A list of experienced freelance editors and published writers available for our Bespoke Mentoring service. To find out more about the service click here.
Writers
Nadine Wild-Palmer is a freelance children’s author, writer, and presenter. Her debut children’s novel: The Tunnels Below, was published in 2019 by Pushkin Press and she is currently working on her next title. Nadine also writes short stories and poetry for both children and adults. Nadine’s career as a writer has also enabled her to give her words a voice as she works across disciplines as a voice-over artist for audiobooks and podcasts and has worked as a continuity announcer for Channel 4, E4, and now Together TV. A seasoned actress and comedian she has an impressive and diverse CV that has seen her creative career go from strength to strength. Whether you’re looking for help with a theatre script, need someone to tweak your lyrics for a song, or are in the market for a fantasy adventure, Nadine is at hand and she sure has a way with words. For more information go to www.nadinewildpalmer.co.uk or, check out her Instagram and Twitter: @nadinewildpalm
Natalie Young was born in London. Her first novel, We All Ran Into the Sunlight, was published by Short Books in 2011 while Natalie was working as the Arts editor for Prospect magazine. Before that she was a journalist with The Times. Her second novel, Season to Taste or How To Eat Your Husband, was published by Tinder Press in the UK in 2014 and by Little Brown in the US and was translated into several languages. Natalie toured with the book in the UK and in New York and took part in the Edinburgh and Cheltenham Literary Festivals. Season to Taste is now being adapted for film. Since then Natalie has worked as a literary consultant, editor and mentor, and works with Bloomsbury through the Writers & Artists website, and also as the facilitator for the SO:WRITE Women Writers group with Artful Scribe. She continues to explore new forms in her writing and has been the recipient of a grant from the Royal Literary Fund and two awards from Arts Council England. Most recently she received a Work in Progress award from the Society of Authors and the Authors Foundation for her third book. She loves the process of developing works in progress and is comfortable working with writers across all genres with a particular interest in adult literary long fiction, novellas, short stories and the prose poem.
Testimonials:
"Gave me great encouragement to dive back into my manuscript and look at it in a different way. Natalie's thoughtful critique and understanding of the story I really wanted to tell has helped me understand my work so much more." – Ryan Love
"Natalie's edit was just what I was looking for. Concise, accomplished and never a stone left unturned." – Robert Rawlings
“As a mentor and editor, Natalie is able to provide what all writers need: honesty and insight with rigour and sympathy." – Harpreet Singh
“I found Natalie as I was trawling the internet researching literary agents with a view to sending my work to somebody in the hope of getting it published. I had just completed a Creative Writing MA and received really positive feedback from my course tutors but my manuscript wasn’t yet polished and ready for market. I was nervous to work with someone else on the manuscript but I knew that I needed some expert help. Natalie has been such an incredible guide through a re-draft process. She listened carefully when we spoke about what I wanted from the mentoring package and has been supportive and encouraging every step of the way. She’s very astute, could see immediately what needed work, and her personable approach meant that she was able to communicate it to me in a way that felt solution-focused and never critical. During the many conversations I’ve had with Natalie – over email, Skype and in person – I have felt inspired to do the work my manuscript needed and feel reinvigorated in my writing journey.” – Sarah Purchon
“I thought long and hard about engaging the services of a literary consultant, slightly sceptical about their benefits and a little nervous about exposing my work in such a way. However, I’m thrilled to say my fears dissolved with Natalie. Her detailed report captured precisely what it was that was missing from my manuscript. Immediately I saw what it was that I needed to do to strengthen their story. I found the whole process thoroughly worthwhile. I’ve learnt so much and really improved as a writer thanks to my engagement with Natalie.” – Paul Coffey
“Natalie got to the heart of things, the heart of my story, the heart of my hero, my reasons for writing what it is I’m writing. Then she got to work, focussing on key issues and helping me explore new methods, new ways. It can be challenging for sure but I wouldn’t have it any other way. With Natalie’s mentoring I feel I’m taking great steps forward as a novelist.” – Paul Bradley-Cong
Editors
Sara Starbuck has spent over twenty years working in UK trade book publishing. She has had experience as a commissioning editor, desk editor and development editor, and also as an author’s agent. She currently works as a freelance book editor, proofreader and writer, specialising in fiction, YA and children’s books. Sara is the author of eight published works so far, including the non-fiction memoir Breakfast Epiphanies (Atlantic Books, 2006); the children’s adventure novels, The Dread Pirate Fleur and the Ruby Heart (Random House, 2009) and its sequel, The Dread Pirate Fleur and The Hangman’s Noose (Random House, 2010); The Fairythorn Tales series under the pseudonym, Lara Faraway (Templar Publishing, 2013); and most recently two non-fiction books for children, Lions (Hachette Publishing Group /Born Free Foundation, 2015) and Leopards (Hachette Publishing Group/Born Free Foundation, 2016).
