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Philip Connor - Editor
London, United Kingdom
Unbound commissioning editor, enthusiastic about literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. Competitive rates and crowdfunding advice.
Overview
I'm a commissioning editor at Unbound, an award-winning publisher behind books like Letters of Note, The Wake and The Good Immigrant. My job is to find and work with new authors and work with them on their book to get it ready for publication. While at Unbound, I've had the pleasure of working with the likes of Jonathan Coe, Andy Hamilton, David Quantick, Shaun Usher and Matthew Herbert.
Most of the books I've commissioned are due out in late 2016 and 2017, so I'll be adding them here as they appear. I'm very happy to offer competitive rates for interesting projects while I build up my portfolio.
I'm interested in narrative non-fiction - I love books with a human story at their core - and literary fiction. I want to work with the next Martin Amis, Eimear McBride, Julian Barnes or John Banville.
I can also offer advice on how to get published, as well as more specific hands on advice on crowdfunding your book. As well as being an ex-bookseller, I have an MA in Publishing from UCL and deal with many literary agents in London. I can work on cover letters and writing synopsis for you, as well as drawing up a list of potential agents, editors and publishers.
Services
Languages
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Certifications
- MA Publishing from UCL
- BA in Creative Writing, English and History
- Qualified Copyediter from the London School of Publishing
Awards
- Faber & Faber Tebbutt Scholarship
- Cuirt International Festival of Literature New Writing Prize
- The Bookseller Futurebook Hack, Winner of Discoverability Category
Work experience
Commissioning Editor
Unbound
I'm a commissioning editor at Unbound, an award-winning publisher behind books like Letters of Note, The Wake and The Good Immigrant. We've funded over 160 books and won the Bookseller Book of the Year, the PEN Ackerley Prize, the Gordon Burn Prize and been shortlisted for the Booker, Goldsmiths and Folio Prize.
My job involves assessing manuscripts and proposals from authors and agents to find the ones I'm passionate about. I work with the author to pitch their book to potential readers on our website. Once the book is funded, I typically provide two rounds of edits - the first a bigger picture editorial review and the second a line by line edit, if required. I then manage the book through to publication while it is being copyedit, typeset and proofread to answer any queries and take in any corrections.
Editorial Assisstant
Faber & Faber
I worked primarily on the Faber and Faber classics list, learning the basic nuts and bolts of editing and publishing.
Bookseller
Waterstones
Worked at various branches of Waterstones selling books while I completed my MA in Publishing.
Bookseller
Charlie Byrne's Books
Selling books at Ireland's best bookshop. With no computer database of stock, working here is the bookselling equivalent to cab driver's 'The Knowledge'.
Portfolio (8 selected works)
Ladders to Heaven
Mike Shanahan
My Groupon Adventure
Max Dickins
The Sussex Devils: A true story of the 1980s Satanic panic
Marc Heal
"Heartbreaking and breathtaking." (Clive Barker, author of Hellraiser). In 1986 Marc Heal stumbled across a yellowed newspaper cutting about Derry Knight: a man who claimed that he belonged to a secret Satanic group operating at the highest levels of British society. Helped by John Baker, vicar of the Sussex village of Newick, Knight had falsely raised large sums from wealthy gentry on the pre... read more
"Heartbreaking and breathtaking." (Clive Barker, author of Hellraiser). In 1986 Marc Heal stumbled across a yellowed newspaper cutting about Derry Knight: a man who claimed that he belonged to a secret Satanic group operating at the highest levels of British society. Helped by John Baker, vicar of the Sussex village of Newick, Knight had falsely raised large sums from wealthy gentry on the pre... read more
Trust Me, PR Is Dead
Robert Phillips
In Trust Me, PR is Dead, Robert Phillips - the former EMEA CEO of Edelman, the world's largest public relations firm - calls the end of the PR industry and advocates new models of public leadership and public value. He tells tales from the front line and twenty-five years at the summit of PR, from the 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra campaign to sharing the stage with CEOs and prime ministers, as well a... read more
In Trust Me, PR is Dead, Robert Phillips - the former EMEA CEO of Edelman, the world's largest public relations firm - calls the end of the PR industry and advocates new models of public leadership and public value. He tells tales from the front line and twenty-five years at the summit of PR, from the 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra campaign to sharing the stage with CEOs and prime ministers, as well a... read more
A Mighty Boy: A Mother's Journey Through Grief
Sarah Pullen
7 Years of Camera Shake
David Plummer
Philip has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Working with Philip was straightforward and productive. He brings great value to the page.
Bud Morrison, July 2017
Having Philip work on my book with me was an absolute joy. His communication, patience, editing eye and professionalism were second to none. He really helped steer my writing in the right direction through what was quite an emotionally draining process for me personally. I can not recommend him enough, he's a top editor and a top guy.
Larry Meyler, March 2017
Phil's quote, which included some thoughtful notes on samples I had posted, was an indication of his professionalism. He then gave me great notes on the collection based on what was obviously a close reading of the stories. The developmental advice he gave me was very, very useful and has inspired me to build this collection to a fully completed work, where I had been inclined to leave it be...
Duncan MacInnes, March 2017
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