Wendy has over twenty years’ editorial experience in the publishing industry and is a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). She used to be Senior Editorial Manager at Penguin Random House Children’s, where she worked for sixteen years, and was more recently Managing Editor for Scholastic Books. She prides herself on exceptional author care and has worked with many bestselling authors, including Adam Kay, Malorie Blackman, Tom Fletcher, Robin Stevens, Eoin Colfer and Katie Kirby (aka Hurrah for Gin). Since going freelance, she’s worked for major publishers, including Puffin Books, Faber Children’s, Farshore, Hachette, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Hot Key Books Quarto’s children’s imprints, Transworld and Viking. Wendy is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: Children’s and teen fiction (particularly humour, magic, fantasy, action adventure) and women’s fiction.

Eleanor has worked in book publishing for over 25 years, including (simultaneously) a stint in production journalism for about 10. She is a developmental editor, copyeditor, typesetter, writer, a CIEP Advanced Professional Member and a CIEP course tutor. As an in-house editor and as a freelancer she has worked with diverse clients on hundreds of titles, all with unique requirements. Her priority is the same as yours: to bring out the best in your book, support your craft and preserve your voice. She has enjoyed supporting established, traditionally published writers and self-publishing novices alike.
Though her current focus is commercial fiction, her past editing work has included all manner of genres, including economics, data science, education, food and drink, self-help, humour, Scottish-interest and – a sub-genre that is admittedly rare – the comedy cookbook. Today her specialties include crime and thrillers, horror and speculative fiction. Eleanor is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.
Interests: Commercial fiction, commercial non-fiction, memoir, cosy crime, police procedural, psychological thriller, romance.

Hélène is a writer and editor of illustrated books for children of all ages, from babies to YA. While teaching Primary and Early Years, she gained her MEd in Children’s Literature at Cambridge University, specialising in picture books. She began her publishing career in 2015 at DK, writing and editing fiction and non-fiction books for children and teens about everything from wildlife to myths, history to engineering. Her first book, Look I’m a Scientist, won the School Library Association's Information Book Award in 2018. In 2019, she moved to Penguin Random House, where she edited dozens of books for the legendary Ladybird imprint. While at PRH, she mentored new authors as part of the WriteNow scheme. She now works as a freelance editor alongside writing her own books. Hélène is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: picture books, illustrated non-fiction, myths and legends, nerd culture, anything offbeat, odd, and quirky, books that make growing up feel a little bit magical

Susannah is a freelance editor and entry-level member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), where she has completed accredited training. She has worked with independent authors and publishers (in-house and freelance) including HarperCollins, Edinburgh University Press, Lolli Editions, Newgen KnowledgeWorks, and Lived Places Publishing. As well as offering copyediting and proofreading services, Susannah is also an experienced commissioning editor. She holds an MA in English Literature and History and an MA in Publishing Studies. As an editor, Susannah takes great pride in author care, aiming to create a comfortable and supportive experience for all. She loves working with both new and experienced authors across genres. Susannah is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, romance, historical, YA, commercial non-fiction, biography, memoir.

Jeevani (Jeev) C writes heart-warming romcoms and multicultural women’s fiction. A former microbiologist, she also writes as Rhoda Baxter - named after the bacterium she worked on for her DPhil. She has had novels published by Bonnier Zaffre, Choc Lit, Hera Books and HQ.  Her books A Convenient Marriage, Playing For Love and Girl Having A Ball were shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year awards. Please Release Me was shortlisted for a Love Stories award. She has 13 novels, 5 novellas and 2 non fiction books out now. Her first book was published in 2012 and her latest book is The Winner Bakes It All, published in 2024.

Jeev has given structural editorial feedback for the RNA’s New Writers Scheme for over a decade and loves seeing books that she’s worked on appear on the shelves. She runs a popular YouTube channel on how to use Canva for book marketing. She has a day job working in university intellectual property and sometimes gives talks on what to think about before signing a publishing contract. Having signed four book contracts before getting an agent, she has a good knowledge of the commercial fiction market. She is part of the team at Author Breakthrough Club where they help authors who have signed their first or second publishing contract to navigate the confusing world of being a newly published author. She is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: commercial fiction, romance, women’s fiction.