Sara is passionate about storytelling and working with writers. She has a keen eye for a good story and the ability to hone it.
Testimonials:
“I learned more from Sara's edit on my first draft than I did in two years on a Creative Writing MA. Incisive, intelligent and creative editing that absolutely lifts a piece of writing.” – Jane Brittan, author of The Edge of Me
“Sara has the most attuned editorial eye I’ve ever come across. She notices gems no matter how deeply hidden and can coax the very best out of people with her gentle and encouraging hand. Her talent as a writer herself has, I think, a lot to do with this.” – Jodie Hodges, Literary Agent, United Agents
“I’ve worked with Sara as an author and as a proofreader, she has been a delight in every respect. Talented, reliable, responsive and extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the publishing industry, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services.” – Felicity Johnston, Commissioning Editor, Orion Children’s Books
“Sara Starbuck commissioned my first novels at Hodder & Stougton and I couldn't have wished for a better editor. Hugely insightful, sensitive and warm, she cares passionately about her writers and their work. She helped me become a much better writer and - some thirteen years and eleven books later - she is still my go-to person for advice on all things writing and publishing and the first person I recommend to other writers seeking editorial guidance. Massively experienced, highly respected within the publishing industry AND a lovely person, what more could any writer ask for?” – Siobhan Curham, author of Dear Dylan, the Shipwrecked Series, True Face and The Moonlight Dreamers
Alex Hammond
Alex Hammond has worked in publishing for most of his professional life, and there's nothing he likes more than talking to an author about their book, diving into the pages, and helping them identify any issues that might be holding their story back. Alex holds a BA (Hons) in American Literature with Creative Writing from UEA, an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Lancaster, and is currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Southampton. After completing his MA, Alex worked at Rogers, Coleridge & White literary agency, working with authors such as Zadie Smith, Philip Hensher, Nick Hornby, Sandi Toksvig and Joe Dunthorne.
Alex joined Cornerstones Literary Consultancy in 2014, managing editors, assessing new author enquiries, and scouting for agents. He went freelance in 2017, and his clients include Ipsita Deb (Winner of the Arvon Mushens Prize 2021) and Ravindra Rathee (True To Their Salt, Amberley Publishing, 2022). He teaches American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
Testimonials for Alex:
"Alex is a skilled and empathetic editor and mentor. His knowledge of both the creative writing, and publishing process has been invaluable. He is also skilled at being able to put across complex messages with the power of good examples. It means that with his help I have developed as a writer at the same time as improving my manuscript" – James Pearce
"I asked Alex to give me feedback about my 32,000-word outline of my work-in-progress. Alex provided me with amazingly accurate and pertinent feedback. He clearly read my outline in close detail, and completely understood what I was trying to achieve. His 3,000-word written report to me was just great - full of really meaty plot, character, and tension advice. He also did a mark-up version of my 32,000 outline - which was thankfully blunt and to the point. My face-to-face meeting with him, where we talked about my novel, was even more helpful; he was able to respond in a very constructive way to my many questions and requests for advice. I could not recommend him highly enough.” – Tom Irvine, author of Amy's Proof
“Alex is an amazing editor. I have everything I need to revise the manuscript.” – Craig Moloney
“After two years work on my first novel I was totally worn out but after receiving Alex Hammond's book report I was full of enthusiasm, motivation and raring to go on what I hope will be the last edit. His comments on what I'd done well and what could be improved were spot on and I'm more than happy to recommend him.” – Kim Brooke
Kylie Fitzpatrick is a novelist and Creative Writing tutor and has worked as a freelance manuscript editor for over ten years. Prior to this she worked as a script editor in the U.K, the U.S, and Australia after training at the Australian Film, Television and Radio school. She has worked for the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. She is the author of four historical novels which have, between them, been published in eleven languages, and is a lecturer on the Creative Writing degree course at Bath Spa University.
