Vicky Holmes – Editor

I make a bold claim, but with book sales of over 150 million in 40 different languages, I have been blessed with the most extraordinary career. During my twenty five years in publishing, I have had the privilege of creating and editing some of the bestselling series in children's fiction. I am best known for my work as the creator and editor of Warriors by Erin Hunter but I have also developed and edited the following series, among many others:

Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows

Heartland and Chestnut Hill by Lauren Brooke

Animal Ark, Hope Meadows, Dolphin Diaries et al by Lucy Daniels

Puppy Patrol by Jenny Dale

The Darkest Age by AJ Lake

My career has been based on working with publishers, writers and other editors to create distinctive, original and commercially successful series for young readers. I understand what it is to be an author, with over fifty books written independently, but my greatest passion is being a creative editor, helping other writers to shape their manuscripts from the germ of an idea through to storyline, chapter breakdown, first draft, and polished submission.

As Erin Hunter, I have travelled all over the world meeting fans and hearing firsthand what works in my stories, and what doesn't. One of the best things about writing for young people is that they are never afraid to tell you exactly what they think! Every piece of feedback is useful and I have never stopped learning about how to write, what to write, and who I'm writing for.

I can provide the editorial service that would be most helpful to you, whether that's a grassroots approach from your embryonic concept, an assessment of a first draft, copy-editing a revised manuscript or proofreading a final draft. The most important thing is helping you to discover your own unique voice and preserving that throughout your manuscript. I won't just identify areas that need strengthening; I will suggest solutions, and help you find the skills that will make your writing stronger on every page. Together, we can craft a compelling story, compellingly told.

One of my current authors, Eleanor Dixon, says: Beyond her exceptional editing skills, Vicky is a supportive and encouraging mentor. Her gentle guidance and unwavering belief in my abilities have given me the confidence to pursue my writing dreams.

Well, I don't have a magic wand in my box of editorial tools, but I promise I will do my best for you, using all my experience and a canny eye for wobbly structure, inauthentic dialogue, and characters whose eyes change from green to blue!