Siân Heap

Siân Heap – Editor

Passionate and supportive editor devoted to helping authors find their voice and write bestsellers. Genres: crime, thriller & romance

Overview

I’m a creative, diligent and passionate editor with over six years of editorial experience working with authors at leading independent publishers. Before moving into editorial, I worked in publicity with household names and Sunday Times Bestselling authors, but working with authors to bring their books to life has always been my favourite part of the job and I’m thrilled and privileged to spend every day doing it. As a freelance editor, I now work with everybody from Big Five publishers to debut indie authors. I know writing a book can be an emotional process and whatever path you want your publishing journey to take, I’m here to guide you through the editing process with sensitivity and care.

I have experience editing everything from atmospheric police procedurals to heart-warming romcoms, from charming cosy mysteries with loveable sleuths to nail-biting, twisty suspense. Authors I have worked with have gone on to become Amazon bestsellers, been shortlisted for major prizes and had their lives transformed by their writing careers. Using my years of publishing digital and print bestsellers, I can help you realise your vision in the most commercial way possible to ensure success. During my career in publishing, I have judged prizes, managed submissions inboxes and acquired books directly from authors and from literary agents – I know what it takes for your submission and novel to stand out.

My editorial style is backed by years of publishing experience and kindness. I believe writing is a human process and I want editing to be inspiring, enjoyable and invigorating for you as an author. I specialise in genre fiction and always have the reader experience at the forefront of my mind. I want to help you create a page-turning bestseller, so I’ll show you what is working and explain why something may not be, so that I can help you find the best solution and take your writing to the next level.

Services
Fiction
LGBTQ Fiction Mystery & Crime Romance Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • University of St Andrews - Modern History & English Literature, MA (Hons)
  • Oxford Brookes University - Publishing Media, MA
  • Copyediting 1 – The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2025 — Present
I’m a freelance editor and publishing consultant working with authors and publishers. I specialise in commercial fiction and have extensive experience editing and publishing bestsellers.

Canelo

Apr, 2019 — Jul, 2024 (over 5 years)
- Commissioned and published both established and debut authors in the commercial fiction, specialising in the crime and thriller genres - Structurally edited titles, wrote copy, briefed covers, read direct and agented submissions, optimised book metadata and created publication strategies - Worked closely with authors and agents, both domestically and internationally

Joffe Books

Jul, 2024 — Apr, 2025 (9 months)
- Commissioning crime, thriller and suspense resulting in multiple Kindle Top 100 Bestsellers directly from authors and from established literary agents - Guiding authors and agents through the publication process from acquisition to publication day and beyond - Providing detailed structural notes and feedback on manuscripts - Utilising market knowledge to acquire, brief covers and write engaging blurbs for a commercial digital readership

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Nothing Left Behind (Detective Liz Field, Book 2)

Hannah Brennan

HarperCollins Publishers

‘Emergency. Which service do you require?’ ‘He’s trying to burn down my house. He’s going to kill me.’ They thought it was another false alarm. They were wrong. This page-turning crime thrille... read more
Copy Editing
Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Husband: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller (Unputdownable Domestic Suspense)

O'SULLIVAN, DARREN

Joffe Books psychological thrillers, suspense and crime

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing

Siân has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Patricia R.

Patricia R.

Jun, 2025

Pinned
Siân did a developmental edit of my novel. Her work was very thorough. She prepared an editorial report and also added multiple comments in the manuscript. I'm really happy I chose her. Her thoughts and suggestions were incredibly insightful and inspiring. They made me think of aspects I hadn't ...
Read more
Siân H.
Thank you so much Patricia! It was such a pleasure to work with you and on your brilliant novel. I'm looking forward to working together again!
Shelagh H.

Shelagh H.

Jun, 2025

Pinned
Siân provided an impressive manuscript assessment. She identified elements that, in her view, needed attention and she was correct and helpful at every turn. She saw the big picture of the story and provided encouraging and realistic feedback. I don’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone thinking ...
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Siân H.
Thank you so much Shelagh! I'm so pleased you were happy with the edit – it was such a pleasure working with you. Good luck with the next steps!
Patricia R.

Patricia R.

Sep, 2025

Siân did a review of my agent query package and provided excellent suggestions. It's looking all the better for it. She had previously done the developmental edit of the novel which was incredibly helpful. She is very reliable and always delivers the work on time. She responds promptly to any que...
Read more
Siân H.
Thank you so much, Patricia! It was such a pleasure to work with you. Wishing you the very best in your querying journey – I'm keeping all my fingers crossed for you!

Most recent contributions

How do you balance being critical while encouraging authors through your feedback?

I always want to give actionable and clear feedback to an author. Although pointing out weaknesses in a manuscript can feel like criticism, it’s never meant as such. It’s my job to provide insight for why something isn’t working so I always endeavour to find a balance between explanation and su...
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What's the best piece of writing advice for an author who wants to improve their craft?

Practice and read! In the same way that you need to practice a musical instrument to get better, you need to do the same with writing too. Very few writers will publish the first book they ever write! The other thing that will help you to improve your writing craft is reading. Read the books t...
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How do editors stay updated on current trends in publishing?

As a commercial fiction editor, I need to make sure I'm keeping up to date on the latest trends in publishing to ensure that I'm advising my clients appropriately. I do this through being a member of professional organisations like the Charted Institute of Editing and Proofreading and taking prof...
Read more

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