Jillian Buckley - Editor
Random House editor of prize-winning literary fiction, bestselling commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Affordable and friendly!
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Overview
I'm an associate editor at Penguin Random House, where I work most closely with Hogarth: a highly selective, literary boutique imprint under Random House. I have 6 years of experience editing bestselling and award-winning fiction across the literary and commercial spectrum, as well as a handful of exciting and experimental nonfiction. My editorial career has been defined by being a part of a very small, get-your-hands-dirty team, and I take great pride in working with authors at every stage of the editorial process--from early to advanced stages of writing and editing.
I'm here to be your close reader, careful editor, and overall ally in what can be a personal, strenuous, and important! process: storytelling. I defer to you when it comes to the style, structure, and intensity with which I pay attention to your work. I've written extensive editorial letters outlining where I think a story is succeeding and faltering, identifying the moments or chapters or characters that may need a deeper reconsideration. I'm a good friend of track-changes, and am equally comfortable scribbling in the margins of your pages--cleaning up and clarifying sentences, cracking open small scenes that aren't quite doing what you want them to, tweaking your metaphors--accompanied by a shorter note explaining any patterns I'm noticing, and more macroscopic trends that might need your attention. I'm also happy to offer bold-faced bullet points, if you're looking for more general guidance. In other words, I'm here to live in your story with you as closely as you'd like me to. And if you're not sure what style would be best for your book, let's talk about it.
I'm an incisive and generous editor, and understand acutely what a privilege it is to keep a writer company as they hone their craft. I'm also the daughter of a novelist (fun fact!)--I've spent most of my life learning the sensitive art of workshopping, editing, and altogether spending time with other people's stories. It's a great joy of my life to spend my weekends sprawled on a floor with a laptop or a mess of pages, drinking my 15th cup of coffee of the day, my dog napping next to me. Don't hesitate to holler if you think we might be a good fit--would love to hear from you.
The list of writers and titles I've had the enormous pleasure of working with is long, but includes the
New York Times bestseller NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney; Scotiabank Giller Prize-finalist GREENWOOD by Michael Christie; GOOD MORNING, DESTROYER OF MEN'S SOULS by Nina Renata Aron; short stories by Lauren Groff and Paul Yoon; Barnes & Noble Discover Prize Winner GOLDEN CHILD by Claire Adam; BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS by Lawrence Osborne; WOMEN IN SUNLIGHT by international bestseller Frances Mayes; THE LOST NIGHT by Andrea Bartz; and #1 New York Times bestseller ONE DAY IN DECEMBER by Josie Silver. Of course, if you have any questions about my involvement with any of these particular projects, just ask!
I'm here to be your close reader, careful editor, and overall ally in what can be a personal, strenuous, and important! process: storytelling. I defer to you when it comes to the style, structure, and intensity with which I pay attention to your work. I've written extensive editorial letters outlining where I think a story is succeeding and faltering, identifying the moments or chapters or characters that may need a deeper reconsideration. I'm a good friend of track-changes, and am equally comfortable scribbling in the margins of your pages--cleaning up and clarifying sentences, cracking open small scenes that aren't quite doing what you want them to, tweaking your metaphors--accompanied by a shorter note explaining any patterns I'm noticing, and more macroscopic trends that might need your attention. I'm also happy to offer bold-faced bullet points, if you're looking for more general guidance. In other words, I'm here to live in your story with you as closely as you'd like me to. And if you're not sure what style would be best for your book, let's talk about it.
I'm an incisive and generous editor, and understand acutely what a privilege it is to keep a writer company as they hone their craft. I'm also the daughter of a novelist (fun fact!)--I've spent most of my life learning the sensitive art of workshopping, editing, and altogether spending time with other people's stories. It's a great joy of my life to spend my weekends sprawled on a floor with a laptop or a mess of pages, drinking my 15th cup of coffee of the day, my dog napping next to me. Don't hesitate to holler if you think we might be a good fit--would love to hear from you.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Coming of Age
Contemporary Romance
Horror
Literary Fiction
Poetry
Psychological Thriller
Short Story
Certifications
- Columbia Publishing Course (2014)
- BA in English and Creative Writing from Oberlin College
Awards
- Penguin Random House Recognition Award (2017 and 2018)
- Phi Beta Kappa scholar
Work experience
Associate Editor
Penguin Random House
August, 2016
–
Present
(over 6 years)
Senior Assistant
The Clegg Agency
August, 2014
–
August, 2016
(about 2 years)
• Hired as an intern and was promoted twice
• Read and evaluate queries (slush pile and referrals)
• Edit clients’ manuscripts, often over many months, and write accompanying letter to editors upon submission
Portfolio (14 selected works)
Greenwood: A Novel
Michael Christie
A magnificent generational saga that charts a family’s rise and fall, its secrets and inherited crimes, and the conflicted relationship with the source of its fortune—trees—from one of Canada’s most acclaimed novelistsLonglisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize • “A rugged, riveting novel . . . This superb family saga will satisfy fans of Richard Powers’s The Overstory.”—Publishers Weekly (star... read more
The Lost Night: A Novel
Andrea Bartz
“Tightly paced and skillfully plotted, The Lost Night is a remarkable debut.”—Jessica Knoll, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive What really happened the night Edie died? Years later, her best friend Lindsay will learn how unprepared she is for the truth. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BuzzFeed • Glamour • Real Simple • Marie Claire • Library Journal • Booklist... read more
Beautiful Animals: A Novel
Lawrence Osborne
"Let’s not mince words. This is a great book. Truly difficult to put down... sophisticated, smart and uncomfortable, and the story is cracking." – Lionel Shriver, Washington Post "Startlingly good...Osborne has been described as an heir to Graham Greene, and he shares with Greene an interest in what might be called the moral thriller.” – Katie Kitamura, New York Times Book Review"A seductively... read more