Richard is a prizewinning writer of fiction and poetry. In 2020, his YA novel ‘The Wolf Road’ was a book of the year in the Sunday Times, Guardian and Financial Times, longlisted for the Carnegie Award and won the Mal Peet Award. He has since published two MG novels, ‘Shadow Town’ and ‘The Republic of Dreams’, books of the year in the Times and Guardian respectively. His novels were published by Everything with Words. Richard also writes contemporary and literary fiction; his stories have been shortlisted for the Sunday Times Short Story award and won the Fish Short Story prize. He has published two poetry collections. His second, ‘The Nameless Places’, came out with Arc. From 2022-2024 he was a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of East Anglia, working one-to-one with students on their writing. He has an MA in Creative Writing from UEA, and has delivered more than 40 creative-writing workshops across the UK. Richard is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: MG, YA, Contemporary and Literary Fiction, Poetry.

Laura Marshall is the Sunday Times top ten and Kindle No. 1 bestselling author of five psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, FRIEND REQUEST, was published by Sphere (Little, Brown) in 2017 and sold over half a million copies in the UK alone. It was translated into twenty-five languages and optioned for TV. She went on to have a further three bestselling novels (THREE LITTLE LIES, THE ANNIVERSARY and MY HUSBAND’S KILLER) published by Sphere. Her fifth novel A GOOD PLACE TO HIDE A BODY was optioned for TV prior to its publication by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2024, and a sixth novel is coming from the same publisher in 2025. Laura also works as a freelance editor and mentor and has a strong instinct for commercial fiction and what makes a story spring off the page. She is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: commercial fiction/crime/suspense/psychological thriller

Victoria is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader with fourteen years’ experience in the profession. She has a master’s in literature and is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Working with both self-publishing authors and established publishers, she enjoys line editing and copyediting fiction and narrative nonfiction, helping authors to elevate their manuscript from good to great! Having a passion for the Great Outdoors, she particularly enjoys working on travel, adventure and nature writing and has worked for Cicerone, Wild Publishing and Vertebrate Publishing, among others. When she’s not working, she can be found – more often than not – out on the hills with a map and compass in hand. Victoria is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: fiction – commercial, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, thrillers, dystopia. Narrative nonfiction – travel, adventure and nature writing; biography and memoir; self-help and personal development

Hannah is a freelance fiction editor who works with publishers and independent authors. She began her career, in 2015, as a proofreader for academic texts, but she soon transitioned to fiction editing. In a previous life, she worked in administration and IT support, and she holds a BA (Hons) in Politics.

Today, she assists authors with the science and craft of effective and engaging storytelling. Her aim is to provide sensitive, thoughtful and encouraging editorial support, while working to the highest industry standards. Hannah is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and serves as a tutor on their proofreading trainingcourses. Hannah is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: Speculative fiction (particularly fantasy and science fiction); LGBTQ+ stories; general commercial fiction; British contemporary fiction

Tim has been a published author for more than 25 years. He has also worked as a TV producer, journalist, cultural commentator, and magazine editor. His first book, 'The Scent of Dried Roses,' won the PEN award for autobiography and is now a Penguin Modern Classic. Tim's first novel, 'White City Blue,' won the Whitbread Prize for best first novel, and his second, 'Rumours of a Hurricane,' was shortlisted for the Encore Award and the Whitbread Best Novel award.

Tim's Young Adult book, 'Fearless,' was longlisted for the Guardian Children's Book award. His thriller novel, 'The Seymour Tapes,' was purchased by Sony TV last year and is awaiting production. For ten years, Tim served as the President of the Prince Maurice Award for Literary Love Stories. He has lectured at a number of universities, as well as the How To Academy, and has taught extensively for the Faber Academy and Guardian Masterclasses. Tim is a Cornerstones Industry editor.

Interests: memoir, love stories, YA, fantasy, thriller, literary fiction.

Helen has been a freelance translator, copyeditor and proofreader for over 20 years. During this time, she has worked on many published titles on topics such as equestrianism, dog training, natural history and alternative therapies. She regularly edits literary texts and has completed proofreading and developmental editing projects in the field of education. Helen is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: non-fiction: equestrian, pets, natural history, countryside, farming. Fiction: psychological thrillers, domestic noir, coming-of-age, cosy mysteries

Alex writes under both Alex Campbell and Alex Cotter and has published YA and middle grade (MG) novels. Her MG titles, ‘The Mermaid Call’ and ‘The House on the Edge’, have recently been published with Nosy Crow. ‘The House on the Edge’ was chosen as a WHSmith Travel Book of the Month and she has a third MG story coming out in October 2023. Alex is also the author of YA novels with Hot Key Books, ‘Land’ and ‘Cloud 9’, with ‘Land’ being nominated for the CLIP Carnegie Award 2016.

