Jillian Buckley – Editor

I worked as an associate editor at Penguin Random House, specifically Hogarth: a highly selective, literary boutique imprint under Random House. I have over 7 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.

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; THE MIDCOAST by Adam White; Booker Prize-longlisted AN ISLAND by Karen Jennings; HOUSEMATES by Emma Copley Eisenburg; 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; 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.

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.