Overview
While Editorial Director of Del Rey at Penguin Random House UK I published many exciting writers including Andy Weir, author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Martian, the award-winning Kameron Hurley, Mark Hodder and Liesel Schwarz, epic fantasy writer Django Wexler and more.
Before that I was a professional Head Office Fiction Buyer and Bookseller at Waterstones for 15 years, specialising in genre fiction from SF & Fantasy to Crime, Romance, Westerns, Graphic Novels and Manga.
In today’s competitive market, making sure your manuscript is as ‘submission-ready’ as possible will give you the greatest chance of placing your work with an agent or publisher.
I have a unique blend of experience in both publishing and the retail book trade and my aim is to work closely with you to make your book as submission or self-publishing ready as possible. I offer various services, from a full developmental structural edit to a ‘first-look’ reader report, as well as practical advice on how to proceed at the beginning of your project.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- MA in Science Fiction Studies, The University of Liverpool
- BA (Combined Honours) in English Literature and History
- Copy-Editing and Proofreading, The Publishing Training Centre
- Creative Copywriting, Punch It Up
Work experience
Rebellion Publishing
I have recently joined Rebellion Publishing to commission across their Solaris and Abaddon Books imprints, specialising in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.
Self-employed
I'm now working as a full-time freelance fiction editor and publishing consultant, based in the North West of England.
Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House UK
As the Editorial Director of Science Fiction and Fantasy at Ebury Publishing, I launched and ran Del Rey, the dedicated Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror imprint of Penguin Random House UK. During my time there I was the editor for many exciting authors and books, including the Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy selection THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir, The Shadow Campaigns series by Django Wexler, the award-winning Del Dame Apocrypha series by Kameron Hurley and the second Burton and Swinburne Adventures trilogy by Mark Hodder.
Waterstones Head Office
During my time as a Head Office Fiction Buyer I had various roles. I worked as a Core Range Buyer, where I managed the whole backlist fiction range for the company, to Category Buyer then Campaign Buyer looking after all genre fiction, including Crime, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Manga, Classics, Romance Fiction, Westerns and Erotic Fiction.
Waterstones
At the Waterstones Manchester Deansgate Branch I looked after various sections, specialising in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Graphic Novels. At various times, I also looked after the Crime Fiction, Reference, Foreign Languages, Humour, Audio and Board Games sections. I particularly enjoyed running many author events and edited the in-house genre fiction magazine Enigma.
Portfolio
Michael has 69 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
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EJ D.
Apr, 2021
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Jan, 2021
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Jul, 2020
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Apr, 2020
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Dec, 2019
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