Katie Salisbury

Katie Salisbury – Editor

Nonfiction editor with an intuitive knack for storytelling & published author who has seen the industry from every possible angle

Overview

I'm an editor with more than 15 years of experience developing original content for books. I have edited award-winning books for HarperCollins, Amazon Publishing, Simon & Schuster, and Audible, and I've worked with authors such as Maria Hinojosa, Tim Ferriss, Erica Jong, Deepak Chopra, Mark Frauenfelder, Reshma Saujani, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Robert Greene, 50 Cent, Stanley Fish, Catherine McKenzie, Gary Vaynerchuk, among others.

I'm also the author of NOT YOUR CHINA DOLL, a new biography of Anna May Wong, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in March 2024.

Currently, I work with a select number of clients on a freelance basis to shepherd their projects through the publishing process. My services include: developmental editing, book proposal development, proofreading and light copyediting, jacket copy, and consultation on self-publishing platforms and distribution strategies.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management History Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Mar, 2020 — Present
Author of NOT YOUR CHINA DOLL, a new biography of Anna May Wong, forthcoming from Dutton in March 2024.

Audible

Sep, 2018 — Jun, 2021 (over 2 years)
Edited and managed several original audio projects remotely as part of a temporary assignment, including The Baddest Bitch in the Room by Sophia Chang, Why We Can't Sleep by Ada Calhoun, and Curse of Riches by Claire Prentice.

Book of the Month

Oct, 2014 — Jul, 2015 (9 months)
Relaunched Book of the Month, which has been serving readers since 1926 and is one of Bookspan's most well-known and historically important book clubs. Similar to other monthly box subscription services, Book of the Month delivers one new and noteworthy hardcover book to members each month in a premium package.

William & Park

Oct, 2014 — Dec, 2015 (about 1 year)
William & Park is a New York City-based media company and digital magazine for creatives.

Amazon Publishing

Sep, 2011 — Jul, 2014 (almost 3 years)
• Acquired and edited books, primarily memoir and narrative nonfiction, including the Kindle-bestselling titles College (Un)bound, Manage Your-Day-to-Day, and The Mad Sculptor. 
 • Projects covered a diverse range of nonfiction topics, including food, education, pop culture, business, DIY, and travel. 
 • Managed talent and forged contacts with writers, agents, and bloggers. 
 • Managed relationships with a diverse list of authors that included Deepak Chopra, Tim Ferriss, Behance, Mark Frauenfelder, Reshma Saujani, Jeffrey Selingo, Catherine McKenzie, and Harold Schechter. 
 • Developed the creative vision for each book, coordinated with marketing and publicity teams, and served as the driving force behind the entire publication campaign.

HarperCollins Publishers

Aug, 2008 — Jul, 2011 (almost 3 years)
• Acquired and managed nonfiction titles for the Harper, William Morrow, and Harper Perennial imprints, including In the Small Kitchen and Apologies to My Censor. 
 • Supported two Senior Editors and worked with authors such as Erica Jong, Stanley Fish, Robert Greene, Sam Wasson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Greg Graffin, Harold Bloom, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, and Gilbert King. 
 • Wrote selling copy for book jackets and catalog pages, vetted press releases, and implemented social media marketing campaigns with partners like Etsy.

Portfolio

Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America

Hinojosa, Maria

We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships

Vellos, Kat

This Is How We Rise: Reach Your Highest Potential, Empower Women, Lead Change in the World

Claudia Chan

From an inspiring voice in the movement for gender equality, a practical guide to achieving success through a new kind of leadership--rooted in purpose and activism for social changeWe live in a time of unprecedented opportunity for women. Yet despite centurie... read more
Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong

Salisbury, Katie Gee

Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions

Selingo, Jeffrey

Chasing the Modern: The Twentieth-Century Life of Poet Xu Zhimo

Tony S Hsu

At the height of his literary prowess, Xu Zhimo was the most famous living poet in all of China. With his round spectacles and aristocratic profile, Xu had a face that became as iconic as his poetry. During his short life, he claimed an illustrious place in th... read more
There Is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know About Navigating School to Prepare for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Jeffrey J. Selingo

