Jo Morton – Editor

I switched to focus on my freelance business in 2018 after amassing over 25 years’ in-house project management, copy editing and proofreading experience. This experience came from working, first, on legal publications for Jordan Publishing (now part of LexisNexis) and, then, on academic and more general nonfiction for award-winning independent publisher Policy Press (now Bristol University Press). On going solo, my intention was twofold: to diversify the work I do to include the kinds of books I read for leisure, particularly biography and social and family history; and to have more time to undertake collaborative work directly with authors.

My aim has always been to make these collaborations a positive all-round experience, so I've been delighted to receive comments such as:

— 'You've been amazing. I have never been involved in such a stress-free book' (from a historian and senior academic at The Open University)

— '... a joy to work with - very efficient and very responsive and a great colleague' (from an emeritus professor in social work)

When copy editing, I try to tread gently, guiding, shaping and suggesting alternative approaches rather than imposing hard-and-fast rules (except where strictly prescribed by the publisher), and recognise the importance of staying attuned to each author's individual style.

My portfolio reflects a leaning towards themes of fairness, social justice and human rights and responsibilities; and I'm also interested in the ways learning from other cultures and eras may be applied to benefit the future.

I hold a BA in French, which helps me to resolve more specific issues facing francophone authors writing in English, and have previously enjoyed working with Charles Devellennes on 'The Gilets Jaunes and the New Social Contract' and 'The Macron Régime' and Jean-Philippe Robé on 'Property, Power and Politics' (all published by Bristol University Press).