Reviews (18)

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Reviews (18)

Overview

I've been a freelance editor since 2015. Prior to that, I worked in commercial publishing in London for 10 years. During my career, I’ve worked for a number of major UK trade publishers (independent and corporate), across all levels, from editorial assistant to editorial director/board member, and my skills are subsequently wide-ranging. I was one of four people shortlisted for the 2012 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize, the UK award recognising women's outstanding potential and previous achievements in their publishing careers.

I’ve commissioned and grown authors (both mainstream and genre) to bestselling and award-winning status, overseeing their individual publishing strategies whilst working closely with overseas markets (particularly Ireland, Europe, the US and Australia). I acquired rights to and published North American authors (many of whom have been New York Times bestselling authors), and subsequently I'm very familiar with that market. I understand the current publishing climate, and what it takes to be competitive and stand out from the crowd.

I now work in various capacities with publishing companies, literary agents, private authors and writers'/literary festivals. Publishing clients include: Bookouture; Canelo; Elliot & Thompson; Hachette Ireland; HarperCollins; Little, Brown; Orion; Pan Macmillan; Penguin Random House; Transworld and Whitefox.

I work on fiction and non-fiction, across all editorial areas, e.g. assessing ideas, structural edits, line-editing, copy-editing, proofreading, giving advice on query letters etc.

Some titles I've worked on as a freelancer:

* John Marr's sci-fi hit The One (now on Netflix)
* The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman and Killer Intent by Tony Kent, which were both chosen for the 2018 Zoe Ball TV Book Club
* Two of the six WHSmith Richard and Judy Book Club summer 2019 titles - How to be Famous by Caitlin Moran & Marked for Death by Tony Kent
* The No.1 bestselling novel (Ireland), Hungry Road by Marita Conlon-McKenna (2021)
* Winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Popular Fiction Award 2022 (voted for by librarians, book bloggers and reviewers, and booksellers): The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick; and the Festive Holiday Romantic Novel Award 2022: Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage by Sheila Norton
* Sunday Times Bestsellers:
- Lucky by Ed Jackson (rugby union player turned Paralympics presenter)
- Get Divorced, Be Happy by Helen Thorn (award-winning comedian and podcaster)
- Knee Deep in Life by Laura Belbin (author of the Knee Deep in Life blog)
- Hear Me Out by Sarah Harding
- Friend Request by Laura Marshall
- Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar
- A Different Kind of Happy by Rachaele Hambleton (aka Part-Time Working Mummy)
- With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher
- No Shame by Laura Belbin (author of the Knee Deep in Life blog)
- Be Yourself and Happier: The A-Z Guide to Wellbeing by Will Young
- Springtime at Cannon Hall Farm by The Nicholson Family
- Ten Things I Hate About Me: How to Stay Alive With a Brain That's Trying to Kill You by Joe Tracini

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Query Letter Review

Languages

English (UK)

Non-Fiction

Biographies & Memoirs

Fiction

Contemporary Fiction

Historical Fiction

Humor & Comedy

Mystery & Crime

Romance

Thriller & Suspense

Women's Fiction

Certifications

BA Arts (Joint Honours – English and Philosophy), University College Cork
MA Publishing Studies City University, London

Awards

In 2012, I was one of four people shortlisted for the prestigious Kim Scott Walwyn Prize, which recognises women's creativity, professionalism and ambition in publishing.

Freelance

Self-employed

July, 2015 – Present (over 7 years)

Editorial Director

Harlequin UK Ltd

January, 2013 – June, 2015 (over 2 years)

Oversaw the running of the Harlequin UK editorial programme and its imprints, managing a team of 6, as well as commissioning and growing authors myself. I sat on the board, and so was also involved in the management of the company at senior level.

Commissioning Fiction Editor / Senior Commissioning Fiction Editor: Piatkus

Little, Brown

June, 2008 – December, 2012 (over 4 years)

The Piatkus list averaged about 100 titles a year during this time, and the genres within which we published were: general fiction; women’s commercial fiction; historical fiction; romantic suspense; crime and thrillers; paranormal romance; urban fantasy; and horror.

