Sarah Jaffe

Sarah Jaffe – Editor

14+ years of experience publishing bestselling, award-winning authors in all genres. Let me help make your book the best it can possibly be!

Overview

With over a decade of experience in New York publishing, I have analyzed thousands of manuscripts in order to bring their audio adaptations to life. Working with the raw text, I've developed an ear for the rhythm of good pacing, examined how to bring a reader into a world at the sentence level, and learned how to establish characters so sharply drawn they step off the page and walk beside you. This critical lens has touched the audio works of Rebecca Solnit, Salman Rushdie, Helen Oyeyemi, Lorrie Moore, and Jacqueline Woodson, among countless other literary luminaries, and I've worked hands-on with authors to craft and curate work created especially for audio.


Prior to my work as an audio producer, I assisted acquiring editors who taught me how to identify an effective query letter, polish a diamond-in-the-rough manuscript to a gotta-have-it glow, and sell a story to readers through the magic of snappy flap copy -- say what you will, but we all judge a book by what it says on the cover!


As a beta reader, coach, and development editor, I've brought a keen eye -- one that appraises each comma, aside, and piece of dialogue to make sure it fits perfectly in a text -- to such varied work as the satire of writer Kate Hakala (The New Yorker, Playboy, The Offing, Reductress), the forthcoming memoir HOTSHOT by Anastasia Selby (Grove Atlantic), and several picture books and YA/middle-grade novels-in-progress.


I pride myself on connecting with writers and their work in a sensitive, supportive, nuanced, holistic, honest, and collaborative way, and I can't wait to work together!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Humor & Comedy Magical Realism Romantic Comedy Social & Family Issues
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • DELF B2 French Fluency
  • MFA, The Writer's Foundry @ St. Joseph's University (2026)

Work experience

Penguin Random House Audio

Jul, 2010 — Present

I’m the hands and ears behind nearly 1,500 audiobooks across all imaginable genres, and I’ve been lucky enough to produce (and sometimes direct) a list that includes Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award winners and nominees, as well as New York Times best-sellers and plain old great reads. My productions have garnered Audie Awards and nominations, Odyssey Honors, and countless Earphones Awards, and my work has been featured or reviewed in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NPR's All Things Considered, and elsewhere.

I'm passionate about great stories told well, and I bring a keen creative sensibility to my work: whether it’s pioneering audio original content, adapting visual texts into aural experiences, navigating complex fiction with multiple languages or points of view, or simply helping authors to sound like the very best versions of themselves.

HarperCollins

Jun, 2009 — Sep, 2009 (3 months)

Melville House

Jan, 2009 — May, 2009 (5 months)

Holly Black

Sep, 2008 — May, 2010 (over 1 year)

Sarah has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

David P.

David P.

Dec, 2023

Pinned
Working with Sarah was a pleasure. She was very thorough, and showed great attention to detail. Her suggestions were mostly quite specific (rather than vague), making it easier for me to act on them. I also appreciated her patience in dealing with my endless questions.
Theresa L.

Theresa L.

Oct, 2024

Sarah is incredible! From our first phone call to the final edits, she was a delight to work with. She took the time and energy to thoroughly understand my goals for the book. Then she provided the feedback/edits to bring my book to the next level, beyond what I could see. I highly recommend working with Sarah!
Zena S.

Zena S.

Aug, 2024

Special thanks are extended to Sarah for her help in refining my manuscript even with a time crunch. Sarah's notes were very concise and helpful and she caught certain things that I had let slip completely. We had an initial meeting where Sarah asked me some questions and we discussed what the goal for the book was which was really helpful. After making some changes based on her edits, I'm so v...
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