Sucheta Raj

Sucheta Raj – Editor

Children's and YA specialist with in-house experience at Allen and Unwin and interests in fantasy, sci-fi and #OwnVoices!

Overview

Does your manuscript need a second set of eyes? Whether it’s big-picture structural work or line by line copy edits, I'm here to help!

I would love to use my in-house knowledge from my time in trade and indie publishing houses to collaborate with you and take your novel to the next level. As an editor, I have worked with both established and first-time authors in the Australian and international market and have taken their words from manuscript to bookstore. I am adept at implementing house styles, meeting tight deadlines and working with my authors to meet their goals. Let's get to the heart of your story!

My main specialty is children's and young adult fiction, and I would love to collaborate with #OwnVoices creators and help develop their stories. The services I am currently offering are copyediting, proofreading and manuscript assessments.

I look forward to working with you!
Services
Fiction
Dystopian Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Publishing

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2022 — Present

I provide freelance manuscript assessment, editing and proofreading services.

Allen & Unwin

Jun, 2020 — Present

As an editor, I have project-managed many titles from manuscript to book and have developed, copyedited and proofed picture books, junior fiction, middle-grade titles and YA novels. I have the pleasure to work with award-winning and bestselling authors such as Garth Nix, Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, Anh Do, E. Lockhart, Leigh Hobbs, Alison Lester and more.

Allen & Unwin (Books for Children and Young Adults)

Aug, 2018 — Jun, 2020 (almost 2 years)

After joining the Allen & Unwin Children's and YA team in Melbourne, I have project-managed titles from manuscript to book, repackaged and reformatted existing titles, provided editorial feedback on acquisitions and submissions, assisted with copyedits and proofreads, worked with international publishing houses on buy-ins and assisted in other editorial tasks as needed.

Allen & Unwin (NZ)

Feb, 2018 — Aug, 2018 (6 months)

At the Allen & Unwin NZ office I assisted with key account Christmas presentations and roadshows, created and managed social media accounts, designed marketing collateral, organised bookstore campaigns, arranged print and digital media reviews, published newsletters and supported local and international authors at literary festivals.

Mākaro Press

Jul, 2017 — Dec, 2017 (5 months)

At Mākaro Press, I edited and proofread a range of titles including memoir, fiction, young adult and children's fiction, created marketing/publicity strategies and collateral and typeset poetry books.

Whitireia, New Zealand

Feb, 2017 — Nov, 2017 (9 months)

During this course, I worked on real publications in editor, typesetter, marketing/publicity manager and project manager roles while also learning from and working with industry professionals.

Portfolio

Garth Nix's masterwork is a compelling high fantasy, the gripping story of a young heroine who must do battle in Death itself to defeat a powerful enemy. A tale of dark secrets, deep love and dangerous magic.WINNER: 1995 Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Austr... read more
From spectator to superstar, that's The Champ! Summer is back for another fast-paced and funny adventure.Summer used to always be picked last for a sports team, but one day her life changed forever. Now she has the skills of the greatest sports stars who ever ... read more
Wolf Girl and her trusty pack are in for a really WILD adventure!Wolf Girl and her pack have escaped their enemies' clutches - only to find themselves in a canoe hurtling down a croc-infested river towards a terrifying waterfall!But saving themselves from cert... read more
The Raven's Song

