Overview
I review books for all the leading national newspapers such as The Times, TLS, Guardian and Independent newspapers. I was children's critic for the Herald Newspaper for a number of years. I have worked as a consultant for Cornerstones and also as an editor of a literary journal. My awards for my Young Adult fiction include winning the Young Quills Award for my novel 'The Earth is Singing ' (Usborne) and winning the Manchester Children's Book Awards for my first novel for kids, 'Zelah Green (Egmont). My most recent novel is 'The Stolen Ones', a harrowing tale of a young girl being caught between two mothers as a result of the 'Lebensborn' program in World War Two. It has just won the Young Quills award for the teen category.
As an agented author myself I am up to date with current trends in the industry and have a strong idea of what agents are looking for. As a literary consultant I have over twenty years of experience helping authors to shape and improve their novels with a view to submission. I enjoy the editorial process and am an expert in helping you to hone, tighten and rewrite your book so that it stands the best possible chance in a very competitive market.
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Waterstones Prize Shortlist, winner of Manchester Book Awards, winner Young Quills Award, Carnegie-listed, also shortlisted for NASEN/TES, Young Minds, Warwickshire and Portsmouth Book Awards
Work experience
Self-employed
Self-employed
Over the past twenty years I have helped many novelists, new and experienced, to rewrite and hone their books and novels to a high standard. I have published over ten of my own books (details can be found further down this page) and have won several awards for them. As the editor of a literary magazine and also a contributing book reviewer to the national newspaper, I have a keen eye for what sells and for current trends in publishing. I specialise in editorial assessment and developmental editing. My developmental editing takes the form of an in-depth report on your novel which can be tailored to suit your requirements but will generally give you feedback on the following aspects of improving your novel/book:
Characterisation - how to create really compelling, memorable characters
Plotting - I use a particular template which is fantastic for plotting out taut, fast-moving fiction
Sentence construction - how to avoid over-writing and repetition etc
Dialogue - how to make it believable and to use it to avoid passive writing
Similes and metaphors - how to use them to avoid 'telling' rather than 'showing' in your work
Believability - how to create fully-rounded, believable characters
Originality - how to write as only you, the author, can, so that your submission stands out in the slush-pile
Query letters:
I also have an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry so can also help you put together a succinct, professional query or selling letter to an agent/publisher, along with a professional package designed to put you, the author, in the best possible light.
I look forward to working with you!
Portfolio
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Vanessa has 29 reviews
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Jul, 2024
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Feb, 2024
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Aug, 2023
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Jul, 2023
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Wallace B.
May, 2023
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