Kate Ellis - Editor
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Editor & proofreader with seven years' experience at HarperCollins and indie publishers. Specialising in commercial women's fiction.
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Overview
My love for books has taken me from little old South Wales to the sunny shores of Greece, to the smoggy streets of London and back again. I’ve worked in both the indie and corporate worlds, cutting my editorial teeth at HarperCollins Publishers and small independents.
My speciality lies in commercial fiction: women’s fiction, historical, crime andthriller; with a dash of literary. I carry out all editorial services: structural editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, editorial critique, beta reading and agency letters. My perferred genre is women's fiction (just take a look at some of the titles I've worked on below), particularly romance and weepies.
I’ve had the pleasure of working around and learning from some of the best editors and publishers in the trade industry, and with some truly gifted and wonderful authors. I have a keen eye for a good story and revel in the opportunity to bring stories to life.
'Kate is such a wonderfully positive person. She’s a complete joy to work with and hugely enthusiastic. She has such a natural instinct for editorial improvements and a keen eye for detail. I highly recommend her.' Natasha Harding, Associate Publisher Bookouture
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Fiction
Crime & Mystery
Historical Fiction
Holiday
Romance
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- Progress in Editorial Skills: Copy Editing and Proofreading (Publishing Training Centre)
- Advanced Copy Editing (Publishing Training Centre)
- Editing in Word (Publishing Training Centre)
Awards
- Professional Development Award: Publishing (City & Guilds)
Work experience
Publishing Manager
Accent Press
January, 2017
–
September, 2017
(8 months)
I oversaw and managed Accent Press’s publishing schedule, production and marketing progammes.
Highlight of the role: working with Accent Press authors on shaping their manuscripts and building strong relationships with them.
Assistant Editor
Avon, HarperCollins (secondment)
June, 2015
–
December, 2015
(6 months)
I oversaw ten authors and was responsible for the editorial process as well as working closely with the digital marketing manager to market my authors.
Highlights:
- Acquiring my very first fiction title.
- Building knowledge in the commercial fiction market.
Editor
Collins, Harpercollins Publishers
January, 2014
–
December, 2016
(almost 3 years)
I delivered ELT, international, secondary and primary projects on time and to spec, controlling budgets, schedules and proofs.
Highlights of the role:
- Delivering a whole school primary literacy scheme in less than 3 weeks, under budget and with minor reprint corrections.
- Project managing a whole school primary mathematics scheme, as well as project managing five other projects.
Publishing Assistant
Parthian Books
February, 2013
–
December, 2013
(10 months)
I assisted the fiction editor, marketing manager and publishing director.
Highlights of the role:
- Building strong relationships with Parthian authors.
- Managing my very first fiction title, securing a Kindle Daily Deal and travelling Cornwall with the author.
Editor
Express Publishing
August, 2011
–
December, 2012
(over 1 year)
I wrote, edited and planned ELT textbooks and exam practice books for students of A1–C2 level.
Highlights of the role:
- Overseeing the Michigan ECCE and ECPE team, updating the exam practice books and student books for the new 2013 exams.
- Authoring texts, having to research the curriculum and ensure that it was in keeping with British Curriculum standards.
Portfolio (17 selected works)
**A heart-rending story about the unique bond between a father and his daughter, for fans of Jojo Moyes, the bestselling author of Me Before You.**HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?Will Curtis's six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he's going to do everything he can to keep his word.What Will doe... read more
Would Like to Meet
Polly James
A hilarious, heart-warming read perfect for fans of Shirley Valentine and You’ve Got Mail.Could the worst thing that’s ever happened to Hannah Pinkman also turn out to be one of the best?She and her husband Dan have reached the end of the line. Bored with the same gripes, the same old arguments – in fact, bored with everything – they split up after a trivial row turns into something much more ... read more
The third edge-of-your-seat thriller in the Georgina McKenzie series. Fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo won’t be able to put it down!Europe is in the grip of an extreme Arctic blast and at the mercy of a killer, who leaves no trace. His weapons of choice are razor-sharp icicles. This is Jack Frost.Now a fully qualified criminologist, Georgina McKenzie is called upon by the Dutch police to pro... read more
Dance With the Dead: A PC Donal Lynch Thriller
James Nally
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Smart lands her centre stage role: her mutilated body is found dumped in North London’s red light district. Clasped in her hand is a piece of human hair belonging to an unidentified body of a woman murdered two weeks ago.Aspiring actress Elizabeth Smart lands her centre stage role: her mutilated body is found dumped in North London’s red light district. Clasped in he... read more
