Anna Jean - Editor
London, United Kingdom
Award-winning editor and publisher with a near-obsessive eye and over fifteen years experience in the industry.
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Overview
Stories are magical, they have the ability to transport. Whether it be to some bizarre gaseous planet in an alien solar system, the myxo-riddled mind of a rabbit, or a trailer park in Iowa – I want to go there. My role is simply to make that journey as seamless as possible.
I've worked as an editor for one of the Big Five, as well as stints at some of the best literary agencies in Britain. But traditional publishing is rather boring, so I have spent the past five years building The Pigeonhole, a social reading platform. In 2015 I was named The Bookseller's Rising Star and also shortlisted for the Digital Achiever Award. The Pigeonhole was awarded FutureBook's Campaign of the Year 2017 for our launch of Ken Follett's The Column of Fire.
I am a structural editor first and foremost, though will happily provide an editorial assessment on manuscripts, as well as query letter reviews. I currently write reader reports for Pan Macmillan, so you're in good hands. Though when it comes to giving structural edits I will only work on books that I would want to publish. There is little worse than having someone slash apart your manuscript because they didn't get it in the first place. I won't do your book justice unless I like it. As such, I only take on one project a month, but should you request a structural edit, I will read your manuscript and respond within a week of receipt. After this initial read, I like to get a meeting in the diary to discuss the direction of the edit. This can either be face-to-face if you're London-based, or via Skype for those not in London. This is a partnership and I want you to be as involved in the process as I am.
I am a very hands-on editor. l'm here to help you to map your plot and perfect your characters, highlight any issues and inconsistencies, and work on language and speech. I will also strive to pick out spelling, formatting and grammatical errors along the way. The edit itself will take the form of an overview breaking down plot, style and characterisation, followed a chapter by chapter summary and suggestions on potential market and genre positioning. This will be supported by an edited manuscript via tracked changes within a Microsoft word document. I can follow this up with a secondary read and edit if needs be.
FEEDBACK
"Anna's editing encompasses a keen eye for technical detail and a passion for narrative and message. Her enthusiastic input helps the writer tell their story in the most effective manner possible, and she always keeps two things in the forefront of the process – what the writer is trying to convey, and what the reader is going to experience. She is an exceptional editor and a pleasure to work with."
Ian Green, contributing author on Scaremongrel
Languages
English (UK)
Fiction
Crime & Mystery
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Horror
Literature
Romance
Science Fiction
Short Story
Thriller
Women's Fiction
Work experience
Founder and Publisher
The Pigeonhole
April, 2014
–
Present
(about 4 years)
I have spent the past two years building the number one social reading platform in Britain. I have honed the tech, built a team and published nearly fifty books through the platform. Our job is to build an online presence for all of our books, while acting as a soap box for authors to discuss their ideas through the pages of their book.
Literary Assistant
Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
January, 2013
–
April, 2014
(about 1 year)
- Negotiated and constructed contracts contracts
- Read and edited manuscripts in preparation for submission to publishers
- Offered structured reading reports
- Worked on a list of over fifty authors
Assistant Editor
Random House
April, 2009
–
December, 2012
(over 3 years)
ASSISTANT EDITOR at Arrow, Windmill & Hammer Horror
- Commissioned and acquired titles for both the commercial and horror imprints, including Tim Lebbon
- Created a YA crossover list within Arrow with six acquisitions in six months.
- Commissioned established authors for the Hammer novella scheme
- Contracts negotiations
- Oversaw the Hammer straight-to-digital list
- Agent negotiations
- Cover briefing
- Copyedit and proofread checks
- Structural editing
- Author care
- Creation of AIs and initial marketing plans
- Biblio management
Intern
Curtis Brown
September, 2008
–
April, 2009
(7 months)
Portfolio (10 selected works)
The Bitter Trade
Piers Alexander
Calumny Spinks has plans. He wants to learn to read and write. He wants to run away to London. He wants to be a man with a craft, a Master Spinks. But it is 1688, England is tearing itself apart in a religious battle that is soon to topple the king, and his father has a secret. A secret that is sure to ruin them all...
When Jasmine's crappy relationship with a crappy man falls apart, she goes on an adventure – to Tel Aviv. There she embarks on a passionate, life-changing journey under the firm guidance of Jasmine's indomitable grandmother, Shulla.
The Beasts of Belmont Park
Hud Saunders
When handsome house-husband Paul Marston realises Daddy day-care is not all it's cracked up to be, his thoughts turn to infidelity. But in attempting to extricate himself from a life of domestic drudgery, he gets dangerously out of depth with the local gangsters. This dark comedy thriller flips the lid on the middle-class dream and will keep you gripped to the final page.
Coldbrook (Hammer)
Tim Lebbon
Title: Coldbrook <>Binding: Paperback <>Author: Tim Lebbon <>Publisher: Ebury Press
The Taker Trilogy (3 Book Series)
Alma Katsu
From Book 1: AN IMMORTAL LOVE STORYHave you ever loved someone so much that you'd do anything for them? When Dr Luke Findley turns up to his hospital shift in the small town of St Andrews, Maine, he's expecting just another evening of minor injuries and domestic disputes. But instead, Lanore McIlvrae walks into his life - and changes it forever. For Lanny is a woman with a past...Lanny McIlvra... read more
The 13th Sacrifice (Witch Hunt 1)
Debbie Viguie
Fraternité
Margaret Houston
A REVOLUTION IS COMING And it is my doing. My fault. It is 1848 and Inspector Sebastian Duval is working undercover in the slums of Paris among secret societies and rebels. But when a local prostitute is brutally murdered on his doorstep, he can’t let it alone. Soon, however, he is embroiled in a seedy underbelly of corrupt police officials and sadistic nobility – there is no longer a side to ... read more
Deadlines
Chris Brosnahan
When journalists Gemma Masterton and David Levy start investigating their colleague's untimely death, they uncover a world of sex, violence and murder. As events spiral out of control, the two reporters realise they're in over their heads. Their main question now is whether they can survive long enough to find and expose the killer before the killer finds them.
The best-selling fantasy romance series from Hungary, now in English for the first time! When angel Sophiel is instructed to head down from Heaven to save the souls of the dead on Earth, she finds herself at the centre of a war with the dark angels. Stripped of her celestial form and mortally wounded Sophiel comes face to face with Elijah, the angel of fire, and is in grave danger … until Elij... read more
Starstruck
Rajeev Balasubramanyam
They say never meet your heroes, but never has it been said so well as this. Starstruck is a novel in ten parts starring David Beckham, Björk, Tony Blair, George Bush Sr., Sarah Ferguson, Michael Jackson, Prince Harry, Steve Jobs, Freddie Mercury and Mike Tyson. Fantasy and reality collide in this oftentimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, but every time brilliant series of anarchic meetings wi... read more
Anna has 2 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Anna's professionalism, attention to detail, rapid insight and quality input were all excellent. The collaboration was wholly worthwhile and beyond my expectations; it not only identified character/plot inconsistencies but opened up several much-needed new directions in which to take my work. Plus, it was an absolute pleasure working with Anna; a great and valuable experience.
Read moreMarc Exlor, May 2018
Anna was simply the best. She was professional, timely, had great insight and suggestions, drove me to be a better writer by not letting me get away with weak imagery or dialogue, knowing just where to ask the right questions and get me to come up with the worthwhile answers to make my story the best version it could possibly be. She was always available for a chat, ready and willing to adjust...
Read moreBroc Sewell, November 2016
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