Katie Sassienie - Editor
Picture book Editor at Hachette Children's Group. Passionate about stories with both humour and heart.
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Overview
I am an Editor working on picture books for the Hodder and Orchard imprints of HCG and have several years' experience working with and writing for children.
A large part of my role is working on IP projects, writing picture book stories you will have seen on the shelves. There's been lots of unicorns flying about, but my favourites are the silly ones with toilet humour...
As well as writing behind the scenes, I work with many well-known authors and illustrators including Jim Field, Rachel Bright and Giles Andreae, but it's always exciting working with debuts too, shaping texts and building relationships.
I previously worked at Headline Publishing Group, where I assisted on a high profile licensing contract with Epic Games' global phenomenon Fortnite. Many of my creative ideas for children's books and stationery have sold at high volumes, including the Fortnite Calendar and the Battle Journal.
I pretty much went from being a child to writing for children, as I became a youth leader as a young teen, writing adventurous activity programmes for younger kids, which lead to me eventually becoming Head of Youth Leadership, and I haven't put the pen down since.
A large part of my role is working on IP projects, writing picture book stories you will have seen on the shelves. There's been lots of unicorns flying about, but my favourites are the silly ones with toilet humour...
As well as writing behind the scenes, I work with many well-known authors and illustrators including Jim Field, Rachel Bright and Giles Andreae, but it's always exciting working with debuts too, shaping texts and building relationships.
I previously worked at Headline Publishing Group, where I assisted on a high profile licensing contract with Epic Games' global phenomenon Fortnite. Many of my creative ideas for children's books and stationery have sold at high volumes, including the Fortnite Calendar and the Battle Journal.
I pretty much went from being a child to writing for children, as I became a youth leader as a young teen, writing adventurous activity programmes for younger kids, which lead to me eventually becoming Head of Youth Leadership, and I haven't put the pen down since.
Languages
English (UK)
Fiction
Picture Books
Certifications
- Proofreading at The Publishing Training Centre
- Copyediting at The Publishing Training Centre
Work experience
Editor
Hachette Children's Group
November, 2019
–
Present
(over 2 years)
● Working on market-leading picture books including the Oi Frog! series, Giraffes Can't Dance, The Lion Inside series and the Ten Little series, from writing copy to copyediting to briefing artwork and cover designs.
● Editing picture books texts from first draft to final text, working closely with authors to develop concepts and shape narratives
● Writing and editing IP projects, working with design and illustrators to bring each story to life.
● Liaising with agents and reading and reporting on submissions from both authors, and author/illustrators.
Licensing Project Assistant
Wildfire, Headline Publishing Group
May, 2018
–
September, 2018
(4 months)
● Assisted the Publishing Director of Wildfire (an imprint of Headline) on a high-profile international licensing project with Epic Games and global phenomenon Fortnite, in association with several Hachette divisions worldwide
● Researched the brand and market in order to brainstorm ideas for formats, wrote creative copy and TI sheets for all products, including stationery and children’s titles, and carried out edits on marketing and publicity materials
● Briefed designers and writers on covers and content, marked up proofs and communicated feedback in a timely manner, as the main point of contact for Hachette US, the packagers, designers and the licensing agency
Editorial Assistant
Headline Publishing Group
September, 2017
–
November, 2019
(about 2 years)
● Working on a broad range of adult's commercial fiction including brand authors Jill Mansell, Sheila O'Flanagan and Simon Scarrow as well as more literary works by authors including Sue Monk Kidd.
● Reading and reporting on submissions, as well as working with all fiction editors to develop in-house book ideas, as part of the IP creation team
● Liaising with authors and agents on a daily basis as well as freelance proofreaders and copy-editors to make key editorial decisions
Head of Youth Leadership and Programming
FRS / The Together Plan
August, 2012
–
August, 2016
(about 4 years)
● Organising and running a weekly youth club for 70 children aged 4-11 and training up to 20 youth leaders aged 14-16 how to write and run activity programmes
● Writing fun, imaginative and age-appropriate activities and editing programmes written by the wider team
● Running annual summer schemes for children from all backgrounds in the UK and then abroad in the USA and Belarus, based around a variety of themes (back to the future, around the world, dreams), with educational undertones
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