Margaux Weisman - Editor
Editor with a decade of experience in publishing and a track record of best-sellers and award-winners, currently employed in the "Big Five."
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Overview
I am an editor with a decade of experience working across three major publishing houses. During my ten years as an editor, I've honed my skills in both structural overhauls and line-level attention to detail. Among the honors and distinctions my authors have enjoyed are Whiting Awards, National Book Award long lists, New York Times notable books, LAMBDA Literary Nominations, Edgar Awards, Anthony Awards, and New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Prior to working in publishing I was a PA in film and television. A writer myself, I received my MFA from The New School.
Being a writer and an editor, I have a unique and holistic perspective on the craft of writing and the publishing industry. I am uniquely sensitive to a writer's needs and understand the heart and soul that goes into a manuscript. I also have nearly 20 years of experience in writers' workshops and am adept at discussing an author's work with the author's vision in mind first and foremost.
I've also worked at three major imprints, between HarperCollins and Penguin Random House, and have a 360 view on trade publishing. Through my years as an assistant, rising through the ranks, and subsequent experience as an editor with my own list, I've worked on almost every type of book in some capacity. While I publish mostly literary fiction and upmarket commercial fiction, and some narrative nonfiction, I've edited action adventure novels, romance novels, fantasy/horror novels, reported nonfiction, and even a prescriptive book about what to expect when you're expecting twins or triplets.
I can find the core thread of any story.
As an editor, my first question is always: what do you want this book to be? And then I see it as my duty to help you get it there.
In my full-time roll as an editor, one of my greatest joys has been making authors' dreams come true. I've matched many authors with their agent soulmates, and helped countless writers craft the perfect query letter. When it comes to your query, I know what the gatekeepers are looking for, because I am one! The best query should be able to have a long life, changing very little from its role as agent query, to editor pitch, to book jacket copy. And, I spend most of my time writing and rewriting SEO and jacket copy for books I publish. I know what catches the eyes of agents, editors, and consumers. I recently transitioned to the sales department of a major publisher, to gain better perspective on the business side of publishing, but I am still working with authors to develop their manuscripts.
In my freelance experience, I have helped over a dozen burgeoning authors bring their manuscripts up to the highest level possible. I offer developmental editing, line editing, and query editing. Query editing is my specialty and I charge a flat fee of $400. This includes a line edit of your query letter, a short memo with my feedback, and a half hour follow-up call to discuss the query letter.
I see my position as a current publishing professional at the world's largest publisher as a boon to burgeoning authors who are looking for insight into an industry often shrouded in mystery. My experience with editing award-winning and bestselling authors means that you are getting the same caliber of feedback afforded to accomplished, working writers. That said, I do have a full-time job. I am not a full-time freelancer. While I do try to turn-around projects as quickly as possible, this means that my availability or turn-around time may be different from other Reedsy editors'. But, I have unparalleled insight into the publishing industry, a world that is typically shrouded in mystery.
Being a writer and an editor, I have a unique and holistic perspective on the craft of writing and the publishing industry. I am uniquely sensitive to a writer's needs and understand the heart and soul that goes into a manuscript. I also have nearly 20 years of experience in writers' workshops and am adept at discussing an author's work with the author's vision in mind first and foremost.
I've also worked at three major imprints, between HarperCollins and Penguin Random House, and have a 360 view on trade publishing. Through my years as an assistant, rising through the ranks, and subsequent experience as an editor with my own list, I've worked on almost every type of book in some capacity. While I publish mostly literary fiction and upmarket commercial fiction, and some narrative nonfiction, I've edited action adventure novels, romance novels, fantasy/horror novels, reported nonfiction, and even a prescriptive book about what to expect when you're expecting twins or triplets.
I can find the core thread of any story.
As an editor, my first question is always: what do you want this book to be? And then I see it as my duty to help you get it there.
In my full-time roll as an editor, one of my greatest joys has been making authors' dreams come true. I've matched many authors with their agent soulmates, and helped countless writers craft the perfect query letter. When it comes to your query, I know what the gatekeepers are looking for, because I am one! The best query should be able to have a long life, changing very little from its role as agent query, to editor pitch, to book jacket copy. And, I spend most of my time writing and rewriting SEO and jacket copy for books I publish. I know what catches the eyes of agents, editors, and consumers. I recently transitioned to the sales department of a major publisher, to gain better perspective on the business side of publishing, but I am still working with authors to develop their manuscripts.
In my freelance experience, I have helped over a dozen burgeoning authors bring their manuscripts up to the highest level possible. I offer developmental editing, line editing, and query editing. Query editing is my specialty and I charge a flat fee of $400. This includes a line edit of your query letter, a short memo with my feedback, and a half hour follow-up call to discuss the query letter.
