Item: Andrew James
Rating: 5.0
Author: Nathanael W-B

Overview

I am an award-winning commissioning editor and I have over 13 years of experience commissioning and editing fiction, non-fiction and children's books. I have worked in academic and professional publishing as well as trade and children's and I specialise in LGBTQ+, mental health, neurodiversity, autism, disability and academic topics. I provide manuscript editing, book commissioning, authenticity reading (sensitivity reading) and consultancy. I have worked on books that have won or been shortlisted for Polari Book Prize, Polari First Book Prize, Polari Children’s & YA Book Award, Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall Book Award and World Book Night.

I am a market-focused editor and aim to provide feedback that will ensure your book is suited to the target audience. I like to provide detailed feedback and work collaboratively with authors and clients to help them realise their vision for the work. I'm friendly and easy-going and aim to work quickly and to budget.

Services

Developmental Editing

Editorial Assessment

Query Letter Review

Book Coaching

Non-Fiction

Health & Wellbeing LGBTQ Non-Fiction Parenting & Families Self-Help & Self-Improvement

Languages

English (UK)

Awards

The Bookseller Rising Star

Work experience

Literary Agent

Self-employed

May, 2023 — Present

I represent LGBTQIA+ authors and work with them editorially to shape their books so they're ready to submit to publishers. I also provide editorial services such as manuscript editing, book commissioning, authenticity reading (sensitivity reading) and consultancy and strategy.

Editorial Director

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Apr, 2016 — Aug, 2022 (over 6 years)

Responsible for developing and executing the editorial vision and publishing strategy for JKP’s market-leading LGBTQ+ publishing, which I established in 2016.

I commissioned award-winning practical non-fiction, self-help, memoir, children's books, graphic novels and workbooks.

Senior Commissioning Editor

Palgrave Macmillan

Dec, 2010 — Mar, 2016 (over 5 years)

Commissioned monographs, reference and trade non-fiction across Sociology, Social Policy and Education whilst managing a global team of assistants and editors. I was promoted from Editorial Assistant to Senior Commissioning Editor whilst at Palgrave.