Crystal Mahey-Morgan

Crystal Mahey-Morgan – Editor

20 years publishing experience in the industry. Loves working with stories and authors that speak to the human condition.

Overview

As an agent and publisher I have worked with and nurtured both debut authors at the beginning of their careers and seasoned Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers.

I specialise in fiction, narrative non-fiction, smart thinking and memoir and have a particular interest and sensibility for editing talented and diverse voices who have traditionally struggled to break through. Most of all I love universal stories that speak to the human condition and offer a new perspective.

I'm a hands on editor and keen to get the best out of you and help you write the best version of your book. I focus on; structural and developmental changes, character and voice, plot and pacing. I'm able to consult on every stage of the publishing process from editorial to bound book but am a firm believer that the most important part of the process is getting the edit right.

As an agent I know what I'm looking for in a submission and query letter and can also help you shape your submission to agents and publishers.

Services
Publishing Services
Fiction
Cultural & Ethnic Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
Entertainment Political Science & Current Affairs Self-Help & Self-Improvement True Crime
Languages
English (UK)

Work experience

OWN IT! Agency Limited

Sep, 2018 — Present
Deals done and clients worked with include: -Idris Elba -Reggie Yates -Eoin Macken -Rose Cartwright -Salena Godden -Derek Owusu -Ify Adenuga -Toni Tone -Emma Warren -Alessandro Vitale -Leroy Logan -Sian Anderson -Selina Nwulu -Speech Debelle My clients have won numerous awards, had their books translated into multiple languages and been Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers.

OWN IT! Publishing Limited

Jun, 2015 — Present
Books published include: Fiction -The 392 by Ashley Hickson-Lovence (Contemporary Fiction) -The Time Before the Time to Come by Jill Johnson (Literary Fiction) -No Place to Call Home by JJ Bola (Literary Fiction) -Sasha Knight by Sean Godfrey (Literary Fiction) -Mama Can't Raise No Man (Crime Fiction) Memoir -Endless Fortune by Ify Adeunga (memoir) -Moments of Significance (Memoir) -Prisoner to the Streets (True Crime) Self-Help -An Abolitionist Handbook by Patrisse Cullors (Self-Help) - How to be more Pirate by Sam Conniff and Alex Barker (Self-Help) - Soccology by Kevin George (Sports psychology) Poetry - Refuge by JJ Bola - Reflections of me by Kirsty Latoya

ZED Books

Mar, 2015 — Sep, 2015 (6 months)

Penguin Random House

Apr, 2013 — Dec, 2013 (8 months)

Penguin Random House

Feb, 2012 — Oct, 2012 (8 months)

Penguin Random House

Jan, 2011 — Jan, 2012 (about 1 year)

Peters, Fraser and Dunlop Literary, Film and TV Agency

Jan, 2008 — Sep, 2008 (8 months)

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Borderline Fiction

Owusu, Derek

Canongate Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
A River Called Time: Courttia Newland

Newland, Courttia

Canongate Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Faber Faber Up the Youth Club.

Warren, Emma

Faber & Faber

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Losing the Plot

Owusu, Derek

Canongate Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
That Reminds Me

Owusu, Derek

Merky Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Take Note: Real Life Lessons

Tone, Toni

Fourth Estate

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Iced: A Novel

Shell, Ray

Amistad

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
With Love, Grief and Fury

Godden, Salena

Canongate Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Mrs Death Misses Death

Godden, Salena

Canongate Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Agent & Publisher Querying Distribution Contracts & Rights
How To: Be More Pirate

Conniff, Sam

OWN IT!

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Sasha Knight

Godfrey, Sean

OWN IT!

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
The 392

Hickson-Lovence, Ashley

OWN IT!

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by British TV and film actor, Idris Elba.At the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mates rapping, giving the... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by popstar and one of the coaches on The Voice UK, Jessie J.At the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mates ... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by chart-topping singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.At the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mates rapping, givin... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by YouTube stars Finn and Jack Harries of JacksGap.At the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mates rapping, ... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by multi-platinum-selling recording artist, Emeli SandéAt the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mates rappi... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Foreword by pioneering international entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson.At the age of 15, Jamal Edwards was starting to build a social media empire. Using a hand-held camera, he filmed his mate... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Reflections Of Me

Kirsty Latoya

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Book Coaching Publishing Strategy Distribution Contracts & Rights

Crystal has 14 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Maria M.

Maria M.

Sep, 2026

She was very thorough. She gave good feedback. She finished the project in a timely manner.
Johanna S.

Johanna S.

Jul, 2026

Crystal is an excellent editor and a wonderful person to have on your team. She approached my manuscript with exactly the right combination of confidence (to show me what needed changing) and understanding (of what to question or leave). She is also a font of knowledge about the publishing indust...
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Jeremy B.

Jeremy B.

Jun, 2026

I can’t say enough about the impact working with Crystal has had on my work. Thoughtful feedback delivered with energy and enthusiasm while also providing useful critiques. From our first interactions it became a true collaboration and partnership and I could tell this was not just an assignment ...
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Anna Rae L.

Anna Rae L.

Jun, 2026

Crystal is a top tier editor and an absolute pleasure to work with. She gave my manuscript the final polish it needed while always being kind, professional and encouraging throughout the process. What impressed me most was how much she went above and beyond. While I engaged Crystal for a copy ed...
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Cortney M.

Cortney M.

Jun, 2026

Working with Crystal was such a positive experience. As a first-time writer, I really appreciated how encouraging and supportive she was while still being thorough, thoughtful, and detail-oriented. Her feedback helped me feel more confident in my work, and everything was completed quickly and pro...
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