Michael Ford – Editor

For several years, I’ve been the creative lead editor on the globally successful Beast Quest series by Adam Blade, as well as several series by New York Times bestselling author Erin Hunter. In addition, I’ve worked with the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate on projects relating to Sherlock Holmes, and I’ve edited and ghostwritten several books for people in the public eye. To date, I’ve produced books for most of the UK’s major publishers, including Hachette, HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Walker Books. I’ve also worked closely with publishers in the US, China and Germany, giving me a strong understanding of the translation market and a story’s foreign rights potential.

I’ve been working with publishers and writers for 25 years, predominantly in children’s fiction. I’m currently a Senior Commissioning Editor at the packager Working Partners, where I specialise in creating series fiction, from story design all the way through to the finished manuscript. I work directly with writers, while also liaising closely with publishers.

My strengths lie particularly in refining a concept into a marketable, commercial novel - making sure your story has characters that appeal, a hook that draws readers in, and a structure that keeps them engaged until the last page. Over my career, I’ve created and edited hundreds of published books across most children’s age groups and genres, as well as for adults. I’m also an agented, published writer, so I know the challenges of the creative process.

If you choose to work with me, you can expect a personable approach, detailed editorial insight, and complete engagement with your project. I know it can be difficult to share your work, but I’ll do my best to make the process as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, with the ultimate goal of helping you achieve publication.