Hannah Sheppard - Editor

I'm a freelance editor working through literary consultancies and directly with authors. I can offer editorial reports focusing on structural development as well as line editing but I don't offer copy/proof reading.

I ran the YA and crossover list at Headline and am proud to have commissioned, amongst others, Julianna Baggott’s PURE trilogy, gorgeous contemporary romance from Jennifer E. Smith, illustrated YA novels from Cathy Brett, teen horror from Andrew Hammond and stunning debut HEART-SHAPED BRUISE by Tanya Byrne which was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Dagger and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award. Tanya was also shortlisted for New Writer of the Year at the National Book Awards.

I worked my way up from Editorial Secretary to Assistant editor during the 5 years I worked at Macmillan Children's Books. I supported the senior editors in the department in the publication of their authors (Judy Blume, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Eva Ibbotson, Meg Cabot, Francis Hardinge) and started to commission my own list.

City of Fae

Pippa DaCosta

Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't feel. Feel, but never ever love. From the moment Alina touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in. Below ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot lose, but for one small p... read more

Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't feel. Feel, but never ever love. From the moment Alina touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in. Below ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot lose, but for one small p... read more

Everything Is Fine (And Other Lies I Tell Myself)

Cathy Brett

Interwoven with tales of World War I, this is a story about growing up, moving on and the strength of a family.Things haven't been going so well for fifteen-year-old Esther Armstrong. With her brother Max - her closest ally - absent, she's forced to face everything alone, not least her parents' heated arguments. As the summer holidays stretch endlessly ahead, she's desperate for something, any... read more

Interwoven with tales of World War I, this is a story about growing up, moving on and the strength of a family.Things haven't been going so well for fifteen-year-old Esther Armstrong. With her brother Max - her closest ally - absent, she's forced to face everything alone, not least her parents' heated arguments. As the summer holidays stretch endlessly ahead, she's desperate for something, any... read more

Follow Me Down

Tanya Byrne

The sensationally good Tanya Byrne returns with her new novel - a dark, compulsive tale of obsession and betrayalWhen sixteen-year-old Adamma Okomma, a Nigerian diplomat's daughter, arrives at exclusive Crofton College in Wiltshire, she is immediately drawn to beautiful, tempestuous, unpredictable Scarlett Chiltern. Adamma and Scarlett become inseparable - until they fall for the same guy. Soo... read more

The sensationally good Tanya Byrne returns with her new novel - a dark, compulsive tale of obsession and betrayalWhen sixteen-year-old Adamma Okomma, a Nigerian diplomat's daughter, arrives at exclusive Crofton College in Wiltshire, she is immediately drawn to beautiful, tempestuous, unpredictable Scarlett Chiltern. Adamma and Scarlett become inseparable - until they fall for the same guy. Soo... read more

Counting Stars

Keris Stainton

A new life in a new city - what could possibly go wrong . . . ?When eighteen-year-old Anna leaves school and moves to Liverpool, she feels like her life is finally beginning. She's landed her dream job at a theatre, and she's moving into an exciting (if not slightly run-down) houseshare on a buzzing street lined with shops, bars, and buskers. Best of all, her new flatmates are kind, welcoming ... read more

A new life in a new city - what could possibly go wrong . . . ?When eighteen-year-old Anna leaves school and moves to Liverpool, she feels like her life is finally beginning. She's landed her dream job at a theatre, and she's moving into an exciting (if not slightly run-down) houseshare on a buzzing street lined with shops, bars, and buskers. Best of all, her new flatmates are kind, welcoming ... read more

Alone

D J Brazier

The trip of a lifetime - that’s what it was supposed to be, paid for with money Gran left thirteen-year old Sam in her will, but when the small plane taking Sam and his Dad back to the airport crashes in the jungle, Sam is left alone and terrified.As time passes with no sign of rescue, Sam grows weaker and has to dig deep to find levels of resolve and resourcefulness he never knew he had in or... read more

The trip of a lifetime - that’s what it was supposed to be, paid for with money Gran left thirteen-year old Sam in her will, but when the small plane taking Sam and his Dad back to the airport crashes in the jungle, Sam is left alone and terrified.As time passes with no sign of rescue, Sam grows weaker and has to dig deep to find levels of resolve and resourcefulness he never knew he had in or... read more

Pendulum

Adam Hamdy

James Patterson has hailed Adam Hamdy's PENDULUM as 'one of the best thrillers of the year' saying he read it in 'one gloriously suspenseful weekend'. A photo-journalist is targeted for death in this high-concept, twisting, dangerous journey through a digital underworld. If you love Simon Kernick and Terry Hayes' I AM PILGRIM, read this.You wake. Confused. Disorientated.A noose is round your n... read more

