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Roisin Heycock - Editor
London, United Kingdom
Publisher & Development Editor. I run Oneworld Children's, previously set up Quercus Children's. Worked at Faber, Macmillan, Hachette.
Overview
‘What a pleasure it was to be able to work with Roisin! The joy wasn't just the expert notes I received, which swiftly improved the work; what I liked best was the comfort of having an industry expert, who was rooting for me. Thank you, Roisin! I would fight ten strong men in your honour! I would wrestle beasts!’
Andrew Clover, author and scriptwriter
I'm a publisher and structural editor with 15 years experience in the trade, where I have commissioned, edited, managed and published at Macmillan, Faber & Faber, Quercus and Hachette. Under my leadership, Quercus won the YA prize in 2015 and the Guardian Prize in 2014. I currently run the YA and children's list at Oneworld, winner of the Booker Prize 2015 and 2016.
Stuck plots, baggy middle sections, stories in need of a sprinkle of fairy dust: as a development editor I relish helping, shaping and taking my judicious scalpel to an author's work. I am a rigorous, insightful and creative, and take a long-term approach to enable a writer to learn the skills to get better book by book and build a career.
When it comes to your pitch, I have up-to-date and excellent book market experience and the vision to go with it. I have published and marketed a whole range of best-selling and prize-winning books successfully for a number of big-name and independent publishers. I have vast experience of acquisitions meetings for all types of books and still attend them, so I have a sharp sense of what publishers want and how to pitch to them. I have excellent publicity and marketing experience and key industry contacts.
'I was lucky enough to have my debut novel in Roisin's capable hands. She's has great vision and insight, is always supportive and a delight to work with.'
Cat Clarke, best-selling and award-winning author of ENTANGLED, TORN, UNDONE and THE LOST AND THE FOUND
‘I found Roisin’s structural comments to be incisive and perceptive, resulting in a much tighter manuscript. She is very supportive and contactable, encouraging me professionally and attending my author events. Roisin is organised and approachable – I feel lucky to have worked with her.’ Olivia Levez, author of THE ISLAND and THE CIRCUS
Services
Languages
Fiction
Work experience
Director of Children's and YA, Oneworld, Freelance Editorial Consultant
Self-employed
Publishing Director
Quercus Children's Books
• Developed a commercial and multiple-prize-winning children’s list with an excellent reputation (5+ – YA)
• Built an editorial team to develop exciting and profitable print and digital books with international rights
• Quercus Children’s Books won the Guardian Children’s Prize 2014 and inaugural Bookseller YA prize 2015
Editor
Faber & Faber
Books edited included: Mouse Noses on Toast (Nestlé Gold winner 2006); Tim The Tiny Horse by Harry Hill, Flanimals by Ricky Gervais, High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney
Editorial Assistant
Macmillan Children's Books
Books edited included: Mouse Noses on Toast (Nestlé Gold winner 2006); Tim The Tiny Horse by Harry Hill, Flanimals by Ricky Gervais, High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney
Portfolio (6 selected works)
The Island
Olivia Levez
Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy. Survival is hard and so is being honest about the past. Frances is a survivor however and with the help of the only other crash survivo... read more
Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy. Survival is hard and so is being honest about the past. Frances is a survivor however and with the help of the only other crash survivo... read more
1st trade edition paperback new In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Unhooking the Moon
Gregory Hughes
A funny, joyful, touching road-trip adventure, with the most magical, entertaining girl character to ever dance through the pages of a children's book.
A funny, joyful, touching road-trip adventure, with the most magical, entertaining girl character to ever dance through the pages of a children's book.
Undone
Cat Clarke
Illuminae: The Illuminae Files: Book 1 (Illuminae Files 1)
Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment and Warner Bros are set to bring YA sci-fi novel Illuminae to the big screen. The year is 2575 and two mega-corporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice covered speck. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them Ezra and Kady have to make their escape on the evacuating fleet. But their tro... read more
Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment and Warner Bros are set to bring YA sci-fi novel Illuminae to the big screen. The year is 2575 and two mega-corporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice covered speck. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them Ezra and Kady have to make their escape on the evacuating fleet. But their tro... read more
Entangled
Cat Clarke
Cat Clarke evokes just how it feels to be seventeen, in this gripping novel of dangerous secrets, intense friendships and electrifying attraction. The same questions whirl round and round in my head: What does he want from me? How could I have let this happen? AM I GOING TO DIE? Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper ??? and no clue how she got there. As ... read more
Cat Clarke evokes just how it feels to be seventeen, in this gripping novel of dangerous secrets, intense friendships and electrifying attraction. The same questions whirl round and round in my head: What does he want from me? How could I have let this happen? AM I GOING TO DIE? Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper ??? and no clue how she got there. As ... read more
Roisin has 6 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Roisin is expensive so I had some reservations, but she showed genuine insight and understanding of the work - considerably more so even than other professionals who have had occasion to review the story. Her feedback was clear, concise and exactly the kind of bigger picture stuff I was looking for. In addition, she provided marketing advice which I hope will prove equally invaluable. In concl...
brin murray, July 2017
I’m very glad I chose to work with Roisin on the manuscript of my first book. Her edit helped me look at my work with fresh eyes, clearly pinpointing the key areas where I could substantially improve the final product. With her depth of knowledge of children’s and young adult fiction she was also able to give me some excellent advice on where in the market I could best position my book. I would...
Martin Condell, June 2017
I am over the moon I chose to collaborate with Roisin on my first novel. She has provided insightful advice about developing my book to appeal to my competitive target market with a perfect balance of encouragement and critisism. Her editorial expertise has been valuable in helping shape, pace and rework my manuscript in the first steps in turning an idea into a commercially viable piece of wo...
Emily Grice, June 2017
Roisin did a terrific job with my manuscript. Her turnaround was quick, her comments incisive, and she zeroed in on the facets of the narrative that needed better focus. A great editor doesn't just make for a better manuscript, but for a better writer, and she did that. I would work with Roisin again. Fabulous editor.
KC Davis, May 2017
Roisin is very timely and professional. I received a lot of very good feedback, including how to make my project more marketable to agents and publishers.
Brent Robins, April 2017
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