison was really thorough and clear with this factchecking task. Her flags were all relevant and appreciated. Plus she was very prompt returning the text to me. I would happily employ Allison again for a similar task.
Chiara P.

Chiara P.

Nov, 2021

I strongly recommend working with Allison!
Zulfiqar Ali P.

Zulfiqar Ali P.

May, 2020

It was my first time that I collaborated with someone on Reedy. I am happy with the work done by Allison McKechnie.

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