Jordan Mulligan - Editor
An experienced editor specialising in literary and historical fiction, as well as memoir, looking to help make your work the best it can be.
Request a quote
Verified identity
Overview
I'm an experienced editor working at the literary end of book publishing, across both fiction and non-fiction. I have had a hand in some of the biggest books in the industry today, but my passion is for helping to hone exciting new voices and help them find a readership.
Working as an Assistant Editor at 4th Estate I've been closely involved in publishing huge names like Jonathan Franzen, Hilary Mantel, Jon McGregor and Elizabeth Day.
But the most rewarding aspect has been building a list of my own; discovering talented authors like Kirstin Innes, and helping to draw the best out of her writing and bring it to a wide audience. I've taken non-fiction all the way from vague outline, to critically acclaimed finished book, working closely with the author to help shape their vision and make sure their voice shines through. I've also taken finished novels and found the one or two crucial little flaws that can be improved upon to take a book from good to great. Working hands on with a text and with an author is the reason I got into the industry, and is the thing I still love most about it.
During my time at 4th Estate I've also seen thousands of query letters from authors and agents. It was my responsibility to read them, and pass on to my superiors the titles I thought worth pursuing. I know what makes a submission stand out from the crowd and catch a publisher's eye.
'Jordan is hands down the best editor I've worked with. His passion for and championing of my book, his clear understanding of and support for what I was trying to do and his light but effective touch on line edits all contributed hugely to the success of my novel Scabby Queen. I would work with him again in a heartbeat' Kirstin Innes, author of Scabby Queen
Working as an Assistant Editor at 4th Estate I've been closely involved in publishing huge names like Jonathan Franzen, Hilary Mantel, Jon McGregor and Elizabeth Day.
But the most rewarding aspect has been building a list of my own; discovering talented authors like Kirstin Innes, and helping to draw the best out of her writing and bring it to a wide audience. I've taken non-fiction all the way from vague outline, to critically acclaimed finished book, working closely with the author to help shape their vision and make sure their voice shines through. I've also taken finished novels and found the one or two crucial little flaws that can be improved upon to take a book from good to great. Working hands on with a text and with an author is the reason I got into the industry, and is the thing I still love most about it.
During my time at 4th Estate I've also seen thousands of query letters from authors and agents. It was my responsibility to read them, and pass on to my superiors the titles I thought worth pursuing. I know what makes a submission stand out from the crowd and catch a publisher's eye.
'Jordan is hands down the best editor I've worked with. His passion for and championing of my book, his clear understanding of and support for what I was trying to do and his light but effective touch on line edits all contributed hugely to the success of my novel Scabby Queen. I would work with him again in a heartbeat' Kirstin Innes, author of Scabby Queen
Languages
English (AUS)
English (CAN)
English (NZ)
English (SA)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Political Science & Current Affairs
Fiction
Coming of Age
Contemporary Fiction
Historical Fiction
LGBTQ Fiction
Literary Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Certifications
- MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow
- MA in English Literature from the University of Glasgow
Work experience
Assistant Editor
4th Estate, HarperCollins Publishers
September, 2016
–
Present
(almost 6 years)
Working as an Assistant Editor has given me the opportunity to work on some of the biggest titles in the industry. I've been involved in publishing Jonathan Franzen, Joyce Carol Oates, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche and Hilary Mantel.
But it has also given me a chance to discover authors of my own. I've taken non-fiction all the way from vague outline, to critically acclaimed finished book, working closely with the author to help shape their vision and make sure their voice shines through. I've also taken finished novels and found the one or two crucial little flaws that can be improved upon to take a book from good to great. Working hands on with a text and with an author is the reason I got into the industry, and is the thing I still love most about it.