James Patterson has hailed Adam Hamdy's PENDULUM as 'one of the best thrillers of the year' saying he read it in 'one gloriously suspenseful weekend'. A photo-journalist is targeted for death in this high-concept, twisting, dangerous journey through a digital underworld. If you love Simon Kernick and Terry Hayes' I AM PILGRIM, read this.You wake. Confused. Disorientated.A noose is round your n... read more

Eliza Rose

Lucy Worsley

The captivating debut children's novel from popular television historian Lucy Worsley is an exciting and charming glimpse behind the scenes of the Tudor court. I would often wonder about my future husband. A knight? A duke? A stable boy?Of course the last was just a wicked fancy.Eliza Rose Camperdowne is young and headstrong, but she knows her duty well. As the only daughter of a noble family,... read more

The captivating debut children's novel from popular television historian Lucy Worsley is an exciting and charming glimpse behind the scenes of the Tudor court. I would often wonder about my future husband. A knight? A duke? A stable boy?Of course the last was just a wicked fancy.Eliza Rose Camperdowne is young and headstrong, but she knows her duty well. As the only daughter of a noble family,... read more

Waiting for Callback

Perdita Cargill, Honor Cargill

Geek Girl meets Fame meets New Girl in this brilliantly funny new series! When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can't be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of 'Dead Girl Number Three' without losing hope? And who knew that actors were actually supposed to be multi-lingua... read more

Geek Girl meets Fame meets New Girl in this brilliantly funny new series! When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can't be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of 'Dead Girl Number Three' without losing hope? And who knew that actors were actually supposed to be multi-lingua... read more

Guess Who?

Chris McGeorge

'Boils with claustrophobic intensity. Packed with gripping twists and turns, Guess Who? is an inventive, entertaining locked room mystery that kept me utterly hooked.' Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum 'An ingenious twisty mystery in a totally unique setting.' Claire McGowan, author of Blood TideAt eleven years old, Morgan Sheppard solved the murder of his Maths teacher when everyone else believe... read more

'Boils with claustrophobic intensity. Packed with gripping twists and turns, Guess Who? is an inventive, entertaining locked room mystery that kept me utterly hooked.' Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum 'An ingenious twisty mystery in a totally unique setting.' Claire McGowan, author of Blood TideAt eleven years old, Morgan Sheppard solved the murder of his Maths teacher when everyone else believe... read more

Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil

Melina Marchetta

"More than a crime story; it's jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans." --Library JournalIn the wake of a devastating bombing, a father risks everything to find out who was responsible.When Bish Ortley, a recently suspended cop, receives word that a bus carrying his daughter has been bombed, he rushes to be by her side. A suspect has alrea... read more

"More than a crime story; it's jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans." --Library JournalIn the wake of a devastating bombing, a father risks everything to find out who was responsible.When Bish Ortley, a recently suspended cop, receives word that a bus carrying his daughter has been bombed, he rushes to be by her side. A suspect has alrea... read more

The Dreamsnatcher

Abi Elphinstone

Twelve-year-old Moll Pecksniff wakes one night in the middle of the forest, lured there by a recurring nightmare - the one with the drums and the rattles and the masks. The Dreamsnatcher is waiting. He has already taken her dreams and now he wants her life. Because Moll is more important than she knows… The Oracle Bones foretold that she and Gryff, a wildcat that has always been by her side, a... read more

Twelve-year-old Moll Pecksniff wakes one night in the middle of the forest, lured there by a recurring nightmare - the one with the drums and the rattles and the masks. The Dreamsnatcher is waiting. He has already taken her dreams and now he wants her life. Because Moll is more important than she knows… The Oracle Bones foretold that she and Gryff, a wildcat that has always been by her side, a... read more

Summer of No Regrets

Kate Mallinder

After their exams, four sixteen-year-old best friends pledge to live a summer regret-free, doing what they want to do however much it scares them: Sasha agrees to spend the holiday with her father in Geneva, having not seen him for six years, but is not expecting his new girlfriend, or the young man in the cafe. Shy Hetal decides to go to science camp, and finds a new competitive spirit. Nell ... read more

After their exams, four sixteen-year-old best friends pledge to live a summer regret-free, doing what they want to do however much it scares them: Sasha agrees to spend the holiday with her father in Geneva, having not seen him for six years, but is not expecting his new girlfriend, or the young man in the cafe. Shy Hetal decides to go to science camp, and finds a new competitive spirit. Nell ... read more