Jesse Shuman

Jesse Shuman – Editor

I'm a passionate editor with a decade of experience in NYC publishing. Currently, I'm a senior editor at Flatiron Books.

Overview

I'm a deeply collaborative and engaged editor who strives to guide authors to the best version of the story they're telling. It's not about my vision, it's about yours and how best to bridge the gap between vision and execution. I try to be a creative partner, to think big picture and in the details of your choices, to be prescriptive, and encourage my writers every step of the way. When it comes to fiction, I'm truly genre omnivorous: mystery and thriller, romance, literary fiction, speculative fiction—you name it, I edit it.

I'm a senior editor at Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan. Previously, I worked for seven years at Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, where I published New York Times bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award–winning fiction by authors like Jennette McCurdy, Catherine Steadman, Chloe Gong, Lee Child & Yasmin Angoe, Jinwoo Chong, Leigh Stein, Megan Cummins, Mary Helen Specht, Shelly Jay Shore, Antonia Angress, among many others.

Authors I have edited have been shortlisted for or won the National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Award, the Plimpton Prize, the O. Henry Prize, the Story Prize, the PEN/Hemingway Award, the VCU Cabell Award, the Goodreads Choice Award, and the ITW Thriller Writer Award for Best Novel. Novels that I've edited have been New York Times Editors' Choice selections, named "Best Books" of the year by major national media outlets, selected for major book clubs. Quotes of mine about the publishing industry have appeared in the WSJ Magazine, Publishers Weekly, and The Atlantic.

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Horror LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller Romance
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Flatiron Books / Macmillan

Apr, 2026 — Present
I acquire, edit, and publish commercial and upmarket fiction. Recently acquired projects include two debut novels: a contemporary work of women's fiction and a literary Southern Gothic. I work closely with internal teams to ensure the best publishing experience for our writers.

Ballantine Books / Penguin Random House

Jul, 2018 — Apr, 2026 (over 7 years)
I edited million-copy bestselling, award–winning, and critically acclaimed fiction at one of the industry's largest commercial imprints, launching successful and award–winning books from conception to publication. Books edited include: HALF HIS AGE by Jennette McCurdy, the novels of Catherine Steadman, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU and CLUB NINE TAILS by Jinwoo Chong, IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS IT'S MEANT FOR YOU by Leigh Stein, RULES FOR GHOSTING by Shelly Jay Shore, and many more.

Portfolio

The Family Game: A Novel

Steadman, Catherine

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
I Leave It Up to You: A Novel

Chong, Jinwoo

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Half His Age: A Novel

McCurdy, Jennette

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
How to Love a Jamaican: Stories

Arthurs, Alexia

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
The Drift: A Novel

Tudor, C. J.

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Small Joys: A Novel

Mensah, Elvin James

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
First Time for Everything: A Novel

Fry, Henry

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
You Love Me: A You Novel

Kepnes, Caroline

Random House Trade Paperbacks

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
For You and Only You: A Joe Goldberg Novel

Kepnes, Caroline

Random House

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Claire, Darling: A Novel

Kazumi, Callie

Bantam

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Sirens & Muses: A Novel

Angress, Antonia

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Club Nine Tails: A Novel

Chong, Jinwoo

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Full Throttle: A Novel

MacLaren, J.K.

Dell

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Mudlark: A Novel

Specht, Mary Helen

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Solomon's Crown: A Novel

Siegel, Natasha

Dell

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Greedy: A Novel

Kazumi, Callie

Bantam

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Two Left Feet: A Novel

Emblidge, Kallie

Dell

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Best Woman: A Novel

Dommu, Rose

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Atomic Hearts: A Novel

Cummins, Megan

Ballantine Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Rules for Ghosting: A Novel

Shore, Shelly Jay

Dell

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Nine Lives: A Novel

Steadman, Catherine

Bantam

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading

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