Bren MacDibble

A wonderful children's novel by two stellar writers featuring Shelby and Phoenix, living 100 years apart yet unexpectedly joined across time - and each make the discovery of a lifetime that has the potential to upend their worlds.We've been told over and over ... read more
If she had stayed to load the kiln as she should have, she'd never have seen the ship. Mama said the ship still would have been there, so everything had to happen the way it did. But that's not true. Clio saw it, and the world changed. When a raiders' ship app... read more
Ben Braver: Hero or Hoax?Even though Ben Braver saved Kepler Academy from total destruction last year, he knows he still doesn't fit in at his secret school for kids with special abilities.His super skills still haven't kicked in and keeping it a secret is get... read more
Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making!Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals. But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway.Then comes the day when her famil... read more
The first ever full-colour adventure from mega-bestselling author Anh Do. Smarty Pup is PAWSOME!Hi! My name is Lily.Nothing exciting every happens to me.Right now, I have a potato in my schoolbag because it was the most interesting thing I could find for show-... read more
From spectator to superstar, that's The Champ! A brilliant new series from number one bestselling author Anh Do.Summer loves sport. She would love to charge down the field towards an open goal, or soar through the air over the basket. She would love to be part... read more
From the bestselling author of Angel Mage, this ABIA winner set in 1980s London follows one girl's quest to find her father, leading her to a secret society of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World when it disastrously intrudes into th... read more
Adele loves being one of the popular girls at Keziah Christian Academy. She knows the upcoming semester at school will be great with her best friend Delia at her side. Then Delia dumps her for a new girl with more money, and Adele is forced to share a room wit... read more
Fifteen-year-old Amandla's mother has always been strange. For starters, she's a white woman living in Sugar Town, one of South Africa's infamous shanty towns. She won't tell anyone, not even Amandla, about her past. And she has visions, including ones that pr... read more
The Vanishing Deep

Astrid Scholte

Two sisters. One dangerous secret. Twenty-four hours to uncover the truth.Seventeen-year-old Tempest was born into a world of water. The most skilled diver on the Equinox Reef, she searches drowned cities with her older sister Elysea, seeking out old world tre... read more
League of Liars

Astrid Scholte

Four teenagers charged with the illegal use of magic get together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. A thrilling YA fantasy novel full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone.Shadows are dangerous. Edem is illegal. And liars ar... read more
Four Dead Queens

Astrid Scholte

Four Queens. A divided nation. A ruthless pickpocket. A noble messenger. And the murders that unite them.Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington is one of Quadara's most skilled thieves, but when she steals an unexpectedly valuable package from a messenger she i... read more
It's Not You, It's Me

Gabrielle Williams

A literally life-changing novel about time travel, soulmates and serial killers that asks a very big question: Can you ever change your fate? This is award-winning YA author Gabrielle Williams' most surprising, ambitious and dexterous book yet.Holly Fitzgerald... read more
Get Me Out of Here!

Pauline Deeves

Full of crims, crooks and rascally runaways, this fun and light-hearted non-fiction title is a colourful celebration of our convict pastMeet the convicts behind Australia's most rascally, dastardly prison escapes. Gifted geniuses or total goofballs? You be the... read more
From the bestselling creators of Tippy & Jellybean - The True Story of the Brave Koala who Saved Her Baby From a Bushfire, this affirming and delightful tale is based on a true story of animal rescue and community cooperation.Flipper and Finnegan live on a bea... read more

Sucheta has 5 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Julia B.

Julia B.

Aug, 2023

Unfortunately, I found my experience working with Sucheta disappointing. She extended the deadline multiple times, which I was fine with, but missed the extended deadlines with no explanation in the lead up to them passing. It was I who had to contact her to find out why I had not heard anything on the dates I was anticipating her feedback. Also, she promised that if I had any questions on th...
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Darren K.

Darren K.

Jun, 2023

I was very happy with the copy edit from Sucheta, it pointed out specifics that I could improve while also highlighting aspects of the story that she enjoyed. I feel this is important, because I then learn when I am doing something right while also getting guidance on areas that can improve. Highly recommended!
Danae T.

Danae T.

Oct, 2022

Suchet's edit was very useful. She paid a lot of attention to details, characters, plot, dialogue etc and made comments on every chapter. Her recommendations were thought provoking and were understood. I appreciated the fact that she was honest and wants me to produce a high quality manuscript for publishing.
Karen D.

Karen D.

Oct, 2022

Sucheta Raj is a lovely person with a good sence of humour. I enjoyed working with her and will do so again.
Rose G.

Rose G.

Oct, 2022

I really enjoyed working with Sucheta. Communication is very important to me and she was a great communicator. Her assessment was thorough and the feedback was constructive. She has a wonderful way of teaching and maintaining a writer's self esteem and self confidence. This is often rare in the publishing world. Her fees did not break the bank either, as a self published author, that is very im...
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