Lara Hinchberger – Editor

Since the start of the freelance phase of my editing career in 2014 I have worked with publishers both large and small and with independent clients both seasoned and just beginning their creative journeys. I have loved continuing to edit authors I published while in-house (KURT PALKA, MAUREEN JENNINGS, and THOMAS TROFIMUK for example) as well as beginning new relationships. A few of the latter include the internationally bestselling author Eva Stachniak, (on the historical novel THE CHOSEN MAIDEN); Shane Peacock (on the YA gothic DARK MISSIONS OF EDGAR BRIM trilogy ); and Jay Hosking (on his mind-bending debut THREE YEARS WITH THE RAT). On the non-fiction side, I have worked with accomplished art professionals on the Art Canada Institute’s LIFE AND WORK online book series, including the volumes on LIONEL LEMOINE FITZGERALD, FRANCOISE SULLIVAN, and AGNES MARTIN.

In 2017/18 I pressed pause (mostly!) on my freelance business and went back in-house for a year and a bit at Penguin Canada. My acquisitions included new work from acclaimed Canadians novelists Karma Brown (the Number 1 national bestseller RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE) and Nicole Lundrigan (HIDEAWAY) and international debuts from Jo Jakeman (STICKS AND STONES [UK]/THE EXES' REVENGE [CA/US]) and Hazel Prior (ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER). I worked on the final editorial stages of Thea Lim’s Giller-prize shortlisted AN OCEAN OF MINUTES and was part of the stellar international team supporting Guy Gavriel Kay’s newest sweeping epic of an alternate past, A BRIGHTNESS LONG AGO.

I joined historic Canadian publisher McClelland and Stewart as Executive Editor in 2007. There I was involved with all aspects of acquiring, editing, and shepherding onto the public stage a wide range of works by acclaimed and bestselling Canadian and international writers. As always, the most satisfying part of my job was working intensively with my authors, from mystery masters such as Maureen Jennings and Gail Bowen to Canadian literary lights such as Joan Thomas (CURIOSITY; THE OPENING SKY) and Katrina Onstad (EVERYBODY HAS EVERYTHING) to international stars such as Sarah Waters (THE LITTLE STRANGER; THE PAYING GUESTS) and Tash Aw (MAP OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD) to bring their beautiful, thoughtful, exciting words and ideas to their fullest potential.

I began my career in trade publishing in 2003 at Doubleday Canada, where it was exciting to be involved with the beginnings of Doubleday’s international imprint, Bond Street Books, whose early lists featured debuts by Chris Cleave, Diana Evans, and David Wroblewski. On the domestic front, I acquired both fiction such as CONCEIT, Mary Novik’s award-winning novel of 17th-century London, and voice-driven narrative non-fiction such as Natalie MacLean’s acclaimed RED, WHITE, AND DRUNK ALL OVER: A WINE-SOAKED JOURNEY FROM GRAPE TO GLASS.