Clem Flanagan

Clem Flanagan – Editor

Bonnier Books UK editor of award-winning titles specialising in romance, fantasy, crime and commercial fiction. She/her

Overview

Hi, I'm Clem! I have worked as an editor for London publishers since 2017, working on bestselling titles ranging from the BBC Between the Covers pick 'DEVIL'S BREATH' by Jill Johnson to the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 'THE LAST WITCH OF SCOTLAND' by Philip Paris. I specialise in romance, commercial fiction, crime and fantasy.


I completed a BA in Creative Writing and English Lit and an MLitt in Publishing Studies, and have spent my life writing creatively and analysing what makes a good story great. I am available for developmental editing, copyediting and proofreading.


If I sound like the right editor for you, here are a few things to bear in mind when sending a request:

- Tell me a bit about yourself and your intentions towards your project. Are you aiming for traditional publication or will you be self-publishing?

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- Why are you looking for an editor now? Do you struggle with structural elements of your manuscript or do you need help with your line craft?

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Dystopian Epic Fantasy Mystery & Crime Romantic Comedy Romantic Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK)
Awards
  • Longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019
Certifications
  • MLitt Publishing Studies
  • BA Creative Writing & English Literature
  • CIEP Copy-editing level 1
  • CIEP Copy-editing level 2
  • Developmental Editing: Fiction Theory self-study course by Liminal Pages

Work experience

Bonnier Books UK

Jan, 2022 — Present
I am responsible for commissioning and editing titles across the frontlist - predominantly YA titles, but also some crime, historical and commercial fiction. I also work on some non-fiction titles like cookery and lifestyle coffee table books. Notable titles include Philip Paris's bestselling title The Last Witch of Scotland, David Fenne's YA trilogy OVEREMOTIONAL, Jill Johnson's dark mystery Devil's Breath (as featured on BBC's Between the Covers; titled The Woman in the Garden in the USA) and the Irish Book Award-winning The Hike Life by Roz Purcell.

Self-employed

May, 2020 — Present
After working for six years in publishing, I've taken the plunge and gone freelance to continue vanquishing typos and grammar baddies. I offer core editorial services such as developmental editing, copy-editing and proofreading, as well as author mentoring and editorial reports through a literary consultancy. My specialties include YA, fantasy, commercial fiction and science-fiction, although I also work on other genres when they need my help. Taking a story from good to great is what I love most – and I’d love to work on your book next. Please get in touch through Reedsy, Twitter or my website.

London Metropolitan University

Mar, 2020 — May, 2020 (2 months)
I returned to my first university as a visiting lecturer to teach on the very course that inspired me to become an editor. On this course, I lectured on topics including plotting, characterization, style, line editing and proofreading, and conducted workshops with small groups of students to help them improve their craft as writers and sharpen their skills as editors.

Hay House UK

Jan, 2018 — May, 2020 (over 2 years)
My role as editor is really varied, taking me from writing book blurbs (my favourite part!) to adapting healthy cookery books to British English and preparing book files for print. I have the privilege of working on lots of different titles ranging from self-help to health, from the esoteric to the latest science. I also read submissions and assess them for publication. When we have author events on, I love to work in our pop-up bookshop.

Thomson Reuters

Oct, 2016 — Oct, 2017 (about 1 year)
As the publisher at Thomson Reuters' legal publishing arm in Scotland, I commissioned all new frontlist titles, acting as the first point of contact between our authors and TR. Titles spanned a wide spectrum of markets, from university study-guides to reference titles and annotated acts.

Self-employed

May, 2014 — Dec, 2015 (over 1 year)
I freelanced as a proofreader and editor (and sometimes content writer) for several independent presses and websites, including Lumphanan Press, Freight Books, Cargo Publishing, Endeavour Press and TripAdvisor. I worked on a wide variety of material, including a manual on Qigong, an award-winning contemporary novel, historical novels and, you guessed it, some travel pieces!

Portfolio

The Poison Grove: A Novel

Johnson, Jill

Poisoned Pen Press

The Woman in the Garden: A Novel

Johnson, Jill

Poisoned Pen Press

Life of Zanna: The Insta-whodunit that’s more addictive than your feed

Emily Jane Hodgkin

Black and White Publishing

Somewhere in the Sunset

Estelle Maskame

Ink Road

Made with Reedsy
Karik's First Battle (The Legends of Karik Book 1)

Oliver, Evan

Developmental Editing
The Thief of Souls (Dark Tides Book 3)

James, Becky

Editorial Assessment
Devil's Breath (Export Edition)

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Last Witch of Scotland

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Hebridean Baker: My Scottish Island Kitchen: (New Cookbook from Scottish TikTok Sensation)

