Suzanne Sutherland - Editor
Former Children's Editor @ HarperCollins and author of books for young readers with more than 10 years of experience.
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Overview
Hello! I'm a dedicated children's publishing professional with more than ten years experience, and I love spending my days on both sides of the editorial desk.
As an editor, I have worked on an array of bestselling and award-winning titles from board books to YA, and with a wide range of authors and illustrators, from debuts to seasoned professionals. As an author, I have published five books for young readers—with another two on the way! My experience as a writer makes me deeply empathetic as an editor; trust me when I say that I know how tough this road can be. It's most definitely easier when you walk with someone who knows the way well.
I believe in the importance of balanced feedback! I'm guilty of using exclamation marks, emojis, and a few too many vowels (yaaay!) in my thoughtful and nuanced editorial evaluations. With my help, you can transform your writing—and have some fun along the way. :)
And in case you'd like to take someone else's word for it:
"Thank you to Suzanne Sutherland. You were the best kind of editor—thoughtful, generous and this book’s biggest cheerleader. Thanks for helping me take this book—and these characters—to where they needed to go." —Brian Francis, author of the Governor General's Literary Award finalist Break in Case of Emergency
"Thank you to Suzanne Sutherland for her careful guidance in editing and shaping our journey from Riverton's magical ice rink to a slough in Saskatchewan." —Roy MacGregor and Kerry MacGregor, co-authors of nationally best-selling Ice Chips Series
"Thanks to HarperCollins's wonderfully astute editor, Suzanne Sutherland, for finding the characters and stories I'd missed in Short For Chameleon. It's a much better book because of her." — Vicki Grant, award-winning author of Short For Chameleon and 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You
As an editor, I have worked on an array of bestselling and award-winning titles from board books to YA, and with a wide range of authors and illustrators, from debuts to seasoned professionals. As an author, I have published five books for young readers—with another two on the way! My experience as a writer makes me deeply empathetic as an editor; trust me when I say that I know how tough this road can be. It's most definitely easier when you walk with someone who knows the way well.
I believe in the importance of balanced feedback! I'm guilty of using exclamation marks, emojis, and a few too many vowels (yaaay!) in my thoughtful and nuanced editorial evaluations. With my help, you can transform your writing—and have some fun along the way. :)
And in case you'd like to take someone else's word for it:
"Thank you to Suzanne Sutherland. You were the best kind of editor—thoughtful, generous and this book’s biggest cheerleader. Thanks for helping me take this book—and these characters—to where they needed to go." —Brian Francis, author of the Governor General's Literary Award finalist Break in Case of Emergency
"Thank you to Suzanne Sutherland for her careful guidance in editing and shaping our journey from Riverton's magical ice rink to a slough in Saskatchewan." —Roy MacGregor and Kerry MacGregor, co-authors of nationally best-selling Ice Chips Series
"Thanks to HarperCollins's wonderfully astute editor, Suzanne Sutherland, for finding the characters and stories I'd missed in Short For Chameleon. It's a much better book because of her." — Vicki Grant, award-winning author of Short For Chameleon and 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Fiction
Middle Grade
Picture Books
Young Adult
Awards
- Governor General's Literary Award Finalist (Break in Case of Emergency)
- TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Finalist (A Day of Signs and Wonders)
- Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's and Young Adult Literature (Girl Mans Up)
Work experience
Editor, Children's Books
HarperCollins Publisher LTD
December, 2015
–
September, 2021
(almost 6 years)
Acquired and edited titles on the Canadian children’s publishing program. Select titles include Governor General's Literary Award-finalist BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY by Brian Francis; the nationally bestselling ICE CHIPS series by Roy MacGregor and Kerry MacGregor, illustrated by Kim Smith; INKLING by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Sydney Smith; CANADA ABC, CANADA 123, and CANADA ANIMALS by Paul Covello; and BE MY LOVE by Kit Pearson.
Portfolio (18 selected works)
The Ice Chips and the Magical Rink
Roy MacGregor, Kerry MacGregor
If you could travel through time, who would you want to meet?Lucas Finnigan eats, sleeps and breathes hockey. With his friends Edge, Swift and Crunch, Lucas plays on his hometown’s rink, dreaming of the day when he knows he’ll make the NHL. But lately money has been tight at home, and, after a major growth spurt, Lucas is forced to wear hand-me-down gear that doesn’t quite fit right. Now he’s ... read more
The Fabulous Zed Watson!
Basil Sylvester
The literary scavenger hunt of a lifetime, starring an endlessly endearing non-binary tween Zed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious family, and—oh yeah—monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an unpublished novel called The Monster’s Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a member of a small but dedicated legion devo... read more
Like Home
Louisa Onomé
A poignant and incandescent debut that explores the bonds of community and what it really means to changeChinelo—or Nelo, as her best friend, Kate, calls her—is all about her neighbourhood, Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, its ride-or-die sense of community and the memories she has of growing up there. Ginger East isn’t what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at the local arc... read more
Inkling
Kenneth Oppel
Get ready—a little ink blot is about to become your new best friendThe Rylance family is stuck. Dad’s got writer’s block. Ethan promised to illustrate a group project at school—even though he can’t draw. Sarah’s still pining for a puppy. And they all miss Mom so much more than they can say.Enter Inkling. Inkling begins life in Mr. Rylance’s sketchbook. Then one night the ink of his drawings ru... read more
Be My Love
Kit Pearson
One summer will change everything.For as long as she can remember, Maisie has spent her summers on Kingfisher Island. She and her beloved cousin Una run wild, and Maisie feels the warm embrace of her big, extended family. This summer Maisie needs that escape more than ever. But now everything on Kingfisher has changed: Una has returned from her mainland school a sophisticated young woman too m... read more
Boxitects
Kim Smith
New York Times–bestselling illustrator Kim Smith’s author-illustrator debutNothing’s better than building with boxes!Meg is a brilliant and creative boxitect. She loves building extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes and impressing her classmates with what she creates. But then a new kid comes to Maker School: Simone. Simone is good at everything. Worst of all, she’s a boxitect t... read more
Canada ABC
Paul Covello
A is for Arctic, B is for Beaver ...Paul Covello’s gloriously bright and detailed board book for the very young highlights Canada’s iconic symbols, souvenirs and events, including the Dogsled, Inuksuk, Loonie, Totem Pole and the Zamboni machine. From the author of the beloved Toronto ABC.