New York Times BestsellerFrom the bestselling author of College Unbound comes a hopeful, inspiring blueprint to help alleviate parents’ anxiety and prepare their college-educated child to successfully land a good job after graduation.Saddled with thousands of ... read more
Make Your Mark: The Creative's Guide to Building a Business with Impact (The 99U Book Series 3)

99U

Finally, a business book for makers, not managers. Are you ready to “make a dent in the universe”? As a creative, you no longer have to take a backseat. In fact, stepping up and embracing entrepreneurship is the fastest route to impact. But where do you start?... read more
Granny Is My Wingman

Kayli Stollak

At twenty-three, Kayli Stollak, like most starry-eyed twentysomethings, assumed that she and her boyfriend, Charlie, would be together forever. Besides a rockin’ sex life, they shared a passion for motorcycle adventures, hedonistic European music festivals, an... read more
To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek Through the Heart of Africa

Nina Sovich

Nina Sovich had always yearned for adventures in faraway places; she imagined herself leading the life of a solitary traveler. Yet at the age of thirty-four, she found herself married and contemplating motherhood. Catching her reflection in a window spotted wi... read more
The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women

Glynnis MacNicol

The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women is a collection of essays revealing the secret career habits and hard-won wisdom of a diverse group of accomplished women, selected by Rachel Sklar and Glynnis MacNicol, co-founders of TheLi.st, the well-known network d... read more
Edible: An Adventure into the World of Eating Insects and the Last Great Hope to Save the Planet

Daniella Martin

Insects. They’re what’s for dinner. Can you imagine a world in which that simple statement is not only true but in fact an unremarkable part of daily life? Daniella Martin, entomophagist and blogger, can. In this rollicking excursion into the world of edible i... read more
For a Song and a Hundred Songs: A Poet's Journey Through a Chinese Prison

Liao Yiwu

WINNER OF THE 2012 GERMAN BOOK TRADE PEACE PRIZEIn June 1989, news of the Tiananmen Square protests and its bloody resolution reverberated throughout the world. A young poet named Liao Yiwu, who had until then led an apolitical bohemian existence, found his vo... read more
College Unbound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students

Jeffrey J. Selingo

What is the value of a college degree?The four-year college experience is as American as apple pie. So is the belief that higher education offers a ticket to a better life. But with student-loan debt surpassing the $1 trillion mark and unemployment of college ... read more
The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder that Shook the Nation

Harold Schechter

2015 Edgar Award Nominee Beekman Place, once one of the most exclusive addresses in Manhattan, had a curious way of making it into the tabloids in the 1930s: “SKYSCRAPER SLAYER,” “BEAUTY SLAIN IN BATHTUB” read the headlines. On Easter Sunday in 1937, the disco... read more
The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century

Claire Prentice

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island is an Amazon Best Book of the Month October 2014The Lost Tribe of Coney Island is a New York Post “must read”! October 2014Coney Island, summer 1905: a new attraction opened at Luna Park. Within weeks it would be the talk of the ... read more

Katie has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Ashley C.

Ashley C.

Oct, 2025

It was a pleasure working with Katie on my book proposal. She was professional, thoughtful, and kind throughout the process. Her feedback was both insightful and constructive, helping me strengthen my work in meaningful ways. She was also very responsive and easy to communicate with. I’m very hap...
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Thom B.

Thom B.

Sep, 2025

Insightful, prompt and pleasant. Highly recommend
Susanna Z.

Susanna Z.

Sep, 2025

Katie carefully read my manuscript and provided insightful comments. She was encouraging and thoughtful when we spoke on the phone, which I appreciated. She's knowledgeable about self-publishing and can give you tips on that if you're thinking of going that way. It's early in the process for me, ...
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David T.

David T.

Aug, 2025

Katie was extremely easy to work with. She read the manuscript on time, delivered a useful written critique, and followed it up with a phone call. She didn't just offer constructive criticism, she offered solutions. It was clear that she didn't skim the book, but really took the time to give i...
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Kevin J.

Kevin J.

Jul, 2025

I feel really lucky to have worked with Katie. I wasn't sure what to expect as I'm very early in my journey as a writer, but she was very patient, supportive and helped me make sense of it all. She got me thinking about my project in a way that was motivating yet practical. Where I had an idea, I...
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