Margot Mallinson – Editor

*Currently booking FEBRUARY 2026.*

I have a strict NO-AI policy.

I’m a fiction editor with over 15 years’ experience in traditional publishing. I was in-house at a Big 5 publisher, where I acquired and took novels through every stage of editing, with writers ranging from fresh debuts to blockbuster New York Times bestsellers. My authors are award-winning and critically acclaimed, and I'm proud and lucky to have played a part in shaping their amazing books.

My approach is that story is story, regardless of genre, and great storytelling applies to all types of books. I read widely and eclectically, and have worked on women’s fiction, contemporary romance, historical, romantic suspense, speculative and science fiction, thrillers and horror. I am comfortable and confident working within the tropes and conventions of many genres—and I love a mash-up—but I’m particularly adept at creating believable, compelling romances.

I can bring my depth of expertise to support your craft and make your story into the very strongest version it can be: engrossing, affecting, and with that page-turning magic that readers crave. It's important to me to guide authors to find and polish their authentic storytelling voice.

I’d like to work primarily on women’s fiction and romance, and am comfortable with all heat levels on the page. I'm happiest getting into the nitty gritty of a developmental/substantive edit to strengthen character arcs and tighten plots.

If you’re ready for professional feedback to take your writing to the next level, let’s talk!

Kind words from authors I've worked with:

“A brilliant editor, Margot never fails to make an author’s work the best it can be.”

—Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author

“I had the pleasure of working with Margot on 5 novels, and she is an absolute wizard at pinpointing exactly what needs to be done to take the story to the next level. She's meticulous, insightful, intuitive, brilliant, and does not leave any stone unturned. Every single one of my books is light years better because of Margot, and I hope I get to work with her again.”

—Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author

“Margot has the uncanny ability to look at a whole forest of words and pinpoint the exact spot that needs work. With laser focus she finds not only where the problems are, but also makes suggestions on how to uplift the manuscript as a whole, which is a precious and amazing skill. I would absolutely work with Margot again. No question.”​

—J.M. Frey, author of Time and Tide, NYT Best Romance 2024

"Margot is absolutely incredible to work with! It's so refreshing when someone can very quickly 'get' your story and dive right in with you. Her ability to see the structural big picture but also nuance in tiny details helped me take my story levels up. She's not only helped me amplify my work, but also helped me to grow as a writer."

–Z.W. Taylor, author of the Moon Blood Saga series