Hannah Sheppard – Editor

Please note, because I offer freelance edits around my literary agency work my time is limited and I get booked up well in advance - if you're looking for someone to start immediately it's unlikely I'll be able to help - but if you're planning ahead and looking to book something in for a month or so from now please do get in touch. I am currently only offering submission package reviews rather than full manuscript reads.
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I worked in house as an editor for over a decade before making the switch to become a literary agent working across children's fiction (middle grade, teen and YA) and adult fiction (crime/thriller and women's fiction).

My interest in editing was sparked by a love of stories. One of my earliest memories is being captivated by the unfolding magic of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and spending the next year hopefully investigating any antique wardrobe I encountered in the hope of finding an entrance to Narnia.

I carry this passion for stories into my work as a freelance editor and literary agent. As a teenager I was an avid reader of detective and mystery stories (Nancy Drew was my hero) and I harboured a secret ambition to become a police investigator. Over the years of working in publishing (at Macmillan Children's Books and Headline, part of the Hachette group) I’ve convinced myself that being an editor is not dissimilar to being a detective. When I’m helping an author develop a novel I’m looking for the holes in the plot, asking the questions that haven’t been covered yet and ensuring everything’s as clear and true to the story as possible.