Nina is Not OK

Shappi Khorsandi

How to be Famous

Caitlin Moran

The Silent Sister: A gripping psychological thriller with a nailbiting twist

Shalini Boland

‘I literally could not put it down… I finished in less than 24 hours, it draws you in from the very first chapter… WOW… And just when you think that’s it… BAM.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars‘You don't deserve a sister…’Lizzy Beresford is at home alone when she finds a chilling letter in her kitchen. Someone has been into her home – someone who wishes Lizzy harm.In her little country cottage, wit... read more

To be a Gay Man

Young, Will

Dare to Change Your Life

Lawrence Okolie

'If I can go from obesity to the Olympics in four years, and then become a professional boxer, then anything is possible in your life.' Lawrence OkolieDREAM BIG. FOCUS. CHANGE YOUR LIFE.Lawrence shares 40 short life lessons and explains what you should do to focus your mind on your goals, however ambitious they are, so you can make your pipe dreams real too.'An inspiration' Anthony Joshua 'A r... read more

Everyone is Still Alive

Cathy Rentzenbrink

It is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret s... read more

Disappeared

Jarratt, Laura

Springtime at Cannon Hall Farm

The Nicholson Family

Hear Me Out

Harding, Sarah

With This Kiss

Fletcher, Carrie Hope

The Second Stranger

Martin Griffin

ONE DETECTIVE. ONE MURDERER. BUT WHICH IS WHICH?Remie Yorke has one shift left at the Mackinnon Hotel in the remote Scottish Highlands before she leaves for good. Then Storm Ezra hits. As temperatures plummet and phone lines go down, an injured man stumbles inside. PC Don Gaines was in a terrible accident on the mountain road. The only other survivor: the prisoner his team was transporting. Wh... read more

Professionalism

Professionalism

Quality

Quality

Value

Value

Communication & Punctuality

Communication & Punctuality

I was very impressed with Donna's professional approach. She gave me the kind of critique I was looking for to the timescale I wanted. It means that I have a considerable amount of work still to do, but that is more or less what I expected! Thank you, Donna.

Michael Dawes, February 2023

Thanks for the lovely review, Michael. You've got lots of great ingredients, and with another good push, will really see your novel progress. Good luck with the rewrites!

Reply from Donna Hillyer

Donna is incredibly professional and thorough. From her detailed notes, it's clear that she gave my manuscript a lot of time and attention, and was able to give me the kind of insight into what agents, publishers and the market place look for in mysteries and thrillers and how I could tailor my draft to meet those expectations. I highly recommend her as I would love to work with her again.

Greg Blyth, February 2023

I'm very pleased to hear my notes were helpful, Greg - thanks for the lovely feedback. It would be a pleasure to work with you again in the future.

Reply from Donna Hillyer

Working with Donna has been a pleasure. She is professional, communicative, and responsive. She took the time to understand my vision for the project and offered valuable insights and suggestions throughout the editing process. She was adept at identifying areas that needed improvement and provided clear and constructive feedback to help me take my work to the next level. She was willing to ans...

Alice Lapuerta, December 2022

Thanks for the lovely review, Alice. It was a pleasure to work on your book; such a treat of a read!

Reply from Donna Hillyer

Donna was great to work with, very friendly and responsive. I knew my manuscript had issues and Donna’s feedback and instructions have proved to be invaluable. Her assessment was honest and insightful, she understood the vision of what I was trying to achieve and was able to give me the guidance I needed to continue. Thank you x

Aneela Sirfraz, December 2022

Thanks for your review, Aneela; you're most welcome. Wishing you all the best with your next draft, and I'm pleased my feedback and suggestions have given you confidence in your next steps.

Reply from Donna Hillyer

I found working with Donna very valuable. She was quick and punctual, clearly communicating what she could do within a set timeframe, which made the process really easy and efficient. Her professionalism, honest feedback and direct response were very much appreciated. Thank you, Donna.

Hollie Pita-Carr, November 2022

It was a pleasure. Hollie - good luck with the next draft!

Reply from Donna Hillyer