Emma Smith – Editor

I am an editor and book consultant specialising in non-fiction, with over 13 years of experience in ‘Big Five’ publishing houses. During my time at Penguin Random House and Hachette, I led an imprint and had the joy of working with authors across bestselling memoir, comedy, nature, history, science, music and much more.

I love books with big heart and a spark of entertainment, or writing that opens up new worlds of understanding and inspiration. I have published No.1 Sunday Times bestsellers, award-winning campaigners, world-leading experts, renowned historians, comedy superstars, CIA agents, poets, books that became major feature films and TV dramas and memoir nominated for top literary prizes.

In March 2026, I swapped the corporate publishing world for freelancing, and am now working closely with publishers, literary agents, authors and talent managers across the industry. As a sensitive, sharp and thoughtful editor with a commercial eye, my role is to make a book shine for its audience. Please get in touch to find out what I can do for your project; I offer book coaching, project editing, structural editing, idea development and editorial consultancy.