Mark Leggatt

Mark Leggatt – Editor

I'm an editor and manuscript assessor, and passionate about making your novel the best it can be. Special offers available!

Overview

I'm a publishing professional, editor and manuscript assessor, and specialise in detailed manuscript assessments for clients in the UK, EU and North America.


I love to work with debut authors and show them the route to taking their book up to the level required for publication. It's hard work, but great fun.


I recently assessed and edited the #1 bestselling Sci-Fi/Techno-Thriller on Amazon, ARTIFICIAL WISDOM by Thomas Weaver. This will be republished in the US & UK by Penguin Random House in 2025.


I've also recently completed the assessment and final edit of EXIT WOUNDS for crime author Neil Broadfoot, which will be published by Hachette in January 2025.


Several of my authors have gained agents in the US and UK, and I have wide experience in working with leading literary consultancies. Author testimonials are available on request.


As a prospective client, I have stood in your shoes, having taken professional advice at the start of my career, and I've never looked back. There are reasons why a good book is a good book, and I love to pass on all the experience I've gained in my career.


When I'm not assessing and editing, I'm the author of four novels, and topped Blackwell's bestseller charts on two occasions. My latest novel PENITENT was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, the Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2023, and reviewed in the national press.


I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.


Testimonials

"Mark is first and foremost a pleasure to work with. He was as passionate about the project as I was, and he would be upfront when something was not working, but never in a way that demoralized me. He’s a consummate professional who always showed up and brought his full attention to our meetings. I can’t recommend him enough."

Thomas R. Weaver - Amazon #1 Technothriller Bestseller, sold globally to Penguin Random House.


“Mark is an insightful and highly skilled editor. His has the ability to develop a strong rapport with his clients to ensure a constructive working relationship based on trust that ensures manuscripts achieve their true potential.”

– Neil Broadfoot,- Author, and McIllvanney and Dundee International Book Prize nominee.

Services
Fiction
Cozy Mysteries Dystopian Espionage Horror Psychological Thriller Steampunk Technothriller
Languages
English (UK)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2014 — Present

I provide manuscript and query assessments for both debut and published authors, who require a detailed assessment of their work. This includes commercial potential, strengths, voice and style, dialogue, narrative drive, plotting and structure, and any other area that requires specialist attention.

My clients range from Cuba to Canada, Spain to Surrey, and Estonia to Edinburgh. I assess manuscripts with an experienced eye and a feel for the market.

I specialise in Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Thrillers, whether they're international, conspiracy, psychological or technothriller.

I have also assessed, edited and developmental edited, five crimes novel for Neil Broadfoot (Hachette) and two for Tom Weaver (Penguin Random House). Finally, I have edited and assessed self-published novels for several authors, including Gabriel Galletti and NS Brooks.

Several of my authors have gained agents in the US and UK, and I have wide experience in working with leading literary consultancies.

Portfolio

Artificial Wisdom

Weaver, Thomas R.

Chainmaker Pr

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review
Exit Wounds

Broadfoot, Neil

Constable

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Unmarked Graves

Broadfoot, Neil

Constable

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Violent Ends (Connor Fraser)

Broadfoot, Neil

Constable

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
No Quarter Given (Connor Fraser)

Broadfoot, Neil

Constable

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Point of No Return

Broadfoot, Neil

Constable

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review
Revenge

Brooks, N S

NS Brooks

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Betrayed

Brooks, N S

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment

Mark has 8 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

David T.

David T.

Nov, 2024

Pinned
Having used six editors for my books over time, Mark far outpaces the pack. His original approach was to set up a pre-meeting on line to discuss the work as he saw my manuscript. I wanted an editor and a coach to guide faults I knew rested within my word composition. Yet, some common faults I had been guilty of committing were so fundamental to writing a good novel that I had missed them and t...
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Mark L.
Thanks David, It was a pleasure, and good luck with your editing! all the best, Mark
Thomas L.

Thomas L.

Feb, 2025

Mark is that special sort of editor you hope to find if you're very lucky: super-responsive, creative, insightful, and encouraging. He gave me the tools and understanding needed to take my manuscript from a passion project useful only to myself, to a commercially viable novel that publishers would consider. For good reason, he's a busy man, so plan to schedule your project well in advance to fi...
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Mark L.
Thanks, Thomas, I really enjoyed working with you, and reading your book. It's a fantastic idea - hope to see it on the shelves one day!
Robert P.

Robert P.

Dec, 2024

Mark was a pleasure to work with. It was a delightful and productive partnership. He understood my humor, my characters, my plot, and the importance of creating even more narrative drive in the Thriller genre. Several of his criticisms served as springboards for new chapters, which exploded my creativity so easily they seemed to write themselves. I learned two helpful techniques about writing d...
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Mark L.
Thanks, Robert, it was an absolutely pleasure. Great stories and writing make my job so much easier!
william J. O.

william J. O.

Dec, 2024

I can’t begin to say how valuable this process has been. As a beginner writer I had no clue but Mark helped navigating me through the uncharted waters. I highly recommend him, he is honest and will help deliver the story as best as possible.
Mark L.
Thanks William, it was a pleasure. I'm looking forward to seeing the book on the bookshelves!
Thomas B.

Thomas B.

Nov, 2024

Mark did a great job, even if he is a Scottsman! ;-) I will use him again.
Mark L.
Thanks, Thomas, it was a pleasure!

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