Ashley Thorpe

Ashley Thorpe – Editor

Children's fiction editor and published author with 17 years industry experience. I will help you to develop and elevate your manuscript.

Overview

I'm an experienced developmental editor of children's series and standalone titles, from lower middle grade all the way up to YA, as an in-house editor at children's publishers and most recently at the award-winning fiction studio Storymix.

I've worked in a developmental editorial capacity on books for publishers such as Usborne, Little Tiger, DK and Bonnier.

To underline my credentials as an expert in children's fiction, as an author, I've published two books with Usborne: The Boy to Beat the Gods (longlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize, The Week Junior Awards and the Branford Boase Award) and Spirit Warriors (shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize, and an Independent Booksellers' Book of the Month), with further titles coming in 2027.

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Young Adult
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2025 — Present

Storymix

Nov, 2022 — Oct, 2025 (almost 3 years)
At Storymix I work as both a developmental editor/writer and a structural editor. I manage original series IPs from chapter books to YA, and am responsible for the development of projects from an embryonic stage right up to characters, world building, story outlines and a full chapter breakdown. I then find the writing talent and commission them to sample and write full chapters ready for pitching to publisher partners. I work as the structural and series editor on these projects to get them ready for publisher submission and, once the project has sold, to get the full manuscript draft polished. I have edited books published by the likes of Usborne, DK, Little Tiger and more.

Sweet Cherry Publishing

Sep, 2020 — Oct, 2022 (about 2 years)
Reading and evaluating submitted manuscripts, and proposing relevant works for team to consider. Leading book projects and working closely with authors on structural edits. Editing and proofreading manuscripts. Audiobook commissioning, proof listening, editing. Writing blurbs, synopses and similar supporting material. Making corrections to InDesign files. Circulating blurbs and synopses around the company. Checking ebook files. Pitching new book ideas at all levels, and contributing to Editorial team creative meetings. Commissioning book proposals to agents and authors. Researching and understanding the current children’s book market.

Portfolio

Seeds of Doom

P.J. Killburn

Little Tiger Press

Developmental Editing
Football Rising Stars 10 Book Box Set (Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho ... Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden)

Harry Meredith

Sweet Cherry Publishing

Developmental Editing
Tombful of Trouble (Christie and Agatha's Detective Agency Book 3)

Murphy, Pip

Sweet Cherry Publishing

Developmental Editing
Of Mountains and Motors (Christie and Agatha's Detective Agency Book 2)

Murphy, Pip

Sweet Cherry Publishing

Developmental Editing
A Discovery Disappears (Christie and Agatha's Detective Agency Book 1)

Murphy, Pip

Sweet Cherry Publishing

Developmental Editing

Ashley has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Rhys E.

Rhys E.

Feb, 2026

Pinned
Ashley was fantastic to work with for my developmental edit! He was extremely helpful and professional, was prompt with returning messages and with completing his work. He provided great advice, clarification and outside-the-box ideas to help make my manuscript MUCH tighter and cleaner in the end...
Read more
Ashley T.
It was a joy to work on your project, Rhys! I'd be more than happy to work with you again.
Andrew M S.

Andrew M S.

Feb, 2026

Ashley was helpful, communicative, and insightful. I strongly recommend working with him if you want a thorough job done professionally.
Ashley T.
Thank you for the kind feedback, Andrew. I'm glad my notes have been helpful and it was a pleasure reading your work.

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