Meghan Houser

Meghan Houser – Editor

Passionate editor and writing coach with a decade of experience at Penguin Random House and Macmillan.

Overview

As an acquiring editor at Penguin Random House and Macmillan I specialized in narrative and idea-driven nonfiction, with titles across memoir, journalism, history, cultural criticism, and popular science. Authors I have worked with include Rachel Maddow, Emmanuel Acho, Ted Koppel, Daniel Libeskind, Ai Wei Wei, Nicholas Kristof, Lauren Markham, Matt Alt, and Gary Krist, among many others. I have edited New York Times Bestsellers, winners of the Whiting Award, the Ridenhour Prize, the California Silver Book Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, titles shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, PEN Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and an Oprah’s Favorite Things pick.

As an independent editor I draw on the breadth of my experience with each project, seeking to bring new voices, and books, to readers everywhere. My clients include memoirists seeking to frame their story or just get everything down on the page, academics finding a voice for a trade audience, and authors structuring their first outline, preparing a manuscript for submission, or retooling a proposal after feedback.

Whether you know what you're looking for in an editorial partnership or want to explore possibilities, don't hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to reading your story!
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Computers & Internet History Nature Philosophy
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Sep, 2021 — Present

I offer developmental editing, line editing, book concepting, and writing coaching for authors at any stage of the writing and publishing process.

Flatiron Books, Macmillan

Jan, 2020 — Aug, 2021 (over 1 year)

Senior editor of narrative and idea-driven nonfiction. Acquired and edited titles across popular science, history, cultural criticism, memoir, and journalism, by authors including Emmanuel Acho, Stephanie Cacioppo, Leidy Klotz, Mary Childs, Michael Tubbs, Marie Brenner, and Ben Ramalingam.

Crown Publishing Group, Penguin Random House

Feb, 2015 — Dec, 2019 (almost 5 years)

Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House

Oct, 2012 — Feb, 2015 (over 2 years)

Editorial assistant to VP and Senior Editor within the Knopf publishing group. Worked with authors including Nicholas Kristof, Robert Gates, Eric Schmidt, Robert Reich, and T.J. Stiles.

Columbia University Press

Aug, 2012 — Oct, 2012 (2 months)

Portfolio

Edge of Order

Libeskind, Daniel

How Democracies Die

Levitsky, Steven

Meghan has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Ana S.

Ana S.

Jun, 2024

I feel very lucky to have happened upon Meghan. She completely understood what I wanted to do with my work and gave perfectly tailored advice. I would recommend to any author, but especially those who are writing non-fiction.
Ekaterina H.

Ekaterina H.

Jun, 2024

Meghan is amazing!! Very thorough, detailed, and timely! I will def be going to her again!

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