In addition to her fiction writing, Alex is an experienced copywriter and mentor for writers across all genres. Plus, she works as an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. Alex is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: All YA and MG genres.

Naomi has over eight years’ experience working in children’s publishing. She began her career at Puffin (Penguin Random House) before moving to Orion, and then Hachette Children’s Group. Her previous experience as a Rights Manager brings invaluable insight into maximising a book’s sales potential and she has worked closely with both UK and international editors to develop a good knowledge of global publishing markets and trends. Naomi has a BA (Hons) in English Studies from the University of Nottingham and is a keen reader and writer. Naomi’s own books are published by HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Oxford Children’s Books and Hachette Children’s Group in the UK and have been translated into 22 languages. In 2025 Naomi was shortlisted for the Ruth Rendell Award and in 2024 her picture book Thunderboots won the Reader’s Choice Award for Picture Books at the Diversity Awards, the Derby Picture Book Award and was also shortlisted for The Week Junior Awards. She has been the children’s book reviewer for award winning family travel blog Mini Travellers and a long-listing judge and mentor for the Jericho Prize. Naomi has been working as a freelance editor and mentor helping other children’s writers to develop their manuscripts and craft for over seven years. She is a Cornerstones Industry editor.

Interests: picture books, children’s fiction.

Joanna has over twenty five years of experience in Senior positions within the publishing industry. During those years she has worked as a Commissioning Editor for Harlequin Mills & Boon, founded one of the first ever Literary Consultancies, (‘Write From the Heart’), worked as a ‘Book Doctor’ and given talks to Writers Circles across the UK and North America.

Joanna is currently employed by UCL as an Academic Lecturer on their Publishing MA course. She recently spent a year working as the Lead Researcher on an EDI project for Penguin Random House and continues to research and promote diversity and inclusion in all areas of the publishing world. For many years Joanna has also worked as a consultant ‘Book Doctor’ at the request of agents and publishers whose bestselling authors are in need of a fresh eye over their work. This fascinating, but confidential, role includes advising very well know authors who write historical fiction, crime, women’s fiction and romance, when their sales figures have dropped, or they are struggling with a new plot.

Overall, this varied career has involved Joanna in almost every element of the editorial and marketing process for manuscripts, across diverse genres, and has honed her instinctive sense of a commercially viable manuscript in today’s trade fiction market. Joanna has a forensic ability to spot potential and knows the best way to help each writer develop their plot and characters into irresistible, plausible events, places and people. As an eternal optimist and a committed editor, she always works to give constructive feedback that will encourage and incentivise. Joanna has a 1st Class BA Hons in English Literature, an MA in American Studies and holds a PhD in Black Atlantic Studies. Joanna is a Cornerstones Industry Editor.

Interests: general fiction, romance, historical, biographies, and memoir.

Adam is the bestselling ghostwriter of more than sixty titles. He has collaborated on fiction and non-fiction books that have sold millions of copies worldwide and which regularly appear in the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists. He has accrued hundreds of thousands of five-star Amazon and Goodreads reviews, and his clients include many household names.

Adam was Editorial Director of John Blake Publishing for nearly ten years before turning freelance. Now, as well as routinely writing for all the major publishers (including Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan), he is often called upon to book-doctor manuscripts that require substantial pre-publication editorial attention. He has worked extensively across most genres of adult and young adult publishing, and prides himself on his ability to work sensitively and discreetly with a wide range of clients on an eclectic range of books.

Adam has a passion for helping authors and publishers turn great ideas into brilliant books, and for empowering less experienced writers to transform their manuscripts into the best possible versions of themselves. Adam is an Industry editor.

Interests: All genres, with particular experience working on memoirs, thrillers, YA, self-help, humour, food & drink and true crime.

