Molly Gendell – Editor

I'm an avid reader and passionate editor with ten years working in the publishing industry. I spent five years as an editor at HarperCollins where I edited and published a range of fiction and nonfiction, specializing in upmarket, book club, and literary fiction with the occasional romance and thriller. Books I've worked on have become bestsellers, award winners, and celebrity and retail book club picks.

More recently, I worked as a literary scout, working closely with 20+ international publishers and film/TV studios to recommend books from the US for them to pick up for translation and adaptation. I read and wrote reports on books across all genres, from romantasy to self-help to literary fiction. I also developed strong contacts throughout the publishing industry, giving me a uniquely big-picture view of the publishing world.

The most rewarding part of my job as an editor has always been collaborating with authors and helping them polish their manuscripts to be the best they can be. I view the editing process as a conversation: my edits are meant as suggestions to help get your book to where you want it to be, but you as the author know the book the best and I never want to change your unique voice.

In addition to developmental and line editing, I am available for query letter or descriptive copy review. I have lots of experience both in writing selling descriptive copy and in reading query letters, so I know what editors and agents are looking for and am well-positioned to assist with finding comparative titles and figuring out how best to position your book. Please be in touch with any questions about the services I offer or my past experience, I'm looking forward to working with you!