Duncan Proudfoot – Editor

I am a non-fiction publisher with over two decades of experience in the UK publishing industry, in London, for both corporate and independent publishers, including the Little, Brown Book Group (part of Hachette UK), Quarto and award-winning independent Constable & Robinson Ltd. I have a BA in English from the University of Cape Town and an MA in History from the University of London. I have published hundreds of profitable non-fiction titles of many different kinds, from true crime, humour and puzzle books to innovative popular science, politics, history and memoir, including 'Dr Chintal’s Kitchen', '100 Great Black Britons' and William Palmer’s 'In Love with Hell'.

I love working closely with authors at any stage of their writing project: from putting together a proposal for an agent to putting the finishing touches to a manuscript. If possible, it’s always good to meet in person, but I’m very good at long-range relationships, too. I’m particularly interested in stories that deserve to be told, but may be struggling to find a publisher or outlet. My aim is always a positive, productive relationship in pursuit of a goal, even if that goal may sometimes feel unattainable.

‘My latest book, "Love, Anger & Betrayal: Just Stop Oil’s Young Climate Campaigners", is the only book I’ve written that hasn’t been published by a mainstream publisher – and only now do I understand just how much goes on in that process that an author never sees!

‘I really couldn’t have been more fortunate in being taken on by Duncan to “hold my hand” through this much more independent publishing process, from “raw text” to “off to the printer”, both in terms of high-level advice and detailed support on developing a style guide, copy editing, cover design and so on. I would, quite literally, have been lost without that support.’

Jonathon Porritt