George Lester – Editor

In my time as a freelance editor, I have worked with Vanessa Jones on her YA novel Dance Like No One's Watching, and Birdie Milano on her LGBTQ fiction Boy Meets Ghoul, the sequel to Boy Meets Hamster.

Having my own titles that I am leading the edit on, taking them from first structural edit right through to print

Taking more responsibility of some of the titles I have previously been shadowing

Organizing freelance copyeditors and proofreaders for our front-list titles

Supporting the team on a variety of admin tasks including looking after our submissions log, general upkeep of our contact database and scheduling weekly editorial and pre-acquisition meetings.

Responsible for various backlist titles being reissued, briefing covers and liaising with our design and sales teams to make sure the look is right for the target market.

Shadowing editors on their front-list titles from the first structural edit right through to proof read stage.

Organizing copy, covers and creating video content for sales presentations (3 times a year).

First port of call in our department, the friendly face that people can come to for either answers or direction to the right editor.

Responsible for the diaries of senior team members, arranging meetings with both internal and external contacts at our London offices and Book Fairs.

Minuting weekly editorial, pre-acquisition and creative meetings.

Within a couple of weeks at the company, I had pitched an idea as part of the Bertelsmann Creativity Initiative. My idea was one of twelve chosen (only three of which were from PRH) and I then had the opportunity to present the idea to the CEOs of Bertelsmann, BMG, Fremantle, Penguin Random House and more.