Simon Mason – Editor

As an editor for Penguin Random House and David Fickling Books, I worked on books by some truly wonderful writers. Titles include:Daemon Voices: Essays on Storytelling by Philip Pullman (Guardian Best Books 2017; Wall Street Journal Notable Book, winner of the Anne Izard Award in the US).I was also part of the editorial team working on Philip Pullman's novels La Belle Sauvage and The Secret Commonwealth.* YA novel Unbecoming by multi-award winning Jenny Downham('Exceptional.' Kirkus Reviews, starred review)* The Mysterious Life of Dr Barry by best-selling Lisa Williamson (forthcoming)* Middle-grade novel Black Arts by Andrew Prentice and Jon Weil('brilliant, a great blend of action, adventure, magic, horror and humour.' Charlie Higson)For this I was short-listed for the Branford Boase Award, UK's premier first-children's-novel prize, which jointly honours author and editor.*Picture book Very Little Red Riding Hood by Teresa Heapy ('fabulous - sure to become a bedtime delight' The Sun).I'm currently setting up a new series of rollicking adventure stories from world history for middle-grade readers, 'True Adventures', and working with some great authors such as award-winning Catherine Johnson and best-selling Lisa Williamson. They'll be published by Pushkin Press from August onwards.Earlier in my career, I commissioned and edited trade/academic non-fiction for Oxford University Press (Oxford History of Art series), Thames and Hudson (best-selling Styles, Schools and Movements) and Greenwood (Young British Muslim Voices).My own YA novels include: Garvie Smith mysteries Kid Got Shot (Crimefest Best Crime Novel for YA - winner) and Running Girl (Costa Children’s Prize – shortlisted). ‘Sixteen-year-old Garvie Smith is one of the best detectives in contemporary fiction . . . fresh, funny and compelling.’ Sunday Times Books of the Year My middle-grade fiction includes Moon Pie (Guardian Children’s Prize – shortlisted). ‘Outstanding . . . gripping and absorbing . . . deserves prizes as well as praise.’ The Times. And also The Quigleys (Branford Boase Award – special commendation). ‘Huge fun.’ Sunday Times I also teach Creative Writing.I love working with authors. Nothing more exciting than seeing an author find their voice and tell their story.