Claire Strombeck

Claire Strombeck – Editor

I have over 15 years' experience editing for top publishers, including Penguin Random House. Contact me for any editorial services.

Overview

As an editor for top publishers, including Penguin Random House and NB Publishers, I have edited and proofread award-winning, bestselling novels and narrative non-fiction texts. I am proud to have had a number of edited novels on bestseller lists, and long- and shortlisted for literary awards, including the Sunday Times Literary Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. I work closely with top authors including Mark Winkler, Imraan Coovadia, Rahla Xenopoulos, Carol Campbell, Qarnita Loxton, Fred Khumalo, and Niq Mhlongo, among many others. I also co-founded a highly successful online creative writing course with bestselling author, Mike Nicol, which ran for eight years. I thrive when collaborating with authors, assisting them to reach their writing potential and to create the strongest narrative possible. My specialist genres include literary fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, crime, and memoirs, although I really love reading and editing any story that grabs my attention. My clients will attest to the fact that I am a supportive editor, who only ever gives constructive criticism. I focus on what you're doing right, so that you can do more of that. If you work with me, you will become a better, more confident writer, skilled in all the technical stuff and the things that readers want. My industry experience means I am perfectly placed to know what publishers want, and to shape your manuscripts and cover letters accordingly. Please contact me for any editorial services, including developmental and copy editing, editorial assessments, and editing of cover letters.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Chick Lit Contemporary Romance Cozy Mysteries Epic Fantasy Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • First-class Master's Degree in English Literature
  • First-class Honour's Degree in English Literature

Work experience

Self-employed

Feb, 2016 — Present
• Copy-editor and proofreader • Point of contact between commissioning editors, managing editors, and authors • Write reader reports for potential publication and jacket copy • Familiar with all stages of publication process • Several works longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Awards in 2019 and 2021 • Fred Khumalo’s Talk of the Town won 2020 SALA Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award

The Writers' Masterclass

Jan, 2013 — Dec, 2020 (almost 8 years)
• Independently run supervisory online, multimedia course, founded and supervised by internationally best-selling writer and journalist Mike Nicol and me • Project-managed course for 25–30 students each year • Created content on social media platforms to advertise course • Supervised writing of 60,000-word novels/ non-fiction works • Each completed year of the class produced at least one traditionally published writer

GetSmarter (2U)

Oct, 2010 — Dec, 2015 (about 5 years)
• Taught online, multimedia creative-writing course alongside Ron Irwin (until end of 2011) and then Mike Nicol (until 2015) • Liaison between clients and GetSmarter

Self-employed

Jun, 2010 — Present
• Copy-editor and proofreader • Point of contact between commissioning editors, managing editors, and authors • Write reader reports for potential publication and jacket copy • Familiar with all stages of publication process • Several works longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Awards in 2019 and 2021 • Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu’s short story, “The Blessing of Kali”, shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2019 • Imran Garda’s The Thunder That Roars won the 2016 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose; longlisted for the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature

Portfolio

Past Participle

Jane Labous

Lucky Girl: A Novel

Muchemi-Ndiritu, Irene

The Son of the House

Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia

A COMPELLING STORY CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF TWO WOMEN AS THEY NAVIGATE WHAT REMAINS A STRONGLY PATRIARCHAL NIGERIA “I absolutely loved his book. Nwabulu and Julie are incredible, fully formed and fully flaw, characters that walk straight off the page and ... read more
The Child

Mackay, Alistair

Kwela

Shadow Flicker

Volker, Melissa A.

Glass House

Emezie, Chinenye

It is 1871 and Nthebolang and her mother must flee their home: her father has been accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. For months they walk, sleeping in the open, living off the veld, until they are offered shelter in Ntsweng in the kingdom of Kgosi ... read more
Single mom Delilah is thrilled when her darling daughter Daisy is tipped to become head girl of her prep school. But things don’t turn out quite as expected, and mother and daughter soon need to deal with much more than disappointment when Daisy’s long-time ri... read more
Only the Dead

Wende, Hamilton

Being Shelley

Loxton, Qarnita

Mermaid Fillet

Arderne, Mia

The Delhi Deception

Sabharwal, Elana

The Fall

Thorpe, Jen

An Unquiet Place

Houston, Clare

Nine Letters

Webb, John

Loves & Miracles of Pistola

Toffoli, Hilary Prendini

My Father Died for This

Calata, Lukhanyo

Being Kari

Loxton, Qarnita

The Season of Glass

Xenopoulos, Rahla

Claire has 71 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Matthew A.

Matthew A.

Jun, 2025

Can't recommend Claire enough! Her editorial report was professional, insightful and very encouraging, and in all honesty restored my faith in my project after several rejections from agents. As others have said, she has a great knack for understanding what the author is trying to achieve and mak...
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Pina A.

Pina A.

Jun, 2025

This is the third time I have worked with Claire. She is attentive to detail, makes helpful suggestions and is very communicative. She also goes the extra mile, offering to take another look at passages or documents after feedback is incorporated. I appreciated the clear direction and the way she...
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Chris Q.

Chris Q.

Mar, 2025

Claire is spookily insightful, and her services a revelation. She immediately grasped what I was trying to achieve with my novel, and then showed me how to make it so much better. She is an instinctive and sensitive editor with a genuine warmth and enthusiasm for her craft. She helped me wit...
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Sam O.

Sam O.

Dec, 2024

Claire was just fantastic. I started the process entirely in the dark - completely unaware of whether or not my novel had any potential, and at a loss as to how to begin the editing process. Claire's support was instant and constant. In her first message I instantly got the sense that she was as ...
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Kevin T.

Kevin T.

Aug, 2024

Claire was a wonderful partner to have for editing my manuscript, query letter, and synopsis. She returned my work in batches over the course of our time with all edits and comments which was the perfect way for me to digest and edit the manuscript. I would highly recommend her as your next edito...
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