** The USA Today Bestseller****The number one Kindle bestseller**‘A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story… A triumph.’ DINAH JEFFERIESA Russian grand duchess and an English journalist. Linked by one of the world’s greatest mysteries . . .Love. Guilt. Heartbreak.1914Russia is on the brink of collapse, and the Romanov family faces a terrifyingly uncertain future. Grand Duchess Tatiana ... read more
Hilarious, sassy, fresh and at times completely outrageous, this is an utterly unputdownable feel-good debut from Paige Nick.Grace Hendriks has led a pretty sheltered life. So when her sister Natalie begs Grace to take her place as a Rihanna impersonator at a seedy club in Amsterdam, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for . . . until she ends up onstage with only a pole for support ... read more
Mean Sisters: A sassy, hilariously funny murder mystery
Lindsay Emory
*‘Well written and Legally Blonde funny!’ Reader review*Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Mean Girls.Margot Blythe: 20-something, sharp, friendly and totally incapable of letting her college glory days go.When she returns to her old college as an advisor, she can’t wait to be reunited with her sorority sisters. But her homecoming reception isn’t exactly what she expected. T... read more
"A feel-good summer escape." Mandy BaggotEllie Truman’s widowed mum is struggling to keep Gwel Teg, the family hotel in Cornwall, afloat. Ellie is determined to do everything in her power to help her, even if that means moving back to the sleepy Cornish village she fled from broken-hearted a few years ago.Things go wrong from the start and she’s grateful for the help from hunky guest, Reece Mi... read more
'Waking will stay with you long after you turn off the lights at night…’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll HouseThere are dark corners in your mind that even you can’t get to. Anna Caldwell is terrified of falling asleep. A nightmare, her very own, will be there waiting for her. After sharing her bed with the same vision for fifteen years, she’s desperate to shake it. But it only holds on tigh... read more
Is holding on harder than letting go? Dan's life has fallen apart at the seams. He's lost his house, his job is on the line, and now he's going to lose his family too. All he's ever wanted is to keep them together, but is everything beyond repair? Maria is drowning in grief. She spends her days writing letters that will never be answered. Nights are spent trying to hold terrible memories at ba... read more
Meet PC Donal Lynch. Irish runaway. Insomniac. Functioning alcoholic. Donal is new to working the beat in London, trying his best to forget that night. After all, there aren?t many police officers who can say they have a convicted murderer for an ex-girlfriend. So when a woman is murdered on his patch, Donal throws himself into the case. As the first person on the scene, Donal can?t forget the... read more
THE HIDING PLACE
John Burley
She can?t reach him...but he can get to her... Dr Lise Shields works with the most deadly criminals in America. At Menaker psychiatric hospital all are guilty and no one ever leaves. Then she meets Jason Edwards. Jason is an anomaly. No transfer order, no patient history, no paperwork at all. Is he really guilty of the horrific crimes he?s been sentenced for? Caught up in a web of unanswered q... read more
The Girl Who Broke the Rules (George McKenzie, Book 2)
Marnie Riches
The pulse-pounding new thriller from Marnie Riches. For anyone who loves Jo Nesbo and Stieg Larsson, this book is for you!When the mutilated bodies of two sex-workers are found in Amsterdam, Chief Inspector van den Bergen must find a brutal murderer before the red-light-district erupts into panic.Georgina McKenzie is conducting research into pornography among the UK’s most violent sex-offender... read more
The Hazards are an upper-middle-class family, and when only son Jonathon proposes to the working-class librarian, Stella, his mother, Joyce, seems adamant he’d be happier with Cordelia, the more suitable girl next door. Stella’s always believed Joyce doesn’t like her, but when her future mother in law “accidentally” gives nut allergy-sufferer Stella a piece of nut-filled cake, she wonders with... read more
The Visitor
Katherine Stansfield
He turns and waves, twenty feet or so away... she can't swim as strongly as usual. She can taste blood again. Nicholas bobs where he is, letting her catch up. Her nightdress blooms around her like a sail. She reaches him and he touches her arm, very gently. She wants to grab him, hold him tightly in the water. Would he let her?Cornwall. 1880. Pearl, Jack and Nicholas play among the fishing boa... read more
Only One Woman
Christina Jones, Jane Risdon
Two women, one love story.June 1968. Renza falls head over heels for heartthrob guitarist Scott. But after a romantic summer together they are torn apart when Renza’s family moves away.December 1968. On the night she believes to be her last, Stella meets Scott at a local dance. He’s the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen and if this one night is all they have, she’ll take it.As the final colou... read more
The Women of Heachley Hall
Rachel Walkley
Miriam has one year to uncover Heachley Hall's unimaginable past and a secret that only women can discover. The life of a freelance illustrator will never rake in the millions so when twenty-eight year old Miriam discovers she’s the sole surviving heir to her great-aunt’s fortune, she can’t believe her luck. She dreams of selling her poky city flat and buying a studio.But great fortune comes w... read more
Kate has 1 review
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
I've enjoyed collaborating with Kate on my book. She provided excellent ideas for improving the manuscript and a keen eye for detail with regard to editing and content development. I would work with her again on any of my future writing projects.
Read moreRachel Walkley, January 2018
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