Testimonials

‘Kate worked with me over multiple drafts of my first novel as both editor and mentor. She was a model of skill, encouragement, tact, and sound advice. In no small part because of Kate's help, I was able to secure an agent and ultimately a deal to publish the novel. Without her, I'm not sure I would even have finished a first draft, let alone found a publisher!’

Tom Spencer, author of The Crooked Man (Pushkin, 2024)

‘Kate saw me through the difficult process of writing my first book, from shaping the first draft, through the many rewrites, to publication. Without Kate, Clothes, Music, Boys would not have been such a tight read. The nearer I got to publication, the more I emailed her about every comma and full stop. We knelt on the floor of Faber together choosing the photographs. She sat next to me for a whole day whilst the pictures were scanned. Kate was by my side, she was my guide, from start to finish and I am so grateful to her. The book’s success is also her success.’

Viv Albertine, author of Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys Boys, shortlisted for a National Book Award, winner of an NME Award, and Mojo and Rough Trade Book of the Year

‘Kate is an astute and careful editor. She is not someone who forces her vision of what a good book is onto you. Rather she looks clearly at what is there and sees what the book is asking for. As someone who does some editorial work myself, I know what a skill it is to be able to consider not only the individual moments of a book but the balance of scenes. Our conversations inspired me to write several new chapters, that have become some of my favourite parts of the project.’

Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Harmless Like You, winner of a Betty Trask Award and Authors’ Club first novel award, Starling Days, shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2019, and The Sleep Watcher

‘Without Kate my first book would be forever a dream in my head. Her amazing insight and experience gently, but steadily guide me through the process. Whenever writing feels like being caught in a blurry crystal ball, Kate miraculously sees ways through the fog. They are never shortcuts but encouraging nudges into possible directions. To every obstacle she has the perfect reading recommendation. She cheers every success, finds supporting words in rough times, but never hesitates to point out when I write down the wrong path. Her approach to guidance is almost Montessori – she helps me do it myself. I could not imagine having any other editor to accompany me on my journey.’

Stephie Schade

‘For me, Kate is the perfect editor. She is responsive to the tone and feel of a book and she has new ideas.’

John Carey, author of The Unexpected Professor, shortlisted for a National Book Award and a Sunday Times bestseller

‘Kate's guidance was indispensable. She helped turn a set of promising materials into a coherent book proposal. She showed me what I was writing – giving me clarity on how to shape it, describe it and sell it. I now have the ideal agent and my book will go out on submission in September. I couldn't have asked for a better ally in my first foray into non-fiction publishing.’ 

Ben Platts-Mills, author of Tell Me the Planets

‘It is not an exaggeration the say that Kate's editorial report on the first draft of my novel turned something over-long and over-complex into a work which gives me pride. There were sections in my manuscript which I sensed were extraneous to the story, or were flawed, but without prompting she put her finger on them and made suggestions for improvement. She seemed to have a complete understanding of what I was trying to achieve, remembering every detail when we came to discuss changes, and was always sensitive in her criticism.’

David Dennis, author of Across the Channel

‘When my book was still in its early drafts, Kate helped me massively by advising on a whole range of things, both broad and specific: the structure, the characters, the ending and the themes. The book was much tighter after I made edits based on her notes. I appreciate that she also told me where I had done things well which gave me the confidence I needed to carry on.’

Emily Slapper, author of Everyone I Know is Dying (Harper Collins, 2024)

‘It has been my great good fortune to have Kate as my editor in several enterprises. Her supreme quality is an empathetic objectivity which means that she is there as a friend who is clear in her criticism and enormously constructive in her suggestions. Kate is excellent at joint planning and punctilious at turning copy round.’

Nicholas Chambers

‘Kate is a brilliant editor and a writer's best friend. She was able to get to the heart of what my manuscript needed with a thorough structural edit, which helped it to fall into place as a story. She was precise, clear, meticulous and attentive. She was honest when I needed encouragement or critique, while being sensitive to the personal nature of what I was writing. I felt she understood exactly what I was trying to say, as though I had known her for years. I do not hesitate to recommend Kate, whatever your writing project.’

PK