MacLeod, Coinneach

Sourcebooks

The Hike Life: My 50 Favourite Hikes in Ireland - IBA Lifestyle Book of the Year

Rozanna Purcell

Black and White Publishing

The Ghost Cat: A Novel

Howard, Alex

Hanover Square Press

Hell's Bells: Intriguing and suspenseful, an intoxicating mystery... (A Professor Eustacia Rose Mystery)

Black and White Publishing

Is it Actually Love for Lexie Byrne (aged 42¼)

Grace-Cassidy, Caroline

Black & White Publishing

The Tenets in the Tattoos (The King's Swordsman Book 1)

James, Becky

Developmental Editing
The Bind of Blood and Bonds (The King's Swordsman Book 2)

James, Becky

Developmental Editing Proofreading
OVEREMOTIONAL

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Haunted Magpie (Isabel Flores Mallorcan Mystery)

Nicholas, Anna

Ylmi's Saga (The Legends of Karik Book 2)

Oliver, Evan

Developmental Editing
Vranr's Curse (The Legends of Karik Book 3)

Oliver, Evan

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Wake of the Phoenix (Artifice of Power Saga Book 1)

Harper, Chelsea

Made with Reedsy
Curse of the Fallen

Newell, H.C.

Proofreading
The Bloody Crown (The Legends of Karik Book 4)

Oliver, Evan

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Mountain Song: A Journey to Finding Quiet in the Swiss Alps

Fuggle, Lucy

Made with Reedsy
The Witch's Heart

Reed, Ashley

Made with Reedsy
Dark Wolf Forsaken: Alpha Rising 2

Evans, Ryan

Made with Reedsy
The Ugly Princess: The Legend of the Winnowwood

Smith, Henderson

Made with Reedsy
Betrayed by Beauty: The Legend of the Winnowwood

Smith, Henderson

Made with Reedsy
Dark Wolf's Awakening: Alpha Rising 1

Evans, Ryan

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Heirs of the Frost: The Deathweaver Series, Book 1

Greenbrook, Daniel

It's a Wonderful Life for Lexie Byrne (aged 41 ¼)

Cassidy, Caroline

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Mettle of the MasterMage: Sword and sorcery portal fantasy (The King's Swordsman Book 5)

James, Becky

Editorial Assessment
The Tempered Turns of Time (The King's Swordsman Book 4)

James, Becky

Editorial Assessment
The Limit of the Lonely Man (The King's Swordsman Book 3)

James, Becky

Editorial Assessment
We Are All Witches: "Bad" Women to Live Your Life By

Kidd, Mairi

Copy Editing
The Making of Mila and Blake

Developmental Editing
Behind Frenemy Lines

Price, Lauren

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Operation Hurricane: The Evan Boyd Adventures #1 - The Epic New Young Adult Fantasy Series

Shaw, Benjamin

Copy Editing
Stealing From Thieves (Tales From Undersea Book 2)

Wood, Jessica

Copy Editing
Peacocks in Paradise (Anna Nicholas Mallorca Travel Series Book 7)

Nicholas, Anna

Copy Editing
Traitor's Revenge (Tales From Undersea Book 1)

Wood, Jessica

Copy Editing
First Time Solo

Iain Maloney

Shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Award<>A gripping and ultimately deeply effecting literary debut, First Time Solo is more than a war story, it is a beautifully rendered portrait of men preparing for conflict and a society on the brink of seismic ... read more
The Other Ida

Amy Mason

Other Ida

Clem has 38 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Alison G.

Alison G.

Sep, 2024

It was a pleasure working with Clem as copy-editor on DRUM EARTH and the result has exceeded all my expectations. This trilogy of fantasy novels is highly complex with numerous characters, other worlds and past lives. The story itself also spans many years, finally culminating in the future. ...
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Amanda T.

Amanda T.

Jan, 2024

Clem was very thorough and diligent as she worked through my manuscript. She also finished the work on time as promised. As a debut author I found her patient and really helpful throughout the process.
Coriana F.

Coriana F.

Feb, 2022

Clem was great to work with. She was courteous and professional, responding to my queries in a reasonable amount of time (a few hours to a business day). She also kept me updated as her schedule for review changed – at first, she thought she was going to finish the project early, but then she lat...
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Clem F.
Thanks so much for your kind words, and for trusting me with your work. I had such fun reading this manuscript. Sorry I missed a few details or queried things that seemed obvious - it's entirely po...
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Roger M.

Roger M.

Jan, 2022

Clem was brilliant. Her assessment left me with a very clear idea of the further work required, with practical, achievable suggestions that I have little doubt will improve my manuscript, and also my future work.
Zach L.

Zach L.

Dec, 2021

Clem was excellent to work with. Professional and thorough. I would recommend her work to anyone and hope she's ready to do more work for my series in the future!

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