Bethany is a former Senior Editor at Penguin Random House, where she was involved in the WriteNow mentoring scheme and the #Merky Books New Writers' Prize. She has ten years' experience in the industry, working at both commercial and independent publishing houses. Bethany has worked on non-fiction by authors such as David Attenborough, Stacey Dooley and Ray Mears, and novels by Jenny Colgan, Rachaele Hambleton and Adam Hills. She has an MA in Creative Writing (Prose Fiction) from the University of East Anglia and regularly teaches creative writing summer schools and weekend courses. Bethany is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: memoir, narrative non-fiction and contemporary fiction.

Clem Flanagan (she/her) is an editor with a decade of experience in publishing, including four years at Bonnier Books UK. She has an MLitt in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature from the London Metropolitan University, and was longlisted for the 2019 Mslexia Novel Competition. She has completed the CIEP's Copy-Editing 1 and 2 courses. She specialises in romance, commercial fiction, fantasy and YA. Clem is a Market editor.

Interests: commercial fiction, YA, fantasy, crime and romance.

Isobel is a freelance reader and editor with a broad range of experience in the publishing industry. As a reader for literary agencies for over five years, she specialises in in-depth, market-focused and approachable feedback that aims to help writers strengthen their manuscripts and bring out their full potential. After graduating and working as a bookseller, Isobel worked in International Sales at Canongate and Translation Rights at Curtis Brown. She now reads for leading UK literary agencies across everything from commercial to literary, romantasy to historical (working on multiple Sunday Times bestselling manuscripts), as well as for literary scouts, where she specialises in SFF, MG and YA.

Interests: upmarket/book club and literary fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction, adult commercial (women’s, historical), MG, YA and crossover.

Ericka was born in Hertfordshire, and has lived in Brighton for over half her life. Her debut novel, Dog Days, was published by Doubleday in 2021. Her second novel, Goodbye Birdie Greenwing, was published in 2024. Ericka is an award-winning blogger, and her weekly ‘Fresh voice’ column for the Argus Newspaper won Columnist of the year in the Regional Press Awards 2015. She completed the Faber Academy 2018-2019, and runs writing classes for secondary school children as well as mentoring services. Ericka is a very keen fiction reader and dog lover, and is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: commercial and literary fiction – anything character led!

Lou has helped countless numbers of writers with written and one-on-one feedback and has over 25 years’ experience as a tutor. She studied Drama at the University of East Anglia, taught Drama, then returned to UEA to do their MA in Creative Writing, publishing two novels with Headline Review, The Water’s Edge and The Haven Home for Delinquent Girls. Lou then did a PhD, went travelling, and started a family while working full-time as a university lecturer. She left her job in 2017 to find more time to write. Poetry credits include Perverse, Rialto, Under the Radar and Shearsman, and her short story collection, Unusual Places, came out in 2018. She has since self-published several guides to the writing process. Lou currently teaches Creative Writing part-time for the Open University and has worked with New Writing South and Creative Future as well as several other community organisations. She is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: Quirky or weird fiction, coming of age stories, literary fiction, murder mysteries, self-help, short stories, neurodivergent or LGBTQ+ writing.

Kate Barker has worked in publishing for almost twenty years as an agent, commissioning editor and ghostwriter. She spent ten years at Penguin, as an Editorial Director for Viking. She has also worked for Orion, for Curtis Brown and for digital publisher Bookouture. Kate is eager to find new talent, particularly new voices in reading group, literary and commercial fiction. Like most agents, Kate is looking for stories that really stay with her. Something that tends to catch her eye is an interesting setting, be it contemporary or historical. Kate is a Cornerstones Industry editor.

Interests: crime, thriller, suspense, commercial, reading group, and most nonfiction inc memoir.

Jo has worked in literary agencies for over ten years and most recently was the Children’s Literary Agent at The Blair Partnership where she looked after a list of picture book authors and children’s non-fiction and fiction authors across the age range from 5 to YA. She has discovered and secured deals for many prize-winning and notable writers including Helena Duggan, Katy Birchall, Kieran Larwood, Sir Chris Hoy, Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden, JJ Arcanjo, Oli Hyatt, Nicki Thornton, Earthling Ed and PA Staff. Spotting commercial fiction has given Jo a strong sense of what works well in the children’s market. She thrives on working collaboratively and creatively with authors at any stage of their writing career. Jo is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: children’s fiction from young (5-8), through middle grade and teen to YA fiction

Kate has nearly twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, and is the Rights Director at a leading literary agency. She has always worked on the agency side of the business, and her career has taken her from New York to London. Helping an author realise their vision for a work is one of her many passions, as are books and reading. Her role in selling an author’s work abroad gives her a keen eye for what a manuscript needs to find a publishing home and captivate readers. She has sold translation rights for a number of bestselling writers in genres as broad as crime/thriller, women’s fiction, literary, memoir, narrative non-fiction and the sciences. Kate is a Cornerstones Industry editor.

