Overview
I am a picture-book editor based in the UK with over ten years’ experience working in-house for some of the UK’s biggest children’s publishers, including Puffin, HarperCollins, Hachette and Walker Books. My experience is wide-ranging – I have worked across picture books, pre-school brands, non-fiction and young fiction. I would love to work together to help you realise your vision and hone your text to perfection!
I am passionate about nurturing talent and playing a part in creating beautiful books that will stand out in the market, spark wonder in the reader and be treasured for a lifetime. I am obsessed with picture books of every kind, from the hilarious to the heartwarming, in rhyme or prose! I can help you develop your writing style, story ideas and character development, as well as giving you helpful tips on pacing, imagining how your words will work with illustrations, picture-book layouts and market research.
I hope to be the perfect partner to you in your writing journey, and to help you take your stories to the next level. I love nothing more than working with authors and helping them to see their work with fresh eyes. Your authorial voice is your most important asset - so I will likely ask you a lot of questions about your story and characters in the editorial process that will hopefully help you to delve deeper and express what you want to say in your own unique way.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Walker Books
Editing a broad list of picture books, young fiction and middle grade titles from emerging and established authors such as Joseph Coelho, Briony May Smith, Jarvis, Catherine Jacob and Patricia Toht, among many others.
Finding and developing new talent and commissioning new titles.
Puffin Books (Penguin Random House)
Managing and developing an extensive programme of core publishing and spin-offs for the No.1 bestselling Greg the Sausage Roll series.
Developing new picture book titles from emerging and established authors including Joseph Coelho, Kes Gray, Rhiannon Findlay and Helen Docherty, among others.
Finding and developing new talent and commissioning new titles.
Hachette Children's Books
Lead editor for picture book authors David Melling, Ellie Sandall, Pippa Curnick, Elys Dolan and Jo Weaver, among others, and non-fiction author Nicola Davies.
As an editor, I worked with author Rachael Davis on I am NOT a Prince and with Marcela Ferreira on The Queen Next Door, both of which were shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize (2023 and 2024 respectively).
Finding and developing new talent and bringing new ideas through the acquisitions process.
HarperCollins Children's Books
Providing desk editorial support and creative input on author/illustrator-led picture books, IP series and pre-school brands, across a variety of formats including novelty books and digital.
HarperCollins Children's Books
Responsible for building and maintaining the public profiles of highly successful children's authors and heritage brands including Derek Landy, Rob Biddulph and Richard Scarry.
Portfolio
Nicola has 1 review
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
JP H.
Feb, 2025
