Overview
"Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing." – Joan Didion.
During twenty years in publishing I've edited leading authors, shaped and polished books, shepherded writers through to completion of their work, typed contracts and worked the tills at a bookshop to see what the public really buy. Having worked with a wide range of publishers, I've edited across genres.
I'm here to help you find a path through your book, teasing out clear themes and arcs that give it depth and dynamism. I'll also help you perfect the text line by line in a way that enables you to build your own skillbase. I spend a lot of time working with authors of biographies and memoirs in my evening classes but I also love history-, culture- and nature-based titles. I'm especially interested in helping academics turn their scholarship into mainstream publications.
Let's see what we can achieve together!
During twenty years in publishing I've edited leading authors, shaped and polished books, shepherded writers through to completion of their work, typed contracts and worked the tills at a bookshop to see what the public really buy. Having worked with a wide range of publishers, I've edited across genres.
I'm here to help you find a path through your book, teasing out clear themes and arcs that give it depth and dynamism. I'll also help you perfect the text line by line in a way that enables you to build your own skillbase. I spend a lot of time working with authors of biographies and memoirs in my evening classes but I also love history-, culture- and nature-based titles. I'm especially interested in helping academics turn their scholarship into mainstream publications.
Let's see what we can achieve together!
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Nature
Sports & Outdoors
Travel
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Awards
- Sophie Coe Prize for an essay on Food History 2016
- Society of Authors Authors' Foundation Award 2012
- John Heygate Award for travel writing from Society of Authors 2018
Work experience
Self-employed
Sep, 2004 —
Present
Journalist/essayist/book reviewer published in New York Times Online, The Times, the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman, Spiegel Online, The Atlantic, Literary Hub, the Literary Review, Scotland on Sunday, Der Freitag, Paris Review Daily, Nowhere magazine (Fall 2017 Travel Writing Finalist), Atlas Obscura, Zoomorphic, Culturised.
Critically acclaimed author of two nonfiction titles, The Age of the Horse: An Equine Journey Through Human History (Atlantic Books, 2016) and If Wishes Were Horses (Atlantic Books, 2012). Contributed chapters to scholarly collections. Also author of three academic book chapters.
Former creative nonfiction editor at SAND literary journal, Berlin.
Ghostwriting, bookdoctoring, editing and commercial writing for; Hay House; Gawker/Gridskipper; Business Franchise; Gradjobs; Gerad Kite; Dropping Knowledge; Wuppertal Institute; Ebury Press/Random House and Virgin Books. Overseeing, writing and completing book-length projects or blogs.
Editing, transcreation and translation for ReThink for Volkswagen and ERGO; Der Spiegel Brexit Issue; European Commission; Egmont Royal Institute, Brussels; ECIPE Brussels; European Payments Council; Bertelsmann Stiftung; Blinkist; Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich; Harper Collins; Headline Review; Endeva; Martinus Nijhoff; Piet Zwart Institute; Spectormag; GALERIE EIGEN + ART; Mots Slow; grant applications; academic papers and cover letters. Providing feedback and editing for a wide range of writers from political scientists to erotica authors and molecular biologists; literary and commercial translations; art catalogues and special publications.
The Reader Berlin
Jan, 2016 —
Present
Teacher and coach in creative nonfiction, offering Introduction to Creative Nonfiction evening course; Advanced Workshops for students with ongoing book-length projects, and day-length workshops on the personal essay and academic writing.
Waterstones Cambridge
Jan, 2005 —
Aug, 2005
(7 months)
Erotic Review magazine
Sep, 2002 —
Sep, 2004
(about 2 years)
Commissioning and editing short stories, articles and reviews. Working with authors including Sarah Waters, Michel Faber, Anthony Bourdain and DBC Pierre.
Sheil Land Associates
Apr, 2000 —
Sep, 2002
(over 2 years)
Assistant to Vivien Green, literary agent. Drafting contracts, dealing with permissions, author liaison, assessing manuscripts, general admin.
Portfolio
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Paperback. Pages: 320 Publisher: Random House 'I work in a pretty ordinary office from 9 to 5. I could be the receptionist in your building. Or the girl next to you on the bus reading a copy o... read more
Developmental Editing
If Wishes Were Horses Entertaining, beguiling and surprising in equal measure, If Wishes Were Horses is the story of one girl's childhood obsession with ponies and the complex relationship that women have had with horses across the centuries. Full description
Developmental Editing
But what do the producers really do? Do they edit to create characters? Can they really make or break a star? And what do the contestants think? Do they feel used or do they relish the opportu... read more
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Susanna has 2 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Michelle S.
Jan, 2019
Zaake D.
Aug, 2018
Most recent contributions
What advice would you give to authors who are experimenting with non-linear narratives?
Experimentation is great, as are truly creative approaches to narrative! My only advice would be not to forget your reader – they will need some breadcrumbs or guideropes to help them follow you.
