I am a freelance editor with over 25 years of in-house experience in children's publishing.
Through commissioning and delivering exciting picture books, character brands, young fiction and gift
publishing, I helped to shape and build a successful children’s list.
My stable of authors and illustrators included Richard Byrne, Corrinne Averiss, Fiona Woodcock, Sean Sims, Layn Marlow, Tim Warnes, Lalalimola, Mark Sperring, Lauren Child, Briony May Smith, Tom Moorhouse, Ross Collins, Rebecca Ashdown, Sarah McIntyre, Valerie Thomas, Korky Paul and Simon Rickerty.
• Commissioned and edited commercially successful titles with strong market and customer appeal.
• Attracted high-profile author and illustrator talent to the list, including David Roberts, Yuval Zommer
and Catherine Rayner.
• Generated new ideas, characters and concepts for pre-school titles, picture books and young fiction
before bringing creative teams together to realise them.
• Developed storylines and wrote texts.
• Rejuvenated backlist gems into new formats appropriate for today’s market.
• Provided trusted author and illustrator care, including career and creative development support.
• Offered industry insights to organisations such as SCBWI, Bath Spa University and The Story Museum
through one-to-one mentoring, panel events and presentations.
Richard Byrne
When her dog disappears into the gutter of the book, Bella calls for help. But when the helpers disappear too, Bella realizes it will take more than a tug on the leash to put things right. Cleverly using the physicality of the book, This book just ate my dog! is inventive, ingenious, and just pure kid-friendly fun!
Yuval Zommer
This Christmas, families can together this heartfelt, gorgeous holiday story about a lonely little Christmas tree that learns what it means to be loved—with a powerful message to children that they are perfect just as they are.A small, crookled fir tree is left all alone after the others near it in the forest are chosen by families as Christmas to bring home. But when the forest animals gather... read more
Corrinne Averiss
As Miki the polar bear romps in the snow, he spots a bright red dot far off in the distance. It turns out to be . . . a little girl with a twinkly face and gurgling laugh! Now Miki has someone to play with. Together the brand-new friends toss snowballs, have icy adventures, and eventually find their way home to snuggle with their mothers. Wonderfully sweet and spare illustrations capture a win... read more
Jane Clarke
We'll be there in a whisker!On a bright sunny day, Thistledown Meadow is the perfect place for a nature walk. But when frisky little kitten Ginger gets stung by a bee, it's up to Dr. KittyCat to come to her rescue!This book has two-color art inside! Supercute photographs of real puppies and kittens combine with hand-drawn blue line art for a completely unique look.
Ann Bonwill
Title: I Don't Want to Be a Pea! <>Binding: Hardcover <>Author: AnnBonwill <>Publisher: AtheneumBooksforYoungReaders
Richard Byrne
The littlest always goes last―that’s the elephant rule. But Elphie, the littlest elephant, is determined to go first. And where there’s a will, there’s a way! With a little help from you, reader.From the author-illustrator of This book just ate my dog! comes a new hilarious interactive picture book.
Jenica Leah, March 2021
Reply from Helen Mortimer
Juhi A, August 2020
Reply from Helen Mortimer
Jenica Leah, July 2020
Reply from Helen Mortimer
Freeman Ng, June 2020
Reply from Helen Mortimer
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Editor/copy editor/proofreader/general wrangler of words, specialising in non-fiction and YA.
Düsseldorf, Germany
Editor with 8 years of publishing experience, formerly at Penguin Random House, specializing in romance, young adult, and mystery,
New York, NY, USA