I see my position as a current publishing professional at the world's largest publisher as a boon to burgeoning authors who are looking for insight into an industry often shrouded in mystery. My experience with editing award-winning and bestselling authors means that you are getting the same caliber of feedback afforded to accomplished, working writers. That said, I do have a full-time job. I am not a full-time freelancer. While I do try to turn-around projects as quickly as possible, this means that my availability or turn-around time may be different from other Reedsy editors'. But, I have unparalleled insight into the publishing industry, a world that is typically shrouded in mystery.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Work experience
National Account Manager
Penguin Random House
February, 2022
–
Present
(about 1 year)
Editor
Penguin Random House
February, 2017
–
February, 2022
(about 5 years)
Associate Editor
HarperCollins
November, 2012
–
February, 2017
(over 4 years)
Portfolio (27 selected works)
Private Citizens: A Novel
Tony Tulathimutte
PRIVATE CITIZENS was named a best book of the year by New York Magazine/Vulture, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Nylon, Kirkus, Electric Literature and The Millions. An Amazon Best Book of the Month in the Literature & Fiction CategoryA Buzzfeed “Most Exciting” Book of 2016A Flavorwire “Most Anticipated” Book of 2016New York Magazine calls Private Citizens "the first great millennia... read more
The Sun in Your Eyes: A Novel
Deborah Shapiro
A New York Times Book Review Editor's ChoiceThe Wall Street Journal calls The Sun in Your Eyes one of "the season's most exciting fiction reads."One of Vulture's "7 Books You Need to Read This July"Harper's Bazaar picked it as one of "Spring's Hottest Breakout Novels."Ann Hood says it's "the perfect summer book."A witty and winning new voice comes alive in this infectious road trip adventure w... read more
The Silent Girls (Canaan Crime Novels)
Eric Rickstad
New York Times and USA Today BestsellerWith the dead of a bitter Vermont winter closing in, evil is alive and well . . .Frank Rath thought he was done with murder when he turned in his detective's badge to become a private investigator and raise a daughter alone. Then the police in his remote rural community of Canaan find an '89 Monte Carlo abandoned by the side of the road, and the beautiful... read more
2019 James Beard Award NomineeAn enlightening narrative history—an entertaining fusion of Tom Wolfe and Michael Pollan—that traces the colorful origins of once unconventional foods and the diverse fringe movements, charismatic gurus, and counterculture elements that brought them to the mainstream and created a distinctly American cuisine.Food writer Jonathan Kauffman journeys back more than ha... read more
"Unflinching, rich and revelatory."—MEGAN ABBOTT“Gorgeous, moody, and evocative . . . half coming-of-age story and half exhaustively researched true crime.” —VANITY FAIR“Bracingly honest and extremely discomfiting, this book is like a riveting episode of Law & Order: SVU set at a Manhattan prep school with the U.S. Open as a backdrop.”—MARIE CLAIREA riveting blend of true crime and coming-of-a... read more
Lie In Wait (Canaan Crime Novels)
Eric Rickstad
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Silent Girls comes another unforgettable thriller set in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, featuring Detective Sonja TestEven in a quiet Vermont town, unspeakable acts of the past can destroy the peace of the present.In the remote pastoral hamlet of Canaan, Vermont, a high-profile legal case shatters the town’s sense of peace and commu... read more
The Widow's House: A Novel
Carol Goodman
This chilling novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages blends the gothic allure of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca and the crazed undertones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper with the twisty, contemporary edge of A.S.A. Harrison’s The Silent Wife—a harrowing tale of psychological suspense set in New York’s Hudson Valley. When Jess and Clare Mar... read more
Social Creature: A Novel
Tara Isabella Burton
One of the Best Books of the Year: Janet Maslin, The New York TimesVultureNPR"Social Creature is a wicked original with echoes of the greats (Patricia Highsmith, Gillian Flynn)." —Janet Maslin, The New York TimesFor readers of Gillian Flynn and Donna Tartt, a dark, propulsive and addictive debut thriller, splashed with all the glitz and glitter of New York City.They go through both bottles of ... read more
Home Field: A Novel
Hannah Gersen
The heart of Friday Night Lights meets the emotional resonance and nostalgia of My So-Called Life in this moving debut novel about tradition, family, love, and football.As the high school football coach in his small, rural Maryland town, Dean is a hero who reorganized the athletic program and brought the state championship to the community. When he married Nicole, the beloved town sweetheart, ... read more
For all fans of John Hughes and his hit films such as National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sixteen Candles, and Home Alone, comes Jason Diamond’s hilarious memoir of growing up obsessed with the iconic filmmaker’s movies—a preoccupation that eventually convinces Diamond he should write Hughes’ biography and travel to New York City on a quest that is as funny as it is hopeless.For as long as Jason Diam... read more
The Girl in the Castle: A Novel (Deverill Chronicles)
Santa Montefiore
Previously published as The Girl in the CastleIreland. The early twentieth century. Two girls on the cusp of womanhood. A nation on the brink of war. Read their story — and see why JOJO Moyes says that "Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore." Born on the ninth day of the ninth month in the year 1900, Kitty Deverill grows up in Castle Deverill, on the sunning green ghills of West Cork,... read more