Crimson
Arthur Slade
A ruthless queen. An ancient god. One brave girl and an impossible choice.For over a thousand years, Queen Servilia has ruled the world of Illium. Using magical red dust mined from the earth, she has enslaved her subjects, enforcing uniformity and sameness to maintain her absolute power. But in Village Twenty-One, wild magic is growing. Fen, a young girl whose hand has been cut off as punishme... read more
Bloom
Kenneth Oppel
The first book in bestselling author Kenneth Oppel’s explosive new trilogyIt was just rain.But after the downpour, odd black plants begin to shoot up.Suddenly—They. Are. Everywhere.They take over fields and twine around houses. They bloom and throw off toxic pollen—and feed.Strangely, three Salt Spring Island teens seem immune. Anaya, Petra and Seth. What’s their connection? What’s their secre... read more
The Ice Chips and the Haunted Hurricane
Roy MacGregor, Kerry MacGregor
Practice makes . . . a perfect storm?The Ice Chips are facing a big hurdle at their hometown rink in Riverton. Their biggest rivals, the Stars, have a major advantage, with better gear and a state-of-the-art arena. Without more ice time, the Chips just can’t keep up. Fortunately, the team has a secret weapon: their magical rink, which allows them to travel through time and meet their hockey he... read more
Past Tense
Star Spider
How do you live after death?Julie Nolan is a pretty average girl with pretty average problems. She’s been in love with her best friend, Lorelei, ever since they met in grade three. Only Lorelei doesn’t know about it—she’s too busy trying to set Julie up with Henry, her ex, who Julie finds, in a word, vapid.But life gets more complicated when Julie comes home to find her mother insisting that h... read more
The Undoing
Jennifer Sommersby
The most dangerous magic must be destroyedGenevieve Flannery’s family inheritance is both an invaluable gift and an unspeakable curse: Genevieve is one of the heirs of the Avrakedavra, a trio of ancient texts capable of preserving everlasting life–or eroding it completely. Burdened with the power of untold magic and tormented by those who would seek to exploit it, Genevieve knows that the thre... read more
Canada Animals
Paul Covello
The latest title in Paul Covello’s winning Canada board-book series features wondrously detailed illustrations for the very young, highlighting some of Canada’s most beloved and iconic creatures. From the author and illustrator of the national bestsellers Canada ABC and Canada 123.
The Ice Chips and the Invisible Puck
Roy MacGregor, Kerry MacGregor
The third title in the beloved and bestselling Ice Chips series by acclaimed authors Roy MacGregor and Kerry MacGregor and illustrator Kim Smith, featuring a vibrant and diverse cast of characters and inspiring hockey greatsWould you play on a team with your worst enemy?Lucas Finnigan and his friends on the Riverton Ice Chips know a thing or two about time travel—at least, they’ve been learnin... read more
Good Night, Good Night
Dennis Lee
Good Night, Good Night collects some of Dennis Lee’s best-loved poems on the themes of bedtime and dreaming, brought to life by the warm and whimsical art of award-winning illustrator Qin Leng. This board book is the perfect nighttime read-aloud for the very young.
The Ice Chips and the Stolen Cup
Roy MacGregor, Kerry MacGregor
The Ice Chips and the Stolen Cup has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
Break in Case of Emergency
Brian Francis
Finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature–Text Dads can be such a drag Life has been a struggle for Toby Goodman. Her mother died by suicide five years ago, and her father left their small town before Toby was born. Now a teenager living on her grandparents’ dairy farm, Toby has trouble letting people in. She keeps even her closest friend, the brash but e... read more
Hatch
Kenneth Oppel
Book Two in the Bestselling Bloom TrilogyFirst the rain brought seeds. Seeds that grew into alien plants that burrowed and strangled and fed.Seth, Anaya, and Petra are strangely immune to the plants’ toxins and found a way to combat them. But just as they have their first success, the rain begins again. This rain brings eggs. That hatch into insects. Not small insects. Bird-sized mosquitos tha... read more
Suzanne has 8 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Suzanne's editorial analysis comments on five stories that I asked her to evaluate were well thought out, constructive, and insightful. I decided to shelve one manuscript. I understand which manuscripts I want to prioritize and how to approach my revisions.
Alan Jordan, June 2021
Suzanne was timely, kind, and VERY helpful in the editing process. I highly recommend her!
Tiffany Berry, May 2021
Suzanne is a top tier editor and it shows. She's prompt, professional, and provides valuable insights on improving all aspects of a manuscript. I couldn't recommend her more highly!
Mark Born, April 2021
Suzanne was very helpful and most importantly very kind in her explanation in how to make a story
more acceptable for children.
Sumaya Conners, November 2020
Suzanne S. went above and beyond what was expected for this project. Her insight and understanding of story was both helpful and very much needed.
Robert Harvey, September 2020
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