Simon Monk

Simon Monk – Editor

Sunday Times best-selling book editor specialising in non-fiction. Award-winning titles in sport, true crime and biography genres.

Overview

I'm a creative and meticulous editor with more than 15 years' experience in the publishing industry. My track record includes a 2024 Sunday Times best-selling book, along with award-winning titles in sport, true crime and other non-fiction genres.

In my role at publishing company Reach Sport and Mirror Books, I've edited publications on high-profile sports stars such as George Best, Duncan Edwards, Michael Owen and Eric Cantona, as well as 'Unique' by Dame Kelly Holmes, which was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year 2024 award. More recently I edited Sunday Times best-seller 'Making Life Count'. I also lead the book submissions team, evaluating manuscripts from prospective authors and commissioning future titles.

As a freelance editor, I've worked with an array of first-time and experienced authors to hone their manuscripts. I pride myself on offering all my clients the very best editorial service, helping to create a finished product to be genuinely proud of. I specialise in Copy Editing and Proofreading, while I'll also provide practical tips to help your book stands out from the crowd.

So whether you're an experienced author or just starting out, feel free to get in touch!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment Sports & Outdoors True Crime
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • BA Journalism and French Studies
  • NCTJ Journalism diploma

Work experience

Reach Sport and Mirror Books

Dec, 2013 — Present
Senior editorial role with publishing arm of Reach plc, one of the UK's largest media companies. Focus on sports and current affairs books.

PA Media

Jun, 2008 — Dec, 2013 (over 5 years)
More than five years working at the UK's leading news agency, with responsibilities across news, sport and features.

Portfolio

Proofreading
Football, Taught by Matt Busby

Barton, Wayne

Reach Sport

Copy Editing
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Proofreading
The Asylum

Cusack, Ann

Copy Editing
Jacob's Story

Allen, Louise

Editorial Assessment
Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Copy Editing
Cops and Horrors

Calveley, Matt

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Developmental Editing

Simon has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Matt I.

Matt I.

Jun, 2025

Pinned
Working with Simon was an absolute pleasure. I will be forever grateful to him for the excellent work he did for me. His keen eye for detail and dedication to his craft were evident as he made significant, confidence-boosting improvements to my manuscript, transforming it into a more polished doc...
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Simon M.
Thanks for your kind words Matt - it was a pleasure to work on your manuscript.
Jonathan C.

Jonathan C.

Feb, 2025

Pinned
Simon was great to work with... really helped me with the clarity I need in order to finish my project!
Stephen F.

Stephen F.

Sep, 2024

Pinned
I can't speak highly enough of Simon and his work. He did everything I needed and WAY ahead of the agreed schedule. I will certainly look forward to working with him again.
Liam B.

Liam B.

Aug, 2025

It was a pleasure to work with Simon who was a professional at all times
Mohamed M.

Mohamed M.

Aug, 2025

Working with Simon Monk was an invaluable part of shaping my book. His proofreading went far beyond surface corrections—he consistently identified where the narrative could be slowed or enriched to better immerse readers in the historical setting. His guidance on prose and language elevated the m...
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