Anja Schmidt

Anja Schmidt – Editor

25 years' experience editing nonfiction—including food/drink, memoirs, history, wellness—and fiction. Efficient, timely, and professional.

Overview

I am an Executive Editor who specializes in practical nonfiction, serving readers clamoring for information to solve real-world problems, achieve their goals, and lead richer, more meaningful lives. My list leans into the categories of cooking, health and wellness, self-help, personal and professional development, psychology, and parenting, including the bestselling Valerie's Home Cooking, Essential Emeril, Inspire Your Home, Cook Anime, Meals that Heal, and Deep Kindness, all books I have acquired and edited. But I also love to work on memoirs (like Sorted: A Transgender Memoir by Jackson Bird) and memoir mashups (such as The Kitchen Witch's Guide to Recipes for Love and Romance by Dawn Hunt).

I am your full-service editor! I can help develop ideas, shape ideas into outlines, organize manuscripts, line-edit manuscripts, and finally ghost-write, if necessary. I'm your all-in-one editorial helper with broad interests as listed above, as well as quirky titles like Tarot & Tequila and Off the Back of a Truck: Unofficial Contraband for the Sopranos Fan. I enjoy editing and look to each project as it's a college course to dive into and help lead. I am easy-going yet wield a strong editorial hand.

Most of all I want my authors to feel proud of the work we accomplished and confident to share their message with the world.

Testimonials:

"I have truly loved our connection and was so looking forward to working on this project together. Thank you SO much for all of the advice and great ideas you have already contributed."—Luke Caldwell, HGTV's Boise Boys

"Without you, we would have no book! For your advocacy, enthusiasm, and talent, we are eternally grateful."—Jennifer Kurdyla, author of Root & Nourish

"It is always an absolute pleasure to work with you!"—Sally Ekus, Manager and Literary Agent, The Lisa Ekus Group

"I hope you know that you changed my life, and I am forever grateful for all your encouragement and support."—Dawn Aurora Hunt, author of The Kitchen Witch's Guide to Recipes for Love and Romance

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits DIY & Crafts Health & Wellbeing History LGBTQ Non-Fiction
Fiction
Cozy Mysteries Horror
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Nov, 2022 — Present

Tiller Press/Simon & Schuster

Dec, 2018 — May, 2021 (over 2 years)
• Built and led a team of five+ editors to create a commercially successful, practical non-fiction pub list from scratch for a brand-new imprint—working in conjunction with our Cultural Intelligence team to unearth ideas, emerging voices or trends—of 20 titles in 2019, 50 titles for 2020, and 65 slated for 2021. • Personally edited 9 titles in 2019, 19 in 2020, and 15 in 2021, partnering with our Art Department to create the perfect package for each book. Subjects varied from pop culture fiction and non-fiction and horror to cookbooks, memoirs, wellness, and design.

Time Inc. Books/Oxmoor House

Apr, 2015 — Nov, 2018 (over 3 years)
Editorial Director of Time Inc. Books, the book and bookazine publishing division of Time Inc., where I managed two Editorial and Creative teams in New York, NY, and in Birmingham, AL, in subjects of cooking, gardening, design, history, and memoirs. During that time I acquired and edited my own projects, including the bestselling Valerie's Home Cooking and Essential Emeril.

Kyle Books/Quarto Books

Mar, 2009 — Apr, 2015 (about 6 years)
• Actively pursued acquisitions for US-originated titles, developed book concepts and matched with right authors, or through submissions from writers and agents. Duties included researching competitive titles and pitching to sales teams and London office. • Acquired five cookbook titles per year. Selected book formats, developed book budgets and established pricing, and negotiated contracts. Managed editorial projects, while also sourcing and managing external provider relationships including cost management. • Oversaw 10-12 titles per year originating in the company’s London office. Duties included: assessing Americanization; hiring recipe adaptors, consultants, and foreword writers; Americanizing jackets and interior spreads; and acting as point-person for sales, marketing, and publicity departments surrounding development of sales sheets, blads, and press releases.

DK Publishing Inc./Penguin Random House

Mar, 2003 — Feb, 2009 (almost 6 years)
• Acquired 10-15 titles a year for wide range of subjects ranging from cooking to history through the development of book concepts and author selection, submissions from writers and agents, and foreign publishers. Researched competitive titles. Duties included developmental editing, working with design partners to establish book concepts, line editing, and hiring proofreaders and indexers. • Oversaw UK-originated titles for reference and culinary publication lists, including cooking, history, natural history, and other nonfiction areas. Duties included: assessing Americanization; hiring appropriate recipe adaptors, consultants, and foreword writers; Americanizing jackets and interior spreads; and serving as point-person for sales, marketing, and publicity departments on sales sheet, blad, and press release development.

Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins

Jul, 1998 — Feb, 2003 (over 4 years)
• Edited 5-10 books a season. Subjects included history, biography, politics, science, and some fiction. Worked closely with best-selling authors including Stephen E. Ambrose, Bob Woodward, Jimmy Carter, and Pulitzer Prize winners Garry Wills and Susan Sheehan. • Edited 5-10 books per season including overall content development to line editing and organizing artwork; working closely with authors and agents; checking copyediting; proofreading, galleys, blues, and jackets; working closely with production editors and designers; writing catalog and jacket copy; and assessing submissions. Subjects included pop culture, art, garden, and design.

Anja has 10 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Dror H.

Dror H.

Jul, 2023

I am so grateful for the excellent work and professional support provided by Anja. I am busy with publishing my very first book and needed guidance of how to proceed with regards to copy editing, copy writing and more. Meeting Anja via Reedsy was a true blessing to me. She is a "one stop shop" f...
Read more
Anja S.
Thank you, Dror! It was such a pleasure working with you--and baking your cakes! I can't want to see the finished book.
Bob M.

Bob M.

Jun, 2022

Anja did a great job of catching all the things we missed (quite humbling). She also did a very thorough job of fact-checking ingredients and making sure measurements and directions were consistent throughout. It was pleasure working with her.
Anja S.
Thank you, Bob! Proud to be a part of the beautiful cookbook.
Lisa H.

Lisa H.

Feb, 2022

Anja has been so great to work with. She is knowledgable and professional. She responded to my questions quickly and finished the edit a few days before the deadline. I would definitely work with her again!
Anja S.
Lisa is a dream to work with and her story really moved me. I look forward to the next steps of helping her find an agent.
Myles K.

Myles K.

Nov, 2021

Anja was so amazing from start to finish. She responded quickly, was thorough in her editing and gave me so much helpful advice. I would definitely hire her again!
Maitra S.

Maitra S.

Oct, 2021

I have nothing to compare it to, being a novice writer, but I cannot imagine a more helpful person by any title , than Anja has been. She took an unorganized manuscript and brought it effortlessly to a professional level. She took a group of people who were dedicated but groping in the dark and g...
Read more

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Anja and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Anja

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Maxwell P. Sinsheimer

Maxwell P. S.

Nonfiction lit agent spanning food, science, history, memoir, social issues, and more. Former Oxford UP editor. 3x James Beard Award winner.

Washington D.C., DC, USA

95% reply rate

View profile
Hazel Wheaton

Hazel W.

A highly experienced editor in the fields of food, crafts, and travel.

Milwaukee, WI, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Carmen Smith

Carmen S.

NEA speaker. Published author. I've put NYTimes bestselling authors and Amazon #1 bestsellers through my self-help and memoir boot camp.

Austin, Texas, USA

100% reply rate

View profile