Ema Barnes – Editor

***Currently booking editing slots for March 2026 and later!***

Ema spent over three years at literary agency Park & Fine Literary and Media after working in the rights departments for Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Henry Holt. She worked with authors to sell translation rights to all types of projects including contemporary fiction, popular science, and young adult. In university, Ema wrote her thesis on the portrayal and romanticisation of depression in Young Adult Literature.

Ema is detail oriented and will ask probing questions in order to elevate authors to realize their potential. Her experience selling books into 40+ languages means that she also examines manuscripts with an eye to success in the global markets. She particularly enjoys examining the big picture while developing a manuscript, as well as completing line edits for a final polish. Knowing how complex the publishing industry can be from the outside, she's always happy to answer questions and demystify the publication process.

A native of New Zealand, Ema has called six states and five countries home, and recently spent a winter working in Yellowstone National Park. She is currently living nomadically, but spends a month each year in New York City as well as time in London to keep appraised of the industry from the ground. Her favorite books bring her new perspectives of life, make her feel big emotions, or keep her flipping pages in suspense. When not reading, writing, or editing, Ema is generally watching live music or climbing a mountain.

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Praise for Ema:

"I've never been more excited to keep working on a project." -Owen M.

"Ema has given me a bunch of actionable feedback that has made me think and plan my editing journey more effectively." -Shikha V.

"Ema brings a distinct brand of kindness, humor, and curiosity to this process which made our editorial work together not only easy, but comfortable and exciting! She reminded me that revision should be exciting." -Regan H.