Becky Stradwick – Editor

I've worked in the book industry for 23 years, as publisher, agent and bookseller. As Editorial Director at Penguin Random House, I published authors such as Susan Cooper, James Dashner, Jason Segel, Holly Black & Cassandra Clare, Nancy Holder, Ellie Irving, Fox Benwell and Damian Dibben. One of my happiest early memories was being taken to raid the senior school library, because I’d eaten every book in my primary school. It’s that hunger for stories that has guided my work ever since, and it’s always a thrill to be the first set of eyes on a book.

My advice comes from a commercial as well as a creative perspective. I think my authors would consider me a firm but fair editor who knows when to push and when to coax, and I am collaborative, confident and kind in my approach to maintaining your voice and vision.

As publisher, agent and editor, I’ve worked with hundreds of writers, from absolute beginners to Sunday Times/NYT bestsellers. I love working with writers who are at the beginning of their careers and enjoy coaching and supporting them through the editorial and submission process.

Becky is steeped in literature, and in my opinion is a true original: an editor who is not only insightful, empathetic and thorough, but also truly in touch with the book market. As a writer, you’re lucky if your editor has ONE of these assets, so I feel incredibly lucky to have been edited and guided by her. Any writer trying to find their voice will be brilliantly served by working with her.

Phil Earle.

Published by Puffin, Orion, Barrington Stoke.

I loved working with Becky! Her razor-sharp insights and skilful and thoughtful feedback helped to strengthen and lift my stories to the next level - and all delivered with such humour and passion too. You - and your manuscript - are in very safe hands.'

Ellie Irving.

Published by Penguin Random House

I have been a professional freelance writer for nearly 40 years (!) and of all the editors I have ever had, Bek is, and continues to be, my favorite. She is respectful of my voice, my vision, and my work. She has never tried to change me or mold me into anything or anyone else. Instead, with a clear eye, a brilliant grasp of story and craft, and a warm heart, she has led me to places in my writing I didn't know were there all along, inside me. Thoughtful, kind, yet direct and specific, her editorial guidance has been one of the highlights of my career. She is truly my dream editor, and I cannot express the deep gratitude I feel toward her. I appreciate her more than I can say, and anyone who works with Bek is fortunate beyond the telling.

Nancy Holder, award-winning NYT Times bestselling author.

I was super privileged in having Bek as my first editor (with Random House).I love the way she views the world, as well as her oversight of the industry and belief in its potential. She's shrewd and insightful, and approaches an author's work with compassion and passion in equal measure. Working with Bek made the entire process from commission to publication joyful, from an initial meeting and nerding out together over concepts and travel tales, to pulling out the best bits of a story and making them shine. I sincerely hope we get to work together again, because there's no one better.

In the words of Peregrin Took, "you need people of intelligence on this sort of Mission...quest...thing," and you want Bek in your fellowship.

Fox Benwell

Published by Penguin Random House

My desert island books are THE BORRIBLE TRILOGY by Michael Larrabeiti, WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman, and anything by Jonathan Stroud.

More recently, I've fallen in love with books by Akwaeke Emezi, Abi Elphinstone, and Leah Johnson.