Malcolm Croft - Editor
Bestselling author, editor, commissioning editor, packager and publishing consultant. Will work for biscuits.
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Overview
Hello there. Thanks for stopping by and popping in. I'm terribly awkward at introductions. But here goes...
With just a little over 20 years in the publishing industry, and having worked my way up from shy tea-boy (intern) to egotistical editor, commissioning editor and then publisher, I can quite categorically say I know how books are made. On my path to publishing enlightenment, I became a successful author of scores of funny and fresh titles, as well as a biographer, writer, consultant and editor of even more scores of popular culture, music, gift, kids and humour titles and book series, several of which are – get ready to roll your eyes! – international bestsellers.
With just a little over 20 years in the publishing industry, and having worked my way up from shy tea-boy (intern) to egotistical editor, commissioning editor and then publisher, I can quite categorically say I know how books are made. On my path to publishing enlightenment, I became a successful author of scores of funny and fresh titles, as well as a biographer, writer, consultant and editor of even more scores of popular culture, music, gift, kids and humour titles and book series, several of which are – get ready to roll your eyes! – international bestsellers.
I have written many popular, and official, books for many brands and publishing houses, including, most recently, the much-loved classic The Travel Book (Lonely Planet, 2015), Big Black Book (the biggest official Spinal Tap book in decades, 2017), Life in Technicolor (20-year celebration of Coldplay
authorised, and adored, by the band, 2018), Glastonbury at 50 (a biography of the festival, with a foreword by Ray Davies, 2019) and the official tie-in book for Elton John’s hit fantasy bio-pic, Rocketman released in May 2019.Inbetween writing, I offer structural and copy edits, proof reads, conception-publication consultations, script/screenplay doctoring, project management and title development on a wide-range of books for many publishing houses, located all around the world. In my spare time, I am also a brand copywriter and blogger, creating entertaining and informative content for several big-name brands – including the prestigious Burgundy winemaker, Château de Pommard.
Before all of this, I was a humble journalist, working at Empire film magazine, the Daily Mirror, the Independent and Citylights, to name but a few, interviewing celebrities, artists and creators, as well as writing feature articles on food, film, culture and music.
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Entertainment
Music
Travel
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Picture Books
Plays & Screenplays
Work experience
Commissioning Editor
Portico
February, 2006
–
June, 2014
(over 8 years)
During my tenure as Commissioning Editor at Portico – an imprint I helped create – I published more than 100 books, several of which sold very well and established the imprint as a fresh, funny and forthright home for authors. Examples of commissions include my proudest acheivement in publishing – creating and publishing The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes (more than 100,000 books sold!) , Feet of the Chameleon (Sports Book of the Year, 2009), Shit London, Can't Be Arsed, Roadie (with Coldplay), the award-winning The History of the NME; the Cool Series, including Cool Science (more than 70,000 copies sold), Cool Mythology, Cool Astronomy, Cool Maths, 365 Reasons to Be Cheerful, London's Strangest Tales, and many, many more!
Editorial Director
Château de Pommard
April, 2016
–
August, 2018
(over 2 years)
As Editorial Director at Château de Pommard, it was my sole responsibility to devise, create, develop and maintain all visual and written content for the brand, across all media – including web, blog, social, print and on site. This included being part of the core team to rebrand the Château, its website, its global presence and all marketing content, as well as design and write all taglines, brand IDs and written content for marketing and on-site promotional materials. I also took lovely photos and drone videos and made nifty little videos for social channels.
Author
Self-employed
May, 2013
–
Present
(over 9 years)
After a decade of working for other people, I decided to go it alone and become a gun-for-hire. I have since worked effectively non-stop as an editor, author and consultant for a wide-range of publishers.
Senior Editor
Robson Books
September, 2004
–
January, 2006
(over 1 year)
For two years I cut my teeth as a desk editor. Tasks included copy-editing, proof-reading, project managing and overseeing the development of all books on the list, approximately 25 a year. Basically, I pushed the books along the production line, from brand new ideas right through to collecting books hot off the press, complete with that new book smell.