The Daughters of Ireland (Deverill Chronicles)
Santa Montefiore
Previously published in the United Kingdom as DAUGHTERS OF CASTLE DEVERILLIreland. 1925. The war is over. But life will never be the same..."Everything Santa Montefiore writes, she writes from the heart,” says JOJO MOYES. See why in this unforgettable story of love, loss, and life, perfect for fans of DOWNTON ABBEY and KATE MORTON.In the green hills of West Cork, Ireland, Castle Deverill has b... read more
CRUSH: Writers Reflect on Love, Longing, and the Lasting Power of Their First Celebrity Crush
Cathy Alter, Dave Singleton
A star-studded collection of essays from acclaimed and bestselling authors and celebrities that illuminates the lasting power of desire and longing, and celebrates our initiation into the euphoria, pain, and mystery that is our first celebrity crush.You never forget your first crush . . .CRUSH brings together stories of heartbreak, humiliation, and hilarity from a roster of popular luminaries,... read more
A Good Man: A Novel
Ani Katz
"I loved this book." —Caroline Kepnes, author of YouA dark and gripping novel of psychological suspense about a family man driven to unspeakable acts, in the vein of The Perfect Nanny and We Need to Talk About Kevin.Thomas Martin was a devoted family man who had all the trappings of an enviable life: a beautiful wife and daughter, a well-appointed home on Long Island's north shore, a job at a ... read more
Black Light: Stories
Kimberly King Parsons
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD“The stories in Black Light are grimy and weird, surprising, utterly lush. . . . I loved every moment of this book.” —Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other PartiesWith raw, poetic ferocity, Kimberly King Parsons exposes desire’s darkest hollows—those hidden places where most of us are afraid to look. In this debut collection of enormously perc... read more
Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down: A Novel
Anne Valente
The lives of four teenagers are capsized by a shocking school shooting and its aftermath in this powerful debut novel, a coming-of-age story with the haunting power of Station Eleven and the bittersweet poignancy of Everything I Never Told You.As members of the yearbook committee, Nick, Zola, Matt, and Christina are eager to capture all the memorable moments of their junior year at Lewis and C... read more
The Day I Died: A Novel
Lori Rader-Day
From the award-winning author of Little Pretty Things comes this gripping, unforgettable tale of a mother's desperate search for a lost boy.Anna Winger can know people better than they know themselves with only a glance—at their handwriting. Hired out by companies wanting to land trustworthy employees and by the lovelorn hoping to find happiness, Anna likes to keep the real-life mess of other ... read more
The China Dogs
Sam Masters
Cujo meets The Manchurian Candidate in this propulsive thriller set in Miami, in which a special ops soldier must uncover a deadly threat to nation security: a nefarious plot using man’s best friend as a deadly weapon.In the blistering heat of Miami, fatal dog attacks are running at record levels. Swimmers, walkers, and homeowners have been shockingly savaged to death. The public is starting t... read more
The Green Muse: An Edouard Mas Novel
Jessie Prichard Hunter
In Belle Époque Paris, the morgue is the place to see and be seen … "This morning I was called upon to photograph the dead again." So begins the story of Edouard Mas, a photographer's assistant with a detective's soul. Edouard's job is to take pictures of corpses before they are carted off to the Paris Morgue. If the bodies are unidentified, they will be put behind glass for the whole city to ... read more
Self Care: A Novel
Stein, Leigh
Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey: A Novel
Rooney, Kathleen
Social Creature: A Novel
Burton, Tara Isabella
Black Light: Stories
Parsons, Kimberly King
A Good Man: A Novel
Katz, Ani
Shit Cassandra Saw: Stories
Kirby, Gwen E.
The Rock Eaters: Stories
Peynado, Brenda
Her Majesty's Royal Coven: A Novel
Dawson, Juno
Margaux has 5 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
If you are considering working with Margaux on your book, I have two words for you, DO IT! 🙌
This was my first experience working with an editor, and Margaux absolutely BLEW AWAY all my expectations. She took my messy manuscript and helped turn it into the story I had always dreamt of writing, but didn't know how.
What's most important is that Margaux actually knows her craft and the ingredien...
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Justice Tilsher, October 2022
Margaux, did her job exceptionally well, thank you!
Eileen Regan, July 2022
Margaux was great. Not only was she sweet and kind (it's always scary to have your first novel examined by a true editor), but also professional and knowledgeable about what needed to be done to my story to make it come full circle. I would recommend her to any writer looking for advice to turn your work in progress into a book for the masses. Thank you, Margaux!
Jennifer Laxson, March 2022
Reply from Margaux Weisman
Margaux was great and very helpful. Her comments were on point and her feedback extremely valuable. I will be happy to work with her again on my future projects.
Emil Buchman, January 2022
So thankful I found Margaux! As soon as I opened her track changes, I knew I had hired the right editor. Margaux didn't just do a basic punctuation and grammar check. She cut out unnecessary fluff, reworked clunky sentences, and made my novel read much more smoothly. She was very communicative and very accommodating with my timeline. Will definitely hire her again!
Kyle Rutkin, November 2021
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