Michelle Griffin – Editor

I have a theory that editing a book is a bit like cleaning your house: no one should notice if you do it right, but everyone will notice if you don’t ...

And sometimes you just need to hire a professional to get the job done.

I have worked in publishing since 2003, spending over seventeen years as an in-house editor and proofreader, though I have often worn other hats: production editor, permissions expert, typesetter and even, when a Mac or printer occasionally let us down, tech support. The publishing world can be demanding, changeable and all-consuming, but I love everything about it.

In particular, I love working directly with an author and helping them fine-tune their work – whether that means drilling down to find the real heart of a story; working out the kinks in a plot; or emphasising the key information in history texts or memoirs. It is a unique and immensely satisfying relationship, one built on trust and mutual respect – authors need to know that their book is in safe hands, and I pride myself on being knowledgeable and professional, but also open, friendly and fun to work with.

For over thirteen years, I was an editor with the prestigious Irish publisher, Blackstaff Press. There I specialised in commercial editing; working as key editor, proofreader or project manager on titles by first-time and high-profile writers alike (including award-winning authors, MLAs, former city mayors and prominent sports personalities).

I am also an experienced educational editor, working for several years with Blackstaff’s sister company, Colourpoint Education. There, I edited and proofread resources for KS3, GCSE and A level. I liaised with teachers, principal officers, chief examiners etc. to ensure copy was consistent in style, facts were accurate and that the text covered the curriculum specifications.

Over the years I have worked on a wide range of titles, but the ones of which I am most proud are:

LITERARY FICTION

- ‘The Pen Friend’, Ciaran Carson

- ‘The Third Party’, Glenn Patterson

- ‘The Dancer’s Dancing’, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (2010 reprint)

HISTORY

- The ‘Written in Stone’ series, Tom Hartley

- ‘May, Lou and Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland’, Sophia Hillan

- ‘The Belfast Blitz’, Stephen Douds

- 'Titanic: Icon of an Age', Michael McCaughan

FANTASY

- The ‘Folk’d’ trilogy, Laurence Donaghy

- ‘The Polaris Whisper’, Ken Gregory

CRIME/THRILLER

- ‘A River of Bodies’, Kevin Doyle

ANTHOLOGIES

- ‘The Ulster Anthology’, Patricia Craig

- ‘Weird Belfast’, Reggie Chamberlain-King

- ‘Earth Voices Whispering: An Anthology of Irish War Poetry 1914-45’, Gerald Dawe

MEMOIR

- ‘A Time to Speak’, Helen Lewis (2010 reprint)

- ‘The Place I Call Home’, Anna Lo

EDUCATION

- 'AS Russia 1914-41', Jim McBride

- 'AS Northern Ireland Government and Politics', Lesley Veronica

- 'Electoral Contests in Northern Ireland', Alan Parkinson