Eli Keren – Editor

I've spent ten years working in agency and I've seen writers make every mistake you can think of. Whether you're looking for novel edits, proposal restructuring or just ideas workshopping, I know what sells and what doesn't. I aim to be kind and gentle where possible but I don't hold back or dilute the truth: that doesn't get books published. Let me know what you need.

I've got a proven track record in both broad structural edits and close reads, and I always work hard to get a book to exactly where it needs to be. I love getting stuck into a book or proposal, figuring out what it wants to achieve and bridging the gap between where it is and where it wants to be. I have a keen sense for audience experience – I know how to put a reader in the emotional state you want them to be in for your punches to land, whether that be breathtaking drama or world-changing arguments.

As well as helping clients win prizes, I've also been a recurring judge on several industry awards including the Pat Kavanagh Prize, the Page Turner Awards and the Bloomsbury Academic Writing Fellowship. I've had the privilege of working with winners of both the Mann Booker Prize and the Baillie Gifford Prize, and my own clients have won awards including the 2024 Nero Award for Fiction. Plus I once got to sit on stage and judge Jericho Writers' Friday Night Live!

Outside of my work as an agent, I also serve as the treasurer for the Association of Authors’ Agents, and the chair of the AAA’s sub-committee on AI in publishing, where I fight for fair licensing and the recognition of human creative work.

Testimonials

“Lost in the Garden literally wouldn’t be the book it is without Eli’s invaluable input. I trust his insights and his feedback completely – he has a keen eye for plot and structure, and can always pinpoint exactly whereabouts a story might need tightening or tweaking, and what needs to be done to fix it.”

— Adam Leslie

Author of Lost in the Garden, winner of the 2024 Nero Award for Fiction

“Eli has a good eye for detail, is exceptionally thorough whilst reviewing contracts, anticipates my needs before I have to ask for anything, and is not afraid to ask hard questions. He has helped greatly during the development stages of manuscripts and proposals, displaying talent as an editor, alongside being an agent.”

— Evelyn Hollow

Host of Uncanny and author of The Atlas of Paranormal Places

“Quite simply, my book, The Diaries of Mr Lucas, would not exist without Eli. From the very start, he was my best supporter, my toughest critic and my most honest friend - exactly what you need in an editor. Infuriating, incredibly annoying - and pretty much always right: I'd work with him again in a heartbeat.”

— Hugo Greenhalgh

Journalist and author of The Diaries of Mr. Lucas