Claire McKenna

Claire McKenna – Editor

I'm a children's books editor specializing in chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction. Worked at Oxford Children's and Chicken House.

Overview

I am an approachable and creative editor with 15 years' experience in the publishing industry. I have previously worked in-house at Oxford Children’s Books and Chicken House, working on bestselling and award-winning fiction for ages 5+ up to YA. Now freelance, my clients include Oxford Children’s Books, Chicken House, David Fickling Books, and Pushkin Press. I am also an Industry Editor for the Golden Egg Academy, where I mentor aspiring children’s book writers and help them to hone and craft their manuscripts. I enjoy working with clients at all stages of the editorial process from structural edits to proofreading stage and am passionate about helping to create top quality children’s books that will delight and inspire the next generation of readers.


Testimonials:


‘We have worked with Claire on projects big and small, and her calm understanding of an author's needs as well as her precise attention to detail makes her an invaluable and reliable colleague.'

Barry Cunningham OBE, Publisher and Managing Director of Chicken House


'Claire has worked on three of my novels—Below Zero, She Wolf, and Nisha’s War—and each time, Claire’s comments and suggestions have been clear, helpful, and insightful. Claire always finds the things I have overlooked during redrafts, and she has always contributed to a more polished story. It is important for me to have confidence in the people who collaborate with me on my books, and I have complete trust in Claire.’

Dan Smith, author


'Claire is a creative and meticulous editor whose attention to detail is second to none. She has a positive and cheery attitude to her work which rubs off on those around her.’

Kathy Webb, Editorial Manager at David Fickling Books


'With her attention to detail alongside a clear view of what you are trying to achieve, Claire will work hard to challenge weaknesses, tighten sagging plotlines, strengthen—or even kill off!—unconvincing characters, breathe life into dull dialogue, and generally bring out your best as an author, helping you to take your story to the next level.'

Danny Rurlander, author

Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Social & Family Issues Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Academy

Sep, 2022 — Present

Nurturing new writers to develop their stories, providing editorial feedback on their manuscripts and advice on navigating the modern publishing landscape.

Self-employed

Nov, 2015 — Present

Providing editorial services for children's publishers including structural and line edits, copy editing and proofreading, anglicizations and sensitivity reads.

Chicken House

Jan, 2017 — Sep, 2017 (8 months)

Organizing, checking, and collating copy-edited and proofread manuscripts. Liaising with authors, freelance editors and proofreaders. Reading for the Times/Chicken House fiction and Open Coop competitions.

Oxford Children's Books

Jul, 2014 — Nov, 2015 (over 1 year)

Providing feedback to authors on their manuscripts. Liaising with design and production to ensure books published on time and to budget. Building relationships with agents.

Oxford Children's Books

May, 2011 — Jun, 2014 (about 3 years)

Co-editing manuscripts. Responding to author and agent queries. Working with production, design, sales and marketing teams to publish books on time and to budget. Writing sales copy.

Taylor and Francis

Oct, 2009 — Apr, 2011 (over 1 year)

Working with academic authors and production to ensure educational titles are published on time and to budget. Maintaining databases and other systems.

Portfolio

Copy Editing
Proofreading
The Midnight Hour

Read, Benjamin

Chicken House

Copy Editing
Every Line of You

Gibson, Naomi

Chicken House

Copy Editing
The Undying of Obedience Wellrest

Bowling, Nicholas

Chicken House

Copy Editing
The Private Blog of Joe Cowley

Davis, Ben

Oxford University Press, USA

Developmental Editing
Last Chance Hotel

Nicki Thornton

Chicken House

Developmental Editing
Spylark

Danny Rurlander

Audible Studios

Developmental Editing
BRAMBLE FOX

Kathrin Tordasi

Proofreading
Proofreading
Mold & The Poison Plot

Lorraine Gregory

Oxford University Press

Proofreading
Sky Dancer

Gill Lewis

Oxford University Press

Proofreading
Mirabelle Has A Bad Day (3)

Muncaster, Harriet

Oxford Children’s

Proofreading
Kevin vs the Unicorns

Reeve, Philip

OUP Oxford

Proofreading
Marv and the Attack of the Dinosaurs

Falase-Koya, Alex

OUP Oxford

Proofreading
Kitty and the Runaway Train

Paula Harrison

Oxford University Press

Proofreading
Proofreading
Planet Stan

Elaine Wickson

Oxford University Press

Copy Editing
Walls

Emma Fischel

OUP Oxford

Copy Editing
What's That in Dog Years?

Davis, Ben

OUP Oxford

Copy Editing
Cosmic Atlas of Alfie Fleet

Martin Howard

Fisical_Book

Copy Editing
Reggie Rabbit: The Ghost of Seagull Rock (2)

Reddy, Swapna

Oxford Children’s

Proofreading

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