Zakiya Harris

Zakiya Harris – Editor

Former assistant editor at Penguin Random House, freelancer book reviewer, and fiction writer based in Brooklyn

Overview

I am a former assistant editor at Penguin Random House, where I have worked on books of various genres including commercial women's fiction, history, biography, memoir, and politics. I am also a book reviewer, ghostwriter, and essay writer.

I received my MFA from The New School's nonfiction creative writing program in 2016.
Services
Fiction
African American Fiction Cultural & Ethnic Literary Fiction Themes & Motifs Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment Music
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Penguin Random House

Aug, 2016 — Apr, 2019 (over 2 years)

Read numerous book submissions whose genres range from commercial women’s fiction and literary fiction to history, memoir, science, and politics
Provide feedback on structure, tone, audience, and other editorial aspects to authors through phone and/or letters on numerous titles
Craft smart, concise copy for web as well as booksellers and book flaps

Portfolio

The Districts: Justice and Power in New York City

Johnny Dwyer

An unprecedented plunge into New York City's federal court system that gives us a revelatory picture of how our justice system, and the pursuit of justice, really works.A young Italian Mafioso helps get rid of a body in Queens. In Manhattan, a hedge fund portf... read more
The Book of Essie: A novel

Meghan MacLean Weir

FINALIST FOR THE 2018 NEW ENGLAND BOOK AWARD"Both timelessly beautiful and unbelievably timely."—Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Flight Attendant A captivating novel of family, fame, and religion that tells the story of t... read more
Sociable: A Novel

Rebecca Harrington

“Extremely funny.” --Bethanne Patrick, The Washington Post An exuberant comedy of manners set in the world of digital media, Sociable is a deliciously irreverent satire about the capriciousness of internet fame, the bewildering sexual mores of online dating, t... read more
Call Me American: A Memoir

Abdi Nor Iftin

The incredible true story of a boy living in war-torn Somalia who escapes to America--first by way of the movies; years later, through a miraculous green card.Abdi Nor Iftin first fell in love with America from afar. As a child, he learned English by listening... read more
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement

John Heminway

As a member of the renowned Flying Doctors Service, Dr. Anne Spoerry treated hundreds of thousands of people across rural Kenya over the span of fifty years, earning herself the cherished nickname “Mama Daktari”—“Mother Doctor.” Yet few knew that what drove he... read more
Lady First: The World of First Lady Sarah Polk

Amy S. Greenberg

The little-known story of remarkable First Lady Sarah Polk--a brilliant master of the art of high politics and a crucial but unrecognized figure in the history of American feminism.While the Woman's Rights convention was taking place at Seneca Falls in 1848, F... read more

Zakiya has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kimberly R.

Kimberly R.

Feb, 2020

Very professional, very helpful, very skillful at developmental editing.
Fatima H.

Fatima H.

Dec, 2019

I enjoyed my experience working with Zakiya. First, I feel that she was the right choice for my work because I believe that she understood the vision I had for my story. I found the letter she provided me with the overarching evaluation of my novel to be extremely helpful. She was able to identify the themes and character arcs that I wanted to establish in my book, and she was able to provide m...
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Ashley W.

Ashley W.

Oct, 2019

Zakiya Harris provided the editing and feedback that I needed for my story. Her services have given me invaluable direction and assistance. I now have so much confidence in completing my project. Zakiya is highly skilled! I would definitely recommend her and collaborate again!

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