Over my time at 4th Estate I've also seen thousands of query letters from authors and agents. It was my responsibility to read them, and pass on to my superiors the titles I thought worth pursuing. I know what makes a submission stand out from the crowd and catch a publisher's eye
Portfolio (7 selected works)
’This is essential’ Margaret Atwood on Twitter‘She's one of the most acute and perceptive analysts of the furtive growth of fascism. Everyone should know about this’ Philip Pullman’Vibrates with outrage’ The Times‘It couldn’t happen here’Ece Temelkuran heard reasonable people in Britain say it the night of the Brexit vote.She heard reasonable people in America say it the night Trump’s election... read more
Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars.: A Novel
Joyce Carol Oates
The bonds of family are tested in the wake of a profound tragedy, providing a look at the darker side of our society by one of our most enduringly popular and important writersNight Sleep Death The Stars is a gripping examination of contemporary America through the prism of a family tragedy: when a powerful parent dies, each of his adult children reacts in startling and unexpected ways, and hi... read more
Black Gold: The Dark History of Coffee
Antony Wild
Your morning flat-white helped shape the modern world ‘Elegantly written, witty and so wide in scope, so rich in detail and so thought provoking’ Joanna Blythman It may seem like just a drink, but coffee's dark journey from the highlands of Ethiopia to the highstreets of every town in the country links alchemy and anthropology, poetry and politics, science and slavery. Plots have been hatched,... read more
Scabby Queen
Kirstin Innes
Antkind: A Novel
Charlie Kaufman
The bold and boundlessly original debut novel from the Oscar®-winning screenwriter of Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Synecdoche, New York. B. Rosenberger Rosenberg, neurotic and underappreciated film critic (failed academic, filmmaker, paramour, shoe salesman who sleeps in a sock drawer), stumbles upon a hitherto unseen film by an enigmatic outside... read more
Inspired by her hugely popular podcast, How To Fail is Elizabeth Day’s brilliantly funny, painfully honest and insightful celebration of things going wrong. This is a book for anyone who has ever failed. Which means it’s a book for everyone. If I have learned one thing from this shockingly beautiful venture called life, it is this: failure has taught me lessons I would never otherwise have und... read more
Hazards of Time Travel: A Novel
Joyce Carol Oates
An ingenious, dystopian novel of one young woman’s resistance against the constraints of an oppressive society, from the inventive imagination of Joyce Carol Oates “Time travel” — and its hazards—are made literal in this astonishing new novel in which a recklessly idealistic girl dares to test the perimeters of her tightly controlled (future) world and is punished by being sent back in time to... read more
Jordan has 19 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Jordan was great to work with. His feedback was detailed and thorough and he is always willing to help by answering further questions. Would highly recommend.
Andrew Quinn, June 2022
Choosing an editor on the Reedsy site is not an easy task. They’ve all got years of experience, reams of great reviews and, aside from those that focus on specific genres, very little that differentiates them.
As a first-time author, my book, while not autobiographical, contains a lot of me stuff. I was anxious about allowing some unknown third party to mess with my memories, but I needed h...
Read more
James Hulett, June 2022
I am an older, first-time (historical) novelist with no great aspirations, at my age, for fame and fortune through writing, and I have been somewhat aware of ageism in the publishing industry. Yet, Jordan has been unfailingly courteous and encouraging. I am still mulling over his editorial report, which not only highlighted and gave substance and rationale to areas I already had concerns about...
Read more
Elaine Pryce, June 2022
Reply from Jordan Mulligan
Jordan Mulligan is a hard-working professional who has become a valuable advisor in my quest toward publication. He is punctual and always available. He is honest yet compassionate in his constructive criticism, and his insights have helped improve both my book’s manuscript and the query letters and synopses that are necessary in the search for an agent and publisher. I give Jordan my highest r...
Read more
Ken Canedo, May 2022
Reply from Jordan Mulligan
Good experience with Jordan. His feedback was thoughtful, balanced and, best of all, helpful.
Tim James, May 2022
Reply from Jordan Mulligan
Explore the Reedsy Community
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Lisa White
As an editor with over 25 years' experience specializing in nature and memoir, I can help you take your project to the next level.
Boston, MA, USA
Gail Fay
Copy editor with 13 years' experience helping authors produce clear, polished nonfiction books: biography/memoir, self-help, how-to, sports
Los Angeles, United States
