Roisin Heycock

Roisin Heycock – Editor

Publisher & Development Editor. Editorial Director at Pan Macmillan, previously set up Quercus. Worked at Faber and Hachette.

Overview

‘What a pleasure it was to be able to work with Roisin! The joy wasn't just the expert notes I received, which swiftly improved the work; what I liked best was the comfort of having an industry expert, who was rooting for me. Thank you, Roisin! I would fight ten strong men in your honour! I would wrestle beasts!’
Andrew Clover, author and scriptwriter

I'm a publisher and structural editor with 15 years experience in the trade, where I have commissioned, edited, managed and published at Macmillan, Faber & Faber, Quercus and Hachette. Under my leadership, Quercus won the YA prize, the Guardian Children's Prize and the Waterstone's Prize. I currently work at a major trade publisher and prior to that, I ran the YA and children's list at Oneworld, winner of the Booker Prize 2015 and 2016.

Stuck plots, baggy middle sections, stories in need of a sprinkle of fairy dust: as a development editor I relish helping, shaping and taking my judicious scalpel to an author's work. I am a rigorous, insightful and creative, and take a long-term approach to enable a writer to learn the skills to get better book by book and build a career.

When it comes to your pitch, I have up-to-date and excellent book market experience and the vision to go with it. I have published and marketed a whole range of best-selling and prize-winning books successfully for a number of big-name and independent publishers. I have vast experience of acquisitions meetings for all types of books and still attend them, so I have a sharp sense of what publishers want and how to pitch to them. I have excellent publicity and marketing experience and key industry contacts.

'I was lucky enough to have my debut novel in Roisin's capable hands. She's has great vision and insight, is always supportive and a delight to work with.'
Cat Clarke, best-selling and award-winning author of ENTANGLED, TORN, UNDONE and THE LOST AND THE FOUND

‘I found Roisin’s structural comments to be incisive and perceptive, resulting in a much tighter manuscript. She is very supportive and contactable, encouraging me professionally and attending my author events. Roisin is organised and approachable – I feel lucky to have worked with her.’ Olivia Levez, author of THE ISLAND and THE CIRCUS
Services
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy Literary Fiction Middle Grade Picture Books Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Macmillan Children's Books

Sep, 2022 — Present

Self-employed

Apr, 2016 — Aug, 2022 (over 6 years)

Quercus Children's Books

Jun, 2007 — Jan, 2016 (over 8 years)

• Developed a commercial and multiple-prize-winning children’s list with an excellent reputation (5+ – YA)
• Built an editorial team to develop exciting and profitable print and digital books with international rights
• Quercus Children’s Books won the Guardian Children’s Prize 2014 and inaugural Bookseller YA prize 2015

Faber & Faber

Aug, 2004 — May, 2007 (almost 3 years)

Books edited included: Mouse Noses on Toast (Nestlé Gold winner 2006); Tim The Tiny Horse by Harry Hill, Flanimals by Ricky Gervais, High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney

Macmillan Children's Books

Jul, 2002 — Apr, 2007 (almost 5 years)

Books edited included: Mouse Noses on Toast (Nestlé Gold winner 2006); Tim The Tiny Horse by Harry Hill, Flanimals by Ricky Gervais, High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney

Portfolio

Raised by Wolves

Barnes, Jennifer Lynn

The Naturals (The Naturals, 1)

Barnes, Jennifer Lynn

Entangled

Cat Clarke

Cat Clarke evokes just how it feels to be seventeen, in this gripping novel of dangerous secrets, intense friendships and electrifying attraction. The same questions whirl round and round in my head: What does he want from me? How could I have let this happen?... read more
Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment and Warner Bros are set to bring YA sci-fi novel Illuminae to the big screen. The year is 2575 and two mega-corporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice covered speck. Too bad nobody thought to warn the ... read more
Undone

Cat Clarke

Unhooking the Moon

Gregory Hughes

A funny, joyful, touching road-trip adventure, with the most magical, entertaining girl character to ever dance through the pages of a children's book.
Ashes

Ilsa J. Bick

1st trade edition paperback new In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
The Island

Olivia Levez

Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy.... read more

Roisin has 196 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Frank M.

Frank M.

Sep, 2024

It was a pleasure to work with Roisin. Smart, intelligent, knowledgeable and incisive.
C M.

C M.

Jul, 2024

I was highly impressed with Roisin's attention to detail and overall analysis of the narrative which included feedback on all aspects of my novel. The editorial report was insightful and thorough. I would highly recommend Roisin, she was professional, collaborative and provided a valuable insight into my manuscript which I can now work on with clarity and more confidence. Thank You Roisin.
Rebecca N.

Rebecca N.

Jun, 2024

Roisin's feedback was invaluable. She was extremely detailed and thorough in her feedback. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her for any novelist trying to achieve that extra edge and polish .
Maria L.

Maria L.

May, 2024

Roisin did an outstanding job! My text is verse, and she had a great feel for that. Her feedback included an overarching and detailed editorial report, which included structure, plot, character, tone, etc. She really helped me think through secondary character issues I was wondering about. Importantly, this all happened within the context of the middle-grade group I am writing for. It was a pri...
Read more
Sue D.

Sue D.

May, 2024

Insightful and supportive , clearly a true professional who knows exactly what’s needed Thankyou Roisin

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Roisin and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Roisin

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Chersti Nieveen

Chersti N.

17yrs editing with NYT/international/indie bestsellers such as Brandon Sanderson and Tricia Levenseller. Adult Fantasy/SF/Suspense + all YA.

Provo, United States

100% reply rate

View profile
Anjali Banerjee

Anjali B.

Twenty years as a developmental editor for new and published novelists. USA Today bestselling author of 15 books. I'd love to help you, too!

Seattle, WA, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Maya Fowler Sutherland

Maya F.

Upbeat editor of fiction, from general fiction to literary work to children's writing and beyond. Strict but kind!

Revelstoke, BC, Canada

100% reply rate

View profile