Overview
Covering publishing process from range of angles. I am a highly versatile publishing professional across trade and academic and hybrid audiences always working with books. Having started in publicity (very useful) I have subsequently had first hand experience of sales, distribution, digital, websites, rights, marketing, senior management, line-editing, indexing, social media working at the largest and smallest of operations, in commercial, public, B2B and 'third' sectors. Working at publishing operations of all sizes (commercial, university press, small independent, mission-based) and have the benefit of hands-on knowledge and experience of most areas in the process. Always a massive reader of books too especially fiction, history, biography, social sciences and travel– the most rewarding use of spare time!
Throughout have commissioned book tiles taking part in process of selection and developing publishing ideas. Commissioning titles since 1986 variously at Duckworth Publishers, Oxford University Press, BFI Publishing, Explore Books, Routledge and others. Currently freelance. Specialities include trade non fiction (social sciences, popular science, travel writing, literature, history, sport, media and technology). Lists have included authors such as John Hands, Margaret Atwood (Strange Things), E.M. Davey, Lloyd Bradley, John Spurling, Jonathan Bate, Elleke Boehmer, Andy Mitten, Tom Feiling, Jacqueline Rose.
As writer and editor have edited or contributed to trade and academic titles on sport, media, film, TV, publishing studies and education. As a reader particularly interested in speculative, literary and historical fiction, biography, popular science and history, applied psychology, political economy, satire, football, travel writing and digital media (but not hype). I tag myself as 'omnicurious' and love the alchemy of working with an author to ensure what interests them will ultimately captivate readers, publishers, retailers and marketing and PR folk too.
Available for editorial assessments and script development, agent and publisher proposals pitches and proposals, manuscript reads with specific brief, editing, indexing, assisted self-publishing logistics, list-building, publishing strategies for trade (and academic) authors and imprints. Currently taking a pause from new Reedsy book coaching assignments, copyediting and proofreading to focus on existing clients.
"professional, erudite and a stable influence, hugely appreciated as a first time author […] demonstrated imagination, flexibility and clarity in his dealings with me."
Tarn Richardson, author of The Damned ('The Darkest Hand Trilogy').
''I just cannot thank you enough for your beautiful work. I am reading the index and it takes my breath away! It is a masterpiece.” Eglė Rindzevičiūtė, author of The Will to Predict: Orchestrating the Future through Science (Cornell University Press, forthcoming 2023).
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Two nominations for Royal Society Prize for Science Books
- Limina International Film Publisher of the Year (BFI)
- Silver Medal for Popular Culture in ForeWord magazine’s Book of the Year Awards, USA (Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories)
- The Amilcar Herrera Prize (ESOCITE) for best book in social studies of science and technology (Knowledge in Age of Digital Capitalism)
- Shortlisted for shortlisted for the British Psychological Society Book Awards 2011 and the Guild of Health Writers Best Book Award 2012 (Rough Guide to Psychology)
- Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2015 (The Ten Thousand Things)
- Nomination, Edited Collection of the Year, Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association, 2022
- Masterton Award' for the Best Translated novel (English to French, The Damned, 2024)
Certifications
- BA English (1st) Lincoln College, Oxford University
- Advisory Panel Member, Goldsmiths Press
- Formerly, LSE Press Editorial Advisory Board
- Formerly Ubiquity Press, Partner Advisory Board
- Digital Content Strategy course (Media Bistro)
- Invited Speaker San Francisco Writers Conference
- Plenary Presenter, Cultural Studies Association
- Presenter BASEES, 'How to Get a Book Deal'
- Author of peer reviewed academic articles
- Co-editor of trade, professional and textbook titles
- Contributor to several trade, academic books
- Peer reviewer of selected academic works
- Former Literature Advisor, Southern Arts (England)
Work experience
Duckworth Publishers
• Wide-ranging publishing role including acquiring fiction and non-fiction lists, managing sales and publicity roles and overseeing eBooks programme and website.
• Fiction acquisitions included: Tarn Richardson, Ed Davey and John Samuel.
• Other authors included Max Brooks, James MacManus, John Spurling, Stephen Bates, Dylan Jones, the Queen of Twitter, Douglas McWilliams, Dayo Olopade and John Hands.
Self-employed
Sole trader with capacity to advise, undertake or arrange a wide variety of editorial tasks. Freelance publishing consultancy, commissioning, editorial for organisations and authors.
Bournemouth University
Online seminar lectures for the 'Design, Editing and Publishing Unit.'
University of Westminster Press
Development (single-handedly) of an entirely new open access university press commissioning academic books and journals, initially part-time; some freelance editorial work. Role encompassed oversight of all aspects of operations with freelance and service provider assistance
Rough Guides
Commissioning and editorial management of non-travel titles including several bestsellers in popular culture, technology, sport, music, psychology and popular science. Also some custom, sponsored and specials titles for corporate clients, book clubs and chains: international travel titles, social sciences and popular culture.
British Film Institute
Commissioning Editor and Head of Section for books publishing . Leading small team with responsibility for all aspects of publishing activities including marketing, sales, distribution, rights and editorial. Working with leading trade and academic authors, formats including textbook, trade, educational, reference and academic monographs.
Oxford University Press
Senior commissioning role with major reference and trade titles in OUP's prestigious English Literature list. Also European Literature. Developed, Film, Media (and later years geography/environment) ranges of titles. Formats included anthologies, biographies, histories, scholarly editions, textbooks, and reference (thematic and A-Z) with other innovative list-building including Handbook format and in Cultural Studies areas. Also many academic monograph titles and edited collections.
Routledge
Specific focus on the Middle East, Politics, Soviet Studies and International Business. Monographs and textbooks.
Croom Helm/Routledge
Publicity and marketing for several lists including Womens' Studies, International Relations, Geography, Politics, Sociology and Anthropology and Business Studies.
Portfolio
Andrew has 47 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Julian H.
Sep, 2024
Stephen A.
Jul, 2024
Mike T.
Jul, 2024
Alison H.
Jun, 2024
Raffaello M.
Jun, 2024
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