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 can be rather dry, 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. This year I've been mostly judging, editing and publishing the short stories for FutureBook's wonderful Future Fiction anthology.
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.
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 purpose of my services are to help you see your book through a reader's eyes, as well as understand how to communicate each page perfectly. As well as providing notes on your book, I like to get a meeting or a call in the diary to discuss the direction of the edit and ensure that you are confident of the next steps for your book. I can also follow this up with a secondary read and line edit if desired.
This is a partnership and I want you to be as involved in the process as I am.
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
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 can be rather dry, 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. This year I've been mostly judging, editing and publishing the short stories for FutureBook's wonderful Future Fiction anthology.
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.
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 purpose of my services are to help you see your book through a reader's eyes, as well as understand how to communicate each page perfectly. As well as providing notes on your book, I like to get a meeting or a call in the diary to discuss the direction of the edit and ensure that you are confident of the next steps for your book. I can also follow this up with a secondary read and line edit if desired.
This is a partnership and I want you to be as involved in the process as I am.
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)
English (US)
Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Horror
Literature
Science Fiction
Short Story
Thriller
Women's Fiction
Awards
- Rising Star
Work experience
FutureBook short story competition
The Bookseller
October, 2018
–
November, 2018
(about 1 month)
In 2018 I judged, edited and published the Bookseller's first ever short story competition. The five winning finalists were then launched onto the Pigeonhole. The winner of the competition was interviewed by me on a panel with Aki Schilz (The Literary Consultancy), Natasha Bardon (Harper Voyager) and Anwen Hoosen (The Bird Literary Agency) at the FutureBook Conference. The winner is currently writing his second novel and has already been offered representation on the back of this win.
Founder and Publisher
The Pigeonhole
April, 2014
–
Present
(about 5 years)
I have spent the past five years building the number one social reading platform in Britain. We have honed the tech, built a team and serialised over one hundred books through the platform, including novels by Sophie Kinsella, Jeffrey Archer and Susan Lewis, as well as the Caine and Wellcome Prize shortlists. 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 9 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
From the moment I read Anna Jean’s first message, I knew I was in good hands, and that I’d found the perfect editor to help me with my first book. I felt completely at ease sending my book to Anna, and she just got it instantly. I was so excited to read her editorial assssment; everything she said resonated so clearly with what I want for my book. (Sometimes reading her notes it felt like she’d...
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Kathryn Parsons, April 2019
This is my second collaboration with Anna. Her excellent suggestions are always right on the mark.
Wendy Devore, March 2019
Anna Jean Hughes is wonderful to work with. She heard my voice in my sample, and she made sure to maintain it as we worked on the edits. As a first time author (long form), pushing my boundaries and showing my work to a professional editor was intimidating, but AJ made it a great experience. She did more than was required of her. Her observations were thorough, added immense value, and gave my ...
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Natasha Omokhodion-Kalulu Banda, February 2019
This is my first time working with a developmental editor so I wasn't sure what to expect, but Anna was extremely clear in communicating her process and everything stayed right on schedule. I knew when we started that I had some structural problems, but I'd done as much as I could on my own. Right from the start, it felt like Anna knew my characters intimately and understood clearly what I ...
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Wendy Devore, January 2019
Anna Jean was extremely thorough in going through my materials, and her critique was invaluable. You cannot go wrong if you want an assessment that is going to undergo serious industry scrutiny. Highly recommended.
Zack Beyman, December 2018
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