Samuel Hodder – Editor

Would you like a detailed editorial assessment or developmental edit of your manuscript, to bring it into brilliant shape before submitting to agents?

Or are you looking for help in drafting the perfect query letter — one that will stand out from the many letters agents receive each week?

I can help with all of this.

I have 18 years' experience in publishing, most recently as a literary agent for Blake Friedmann in London, where I worked for 8 years until 2023. My absolute favourite part of that role was to find manuscripts in my submissions — often by authors who had never been published — and work closely and sensitively with the author to prepare their manuscript to submit to publishers. I enjoyed learning about an author's vision for the book and developing the elements that made it special. It was a process that often ended with an exciting publisher auction for the rights.

Books I represented and edited as an agent were sold to publishers in the USA and UK — including to HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, Penguin Random House, Hachette, Europa, Bonnier and Audible — were translated into more than a dozen languages internationally, and optioned for film and TV — even for theatre and opera! They were also shortlised for major literary prizes, including the Nero Prize for Fiction (2023), Polari First Book Prize (2021) and Authors' Club First Book Award (2023) and won the First Novel Prize (2024).

I especially love literary and historical fiction, as well as romance and family dramas, and a story having LGBTQ+ themes is always a positive for me. I like being surprised and I successfully found publication deals for first-time fantasy and science-fiction authors. I am experienced with non-fiction too — prior to becoming a literary agent I was for 8 years an editor for psychology at the world's leading academic publisher.

I am available for query letter review (as an agent I read thousands a year, so I know what catches an agent's eye), developmental editing, editorial assessment and book coaching. If you would like help to make your manuscript really shine then I would love to hear from you.

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Endorsements:

"Throughout the writing of 'The River Within' and 'Fifteen Wild Decembers', Sam offered vast amounts of editorial advice as well as endless support. His extensive knowledge of the publishing world, cheerful encouragement, and ability to give incisive criticism with the gentlest of touches are exceptional."

— Karen Powell, shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards, 2023

"Sam guided me expertly through the editing of my novel ahead of submission to publishers. He provided detailed, pinpointed feedback at every stage of the process, offering invaluable advice on how to turn my novel into the best possible version of itself. He is an astute and highly sensitive reader — attentive both to the 'line-level' and the larger structure. It was a gift to have him as a mentor!"

— James Cahill, shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Book Award, 2023