As an author herself, Kylie understands the sensibility with which writers approach their work, and knows from experience that writing a novel can be a deeply personal undertaking. She believes that a good editor is not only fluent in the technical language and the mechanics of crafting a novel but can also identify its underlying themes and sensibilities and help an author to identify the story that they want to tell. She understands that allowing someone to read and critique one’s writing can sometimes feel a little like having one’s soul critiqued.
Because of her teaching experience, Kylie is as comfortable and competent working with a writer who needs guidance in the basic principles of narration, composition and character development as she is with more assured and experienced writers. She is passionate about supporting emerging novelists and helping them to refine all aspects of technique, from prose through to plot. She has edited both literary and mainstream fiction, including YA and historical, and also memoirs.
Testimonials for Kylie:
“Kylie was my mentor and editor when I wrote After Everything. She was patient, encouraging and nursed me through many early drafts, always offering the most constructive and creative advice in both plot and character development. She knew when something was not working, and more importantly, knew how to fix it. I couldn't have completed the book without her encouragement and I know I wouldn't have got a two book deal with Simon and Schuster in America without her help. In short, she was invaluable. And good fun as well.” – Suellen Dainty, author of After Everything
“It’s a lucky writer who falls into the hands of Kylie Fitzpatrick. Astute, capable, experienced and with a fantastic intuition for drawing out the soul of a manuscript, Kylie is able - with great gentleness - to guide you in the right direction. I highly recommend her as an editor and mentor.” – Jennifer McVerigh, author of The Fever Tree, a Richard & Judy Summer Read
Rachel Rowlands is a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, and has worked on over a hundred books for publishers and authors since becoming an editor, including award-winners and bestsellers. She holds a BA (Hons) in English and Creative Writing and numerous editing and proofreading qualifications from both the CIEP and The Publishing Training Centre. Her client list has included Hachette UK’s Bookouture, Black Library (Games Workshop), Canelo, and Hashtag Press, as well as independent authors.
Rachel works on adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is particularly fond of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but has also edited thrillers, crime, and romcoms, and some creative non-fiction. As a writer herself, she understands the struggles authors face, and combines her editorial and writing experience to support novelists every step of the way. She loves being part of shaping a story and helping to bring an author’s vision to life.
Testimonials:
“I've been lucky enough to count Rachel among Black Library's pool of freelance editors and proofreaders since 2018, and since then she has lent her talents to a variety of products across our range, including work on our fantasy, science-fiction and horror genres. Rachel is a professional and conscientious editor, taking the time to provide in-depth queries where necessary. She is extremely thorough in her work, always hits deadlines, and is seemingly never phased by the amount of unusual terms to be found in our fiction! She has worked on both short and long-form stories, and seems eager to tackle any task. I would not hesitate to recommend her services.” – Karen Miksza, Desk Editor, Black Library (Games Workshop)
“Rachel’s detailed feedback was instrumental in making my novel what it is today. Her insights into character development, structure and plotting have massively helped me create a much pacier and more layered book. Not only did Rachel look at overall issues and strengths of the novel, she also gave detailed chapter by chapter feedback. Such attention to detail is something I’ve rarely come across in an editor. You’ll find Rachel creative, passionate and above all professional and kind. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.” – Molly Aitken, author of The Island Child (Canongate)
“As one of my first readers Rachel’s feedback has been invaluable. She helped me tackle a particularly difficult plot hole that, in turn, carried me through a particularly difficult set of structural edits. Her keen eye, level of precision, and insight provided me with the fresh perspective on my writing that I desperately needed. I would recommend working with Rachel – you’ll find her critique both appraising and inspiring.” – Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars (Egmont)