Portfolio (15 selected works)
Rocketman
Paramount Licensing Ltd., Foreword by Elton John
In May 2019, audiences are invited to discover the fantastical story of Sir Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, to a global superstar, through his influential and enduring partnership with his songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin. Rocketman, an epic musical fantasy from Paramount Pictures, Marv Studios and Rocket Pictures, stars Taron Egerton who pla... read more
Glastonbury is a festival like no other, and this visual history follows the world-renowned gathering on its 50th anniversary—complete with photographs, line-ups, and firsthand accounts. From its humble beginnings as a folk festival (where £1 got you a ticket and a pint of milk), Glastonbury has grown into one of today’s biggest global music events. Hundreds of the world’s most famous acts hav... read more
Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book
Wallace Fairfax
More than 30 years ago Marty Di Bergi (played by director Rob Reiner) could not have known that as he introduced his “rockumentary” This Is Spinal Tap, he was creating a work of genius that would rock on for decades. Consistently cited as one of the funniest movies ever made (and often spoken about by rock stars as one of the most frightening movies they've ever seen), This Is Spinal Tap has a... read more
Take a world tour through 200 countries with this brand new edition of the bestselling kids' version of Lonely Planet's popular The Travel Book, loaded with thousands of amazing facts on wildlife, how people live, sports, hideous and mouthwatering food, festivals and a wide range of other quirky insights on every page. Every single country gets its own dedicated page, and a mix of photography ... read more
Life in Technicolor: A Celebration of Coldplay
Debs Wild, Malcom Croft
Coldplay’s unique sound has captured the hearts of the world time and time again. From melancholic, thoughtful melodies to energetic thumping bass lines, Coldplay’s musical range is a large part of their popularity, allowing them to appeal to all manner of fans, from young to old. Written by Debs Wild, the A&R executive who discovered Coldplay, and former music journalist Malcolm Croft, who ha... read more
Why did the banana go to the doctors?Because he wasn't peeling very well!Proving the age-old maxim that ‘it’s in the way that you tell them’, Dads – for the best part of forever – have always been renowned for being truly god-awful joke tellers. Whether it’s telling them at the wrong moment, misremembering the punchline or it just simply being one of those jokes that were terrible to begin wit... read more
Inside this mega-jam-packed book are fifty fact-tastic ways to advance and improve your astronomy skills so you’ll never feel alone in the universe again!Learn amazing space-related tricks such as how to watch a solar eclipse safely and mapping stars from your own back garden, right down to expertly simplifying the supermassive numbers and distances involved in the space between space so you’l... read more
Cool Science Tricks: 50 Fantastic Feats for Kids of All Ages
Daniel Tatarsky
As we all know now, the geeks have inherited the earth and, it's official, science is now cool! With Cool Science you can learn 50 amazing science-related tricks to impress friends at parties or for teaching to children. That’s 50 awesome new ways to make 50 new friends. This stunt-stuffed book is for kids and grown-ups who love to experiment with peculiar physics, mind-boggling biology, crazy... read more
Cool Mythology (Cool Kids)
Malcolm Croft
This fun book, part of the popular Cool series, is a fascinating introduction to world mythology, broken up into handy bite-sized chunks. It covers all the main world mythologies, including Sumerian, Incan, African, Native American, African, Egyptian, Persian, Hindu, Norse and, of course, Greek and Roman, including the famous Olympians (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and others). It begins with a select... read more
Everyone’s talking about BTS! For fans of the K-pop phenomenon, this is the ultimate guide to everything you want to know about the band. The members of BTS are global icons acclaimed for their record-smashing, barrier-breaking, trendsetting dance-pop and hip-hop, as well as their personal philosophies. While the 1960s had Beatlemania, today, BTS reigns supreme, with a loyal army of fans leadi... read more
Harry Styles: Evolution of a Modern Superstar
Malcolm Croft
Harry Styles went from boy-band fame to solo superstar! This richly illustrated biography charts his rapid rise and how he’s becoming the renaissance man of the twenty-first century—before he even celebrates his 21st birthday. Escaping from boy-band success isn’t always easy—but since Harry Styles left One Direction, the multitalented singer and songwriter has released an album that debuted in... read more
This tell-all dives into the boys' pre-fame history, early hometown success, their discovery on YouTube and how they are using social media to stay connected to their fans (like their 3 million+ Twitter followers!). Fans will also find details on the band's world tours and their relationship with friends and mentors One Direction. With bios on each of the boys, fan stories, and dozens of full-... read more
The Emoji Puzzle Challenge (More Than 200 Emoji Enigmas)
Malcolm Croft
Can you solve these addicting emoji puzzles? Do you love emoji? We do too! This is filled with more than 200 fun puzzles on all sorts of subjects, including music, movies, books, TV, and stuff from all around the world. So dive in and emojify your life!
Put the fun back into work! The Big Book of Office Bullsh*t celebrates the mayhem you can cause on the company’s time. Jam-packed with mischief, it includes essential advice on how to have the perfect sick day, annoy your boss (without getting fired), and create works of art using office stationery. Filled with hilarious quotes, fun observations, and daft management-speak, this incredible coll... read more
A bite-sized collection of quotes by and about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Elvis was one of the most significant cultural icons of the twentieth century, and his music and movement changed the course of rock. This collection of more than 170 fascinating quotes captures what made the star so special. They come from Elton John, Mick Jagger (“He was a unique artist—an original in an area of imitat... read more
Malcolm has 11 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
I was both surprised and amazed with Malcolm. I didn't really know what to expect. His response to the work was personal, professional, insightful and has reinvigorated my sense of purpose. Just excellent.
Richard ashdown, June 2022
Malcolm is an accomplished author of many books and an incredible Editor. As this was my first novel, he guided me through both the process and the in's and out's of the book business.
For anyone who thinks they don't need a story editor, think again. There are very good editors out there for proofreads, grammar, punctuation, and spelling, but take my advice, a great story editor is worth gol...
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Martin Featherston, January 2022
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Reply from Malcolm Croft
Wonderful experience. Malcolm was more than an editor, he was also my coach as he supported me through my first manuscript. Honest, creative, patient, everything you’d want. Can’t recommend highly enough.
Chris Lovett, July 2021
Malcolm was genuinely excellent to work with. He provided clear and very thorough analysis and feedback that helped to clarify issues that were tough for me to see objectively. He provided clear direction as to how I could address these issues. He also went significantly above and beyond what was required, fulfilling the brief but also providing assistance where I actually needed it (which I ha...
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Chris Bassett, April 2021
My co-writer and I are delighted with the help and advice that Malcolm provided. He is critical and constructive and was able to suggest areas for improvement that have benefitted our work tremendously. This has resulted in a much more polished, layered and refined book than we would otherwise have had. Would we recommend Malcom? Absolutely, 100%. Although on second thoughts, absolutely not, w...
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Ian Walls, March 2021
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