Roisin Heycock - Editor
Publisher & Development Editor. I run Oneworld Children's, previously set up Quercus Children's. Worked at Faber, Macmillan, Hachette.
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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
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
Languages
English (AUS)
English (CAN)
English (NZ)
English (UK)
English (US)
Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Literary Fiction
Middle Grade
Picture Books
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Young Adult
Work experience
Director of Children's and YA, Oneworld, Freelance Editorial Consultant
Self-employed
April, 2016
–
Present
(over 6 years)
Publishing Director
Quercus Children's Books
June, 2007
–
January, 2016
(over 8 years)
• 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
August, 2004
–
May, 2007
(almost 3 years)
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
July, 2002
–
April, 2007
(almost 5 years)
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
Ashes
Ilsa J. Bick
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.
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
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
Roisin has 173 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Wonderful to work with! A keen sense for "seeding" subtle details at earlier stages of the story only to have them "blossom" at story's end. She is a consummate professional!
Gail A, October 2022
Very impressed by Roisin's credentials and informed response to my request for an editorial assessment. She highlighted strengths in the story and showed great interest in the opportunity to work on it, prior to being selected. Her subsequent assessment and suggested revisions greatly contributed to the structural improvement and flow of the story. She is great to work with.
Gail A, September 2022
Roisin has been a great collaborator for my developmental edit. She has great ideas, gives thoughtful responses and I am excited to implement the changes she has suggested in order to improve my manuscript. I wouldn't hesitate to work with Roisin again, or to recommend her to other authors.
Nicholas Hodgson, August 2022
I recommend Roisin 100%. She gave me exactly what I needed: a summary of what my story is actually about, positive feedback where the story is strong, and course corrective feedback where it needs more work. I would definitely hire this brilliant editor again. She is more than an editor, she is a compassionate guide. Thank you, Roisin!
Karen Berry Powell, August 2022
It was a pleasure to work with Roisin - a true professional. Her assessment of my manuscript was thorough, candid, and insightful, and will be invaluable in assisting me to write a new draft. She understood what I was aiming for and made some excellent suggestions about how I can better achieve my goal. I recommend her without hesitation.
Brian Slattery, August 2022
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