Did You Ever Have a Family
Bill Clegg
USA TODAY BESTSELLER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD, MAN BOOKER PRIZE, PEN/ROBERT W. BINGHAM PRIZE, AND ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE • AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Amazon • Library Journal • Booklist • NPR • Kirkus Reviews • Guardian • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Google Play • Kobo • Literary Hub • Powell’s • Indie... read more
A scorching memoir of a love affair with an addict, weaving personal reckoning with psychology and history to understand the nature of addiction, codependency, and our appetite for obsessive love “The disease he has is addiction,” Nina Renata Aron writes of her boyfriend, K. “The disease I have is loving him.” Their love affair is dramatic, urgent, overwhelming—an intoxicating antidote to the ... read more
Godspeed: A Memoir
Casey Legler
“A memoir for our times.” —Michael Stipe “A coming-of-age drama captured through poetic prose and convincing honesty.” —Kirkus Reviews“I swim for every chance to get wasted—after every meet, every weekend, every travel trip. This is what I look forward to and what I tell no one: the burn of it down my throat, to my soul curled up in my lungs, the sharpest pain all over it—it seizes and stretch... read more
Golden Child: A Novel
Claire Adam
A deeply affecting debut novel set in Trinidad, following the lives of a family as they navigate impossible choices about scarcity, loyalty, and loveWINNER OF THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE • “Golden Child is a stunning novel written with force and beauty. Though true to herself, Adam's work stands tall beside icons of her tradition like V.S. Naipaul.”—Jennifer Clement, author of Gun LoveRural Trin... read more
Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories
Mariana Enriquez
In these wildly imaginative, devilishly daring tales of the macabre, internationally bestselling author Mariana Enriquez brings contemporary Argentina to vibrant life as a place where shocking inequality, violence, and corruption are the law of the land, while military dictatorship and legions of desaparecidos loom large in the collective memory. In these stories, reminiscent of Shirley Jackso... read more
The Circus: A Novel
Jonas Karlsson
A real-life vanishing act leaves one man looking for his missing friend in this Kafkaesque new novel from the author of The Room and The Invoice. NAMED ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2020 BY The New York Times • BookRiot • The A.V. Club • GizmodoThe gentle, off-beat narrator of The Circus is perfectly content with his quiet life. By day he works in a bakery, and by night he obsessively o... read more
One Day in December: A Novel
Josie Silver
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick“Get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind romance. It absolutely charmed me.”—Reese Witherspoon“Josie Silver writes with a warmth so palpable her characters sneak their way into your heart and stay for a long time.”—Jill Santopolo, New York Times-bestselling author of The Light We Lost Two people. Ten chances. One... read more
Darling Days: A Memoir
iO Tillett Wright
Born into the beautiful bedlam of downtown New York in the eighties, iO Tillett Wright came of age at the intersection of punk, poverty, heroin, and art. This was a world of self-invented characters, glamorous superstars, and strung-out sufferers, ground zero of drag and performance art. Still, no personality was more vibrant and formidable than iO’s mother’s. Rhonna, a showgirl and young wido... read more
The Drama Teacher: A Novel
Koren Zailckas
By the New York Times bestselling author of Mother, Mother and Smashed comes a propulsive new thriller: the story of a desperate and devious woman who will do anything to give her family a better life Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York. Her life is complicated by the usual tedium and stressors—young children, marriage, mo... read more
Women in Sunlight: A Novel
Frances Mayes
The story of four American strangers who bond in Italy and change their lives over the course of an exceptional year, from the bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun. Don’t miss Frances Mayes in PBS’s Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special! She watches from her terrazza as the three American women carry their luggage into the stone villa down the hill. Who are they, and what brings them to thi... read more
The Waters & The Wild: A Novel
DeSales Harrison
Haunted by a past crime and a past lover, a psychoanalyst tries to protect his daughter from his mistakes—but at what cost?“This dazzling gothic-tinged thriller takes us deep into a labyrinth of secrets, lies, and deceptions.”—Dan Chaon, New York Times bestselling author of Ill Will Daniel Abend is a single parent in New York City, with a successful therapy practice and a comfortable life: an ... read more
Jillian has 10 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
I honestly couldn't have asked for a better editing experience. It's clear that Jillian not only is great at editing, but she also has a passion for good story telling, and a talent for bring the heart out of your story in ways you didn't even realize were possible. This was my first time reaching out to an editor, and Jillian took great time and care with a project that meant a lot to me. What...
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Adam Snell, July 2022
My review comes a little later because life has been beyond hectic these last few months, but here we are, giving Jillian her very well deserved 5 stars review. Not only did she respect my tone as an author and the story itself, but she made it even better. Jillian made me feel proud of the final version of the book like I never thought I would. She has great attention to detail and is harsh, b...
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LA CANNON, June 2022
The toughest part in writing a short story is the opening line. Jillian gave helpful tips on improving my story's introduction paragraph to readers. Her assessments were on target. I am looking forward to working with her on future projects. Thanks Jillian
Love & Life Tom
Tom Brown, March 2022
Honestly one of the best experiences I have had with any one from any line of work. Communicates well and is there as person and not robotic. Thank you Jillian I can't write enough complements.
Humberto Chaparro, October 2020
Last month, I had the pleasure of working with Jillian. Jillian is a masterful editor and an expert at the art of editing.
Jillian has the wonderful ability to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses in a story, from the big picture plot down to the microscopic details. Her keen insight and vast experience enabled me to revise sections of the novel that needed work and embellish upon o...
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Kamille Terrill, July 2020
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