Interests: commercial fiction, women’s fiction, rom-coms, historical fiction, crime, literary fiction, memoir and narrative non-fiction.

Catherine is a freelance editor and an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). She has taken training courses in copyediting, proofreading, and developmental editing and has worked as a freelancer for publishers such as Bloomsbury, Routledge, and Cambridge University Press. Her first love is fiction, and she particularly enjoys working for new or self-publishing authors. She aims to build your confidence, make your work shine, and help your voice be heard. Her original background is in the visual arts, and she enjoys projects that are weird, surreal, dark, or unconventional. She also has a strong stomach! Catherine is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: Fantasy, science fiction, horror, YA, romance, psychological thrillers, memoirs, and self-help.

Nicky has worked in (and run) the editorial departments of big and small publishers for a decade. She has also worked solidly as a freelance editor for over twenty years. Over the years she has enjoyed working with a huge range of authors – from household names to indies. Nicky’s passion is making your story as good as it can be – and for you to enjoy the editorial process. She has an enduring love of reading. Nicky is a Cornerstones copy-editor and proofreader.

Interests: Adult fiction and non-fiction including commercial women’s, crime (including cosy) and thrillers.

Nick is a fiction writer and freelance editor. His first novel, comic coming-of-age story Saint Valentine, was published by Transworld in 2003; former Children’s Laureate Jacqueline Wilson said of its protagonist: ‘I wish I’d invented him.’ His creepy middle-grade Molly Thompson series, published by Walker Books, has been optioned for television by Netflix. He was a regular columnist for a national magazine for over a decade, and has been an English teacher and Academic Learning Mentor. Nick is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: middle grade and YA fiction, mystery, horror, humour, fantasy, coming-of-age stories, memoir, self-help and personal development.

Antonia was an editor at Frances Lincoln for 10 years, and has translated and published several French children’s books in English. She has been an editor and mentor with Cornerstones since 2009; since then she has supported, championed and encouraged hundreds of first-time authors, and helped many to publish their debut titles, including Jane Hardstaff’s The Executioner’s Daughter,and Rachel McIntyre’s Me & Mr J. Antonia is a Cornerstones Industry editor.

Interests: fiction, children's/YA, picture books, non-fiction.

Annabel is an Oxford University English graduate and a multi-award winning children’s author whose work is published in over twenty countries. Her first novel, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, won the Branford Boase Award for most outstanding debut in 2011, and was shortlisted for several major literary awards including the Carnegie Medal. Her second book, Ketchup Clouds, was named the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year in 2013 and won an Edgar Award in the USA for best young adult fiction. Her third novel, Silence is Goldfish, was published in 2015 to great critical acclaim and her fourth novel, The Last Days of Archie Maxwell, was published in November 2017. She has also recently signed a three-book picture book deal with Hachette. Annabel has tutored on Arvon courses and has been a guest lecturer at Bath Spa and Sheffield Hallam Universities on their creative writing courses, and is a regular reviewer of children and young adult fiction for The Guardian. Annabel is a Cornerstones Market editor.

Interests: children's fiction, young adult fiction, picture books.

As a former broadcast journalist and producer for the BBC, Judith has worked with both published and unpublished writers, conducted writing workshops and competitions, and produced a book of children’s short stories for BBC Children in Need. She works for publishers including Oxford University Press and the Jacaranda Literary Agency in Singapore. She was the editor of Tiny Feet, Tiny Shoes by Adeline Foo which won the Asian Children’s Book Award in May 2017. She is an Associate Tutor for the MA Publishing Course at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies at Oxford Brookes University, and was recently made a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She mainly works with children’s books, especially Middle Grade fiction and picture books but has also recently worked with self-published authors on adult fiction. Judith is a Cornerstones market editor.

Interests: children's, middle grade fiction, YA, picture books, chapter books for early readers