Deborah Murrell – Editor

I moved to France in 2011 and, since then, have been mostly editing novels and autobiographies for Reedsy and Writers’ Services, another web-based company providing editorial services for authors. I also proofread and copy edit children’s non-fiction for QED and audio-proof (check audio books against the original text) for ID Audio/Harper Collins and other publishing houses.
In 2014, together with Philip Steele, I wrote the first Lonely Planet non-travel-guide book, the children’s Amazing World Atlas.

In 2006 I wrote four children’s books on Medieval Warfare and an adult book, Superstitions, and edited books on Ancient Greece and aviation, all for Amber Books.

I also proofread and copy-edited travel guides, self-help books and TEFL manuals for Cambridge Publishing Management, and wrote Knights and Castles for Kingfisher’s My Best… series.

With MotivatEd in 2007 I produced a website for the WWF, writing copy, devising games and editing content. I also managed several series of story books and wrote a four-book series entitled Warriors for QED.

In 2008 I proofread a thesis on Shakespeare, wrote four books in Ladybird’s Mad About series: Sharks, Bugs, Knights and Costume, and a children’s encyclopedia, Everything You Need to Know, for Kingfisher, for whom I also managed My Best Book of the Human Body. In-house at Harper Collins, I managed brands such as Narnia, Dr. Seuss, Noddy and Shrek, writing new stories based on existing characters.

In 2009 I worked at Parragon Books as Group Editor covering maternity leave, leading a team producing trade and licensed books.

In 2010 I completed two revising and reformatting projects for Kingfisher, Nature Got There First and Geography Encyclopedia.

In 2011, I wrote a number of articles, including SEO ones, for an agency supplying commercial websites and, again for Kingfisher, new content for a number of interactive books and a lift-the-flap book. I also worked on Lonely Planet children’s travel guides, at Weldon Owen.

At Pinwheel, I managed the Pinwheel imprint, consisting of novelty and board books. I also oversaw the Andromeda imprint, which produces non-fiction books for older children. I resigned from Pinwheel in March 2006, but worked with the company on a freelance basis until August.

January 2003 to April 2004 – Picthall and Gunzi: Managing Editor

For P and G I managed a variety of books for young children and wrote Ancient Rome, published by Kingfisher as part of the My Best Book of… series, and Mega Trucks, for pre-school children.

November 2001 to January 2003 – travelling/living abroad

I got married in late 2001 and then spent 6 months in France, and a year in Florida, USA, where my husband was working; unfortunately, I was unable to work due to visa restrictions.

May 2000 to November 2001 – Picthall and Gunzi: Senior Producer/Editor

I managed the production team, designed and wrote text for CD activities, and co-edited the text for a book and CD-ROM on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet.

On The Complete Encyclopedia of Manchester United and Mind, Body, Spirit, Earth I researched and wrote material as well as commissioning specialist authors. I was also involved in planning and developing future projects for the company. In July 1998 I decided to travel for a while, but returned to Picthall and Gunzi in 2000, once I was back in London.

I completed several short-term assignments for Edward Twentyman's agency, including proofreading Fathercare and A Word in Time for Colt Books and editing magazines at the Catholic Institute for International Relations.

I headed a team of about 20 people, based in Liverpool, writing, developing and producing intranet training software on CD-ROM for Allied Carpets.

I managed the overall design and functionality of an interactive CD-ROM entitled Atlas of the Ancient World, with programming and design teams in Moscow and an editorial team in Cambridge. I worked closely with Sales and Marketing, overseeing press releases and producing showreels and demonstration software as required.

At DKM I produced The Family Medical Guide CD-ROM for the American Medical Association. My work involved deciding product functionality, style and interface, storyboarding animations and liaising with the AMA, management and programming teams. I headed a team of 16 designers, editors and animators. On My First Amazing, Incredible Dictionary CD-ROM I led a team of editors, designers and animators. My work included storyboarding animations, organising photographic shoots, writing, commissioning and editing text, and otherwise managing the content and structure of the product.

I revised and updated the brochure and guide to Euro Disneyland.

My first job in publishing was as a research assistant on DK’s Children’s Encyclopedia. I went on to run the last four titles of the Look Closer series. This involved training and supervising a new editor, commissioning authors and photographers and managing budgets. I then project-managed Amazing Animal Facts, and wrote and edited Arts and Natural History pages for Factopedia.