Children deserve
great books
Great ideas deserve
great writing
Great books deserve
great ideas
Great writing deserves
great editing
Calling all writers of children’s and young adult books!
My name is Claire and I have lived a life surrounded by books. From afterschool reading in the library across the road from my primary school, to working in a school library. From curating the children’s section as the assistant manager of an independent bookshop to becoming the Assistant Editor for an independent publisher’s children’s list. I have felt, seen and lived the impact that reading has on us from a young age and the good it does to our lives. I have met some of the most amazing, creative and welcoming authors, illustrators, publishers and readers, who have offered me so much inspiration over the course of my career so far.
Writing has been my passion for over thirty years and it began because of books. The Worst Witch made me long to ride on a broomstick with a loyal cat. Horrible Histories taught me that the past wasn’t a thousand miles away. Redwall made me feel strong and brave in the face of bullies. His Dark Materials showed me new worlds. The Hunger Games inspired me to recognise and defy injustice. And in all that time, I have channelled those feelings into my own creative writing and have been lucky enough to work with amazing authors and illustrators on established series and exciting debuts.
This is what the best children’s fiction can do. So if you are writing for children, I am here to help you make that writing the best that it can be. I offer enthusiastic, honest and industry-standard assessment, copy-editing and proof-reading services for children’s and young adult fiction and illustrated non-fiction.
You can find out more on the What I Can Do For You page, and about my qualifications and experience at the About Me page. Please get in touch using the contact form below if you have any questions or to chat about your project. You can also find me on Reedsy.
Testimonials
"An incredibly supportive and knowledgeable editor." - Clara Booth, author-illustrator, Lost & Found in History.
"An incredibly supportive and knowledgeable editor." - Clara Booth, author-illustrator, Lost & Found in History.
"Working with [Claire] has been wonderful, pleasant, and fruitful for me [...] I really enjoyed it." - Balthazar Pagani, author, How to Draw a Graphic Novel, How to be a Manga Artist
"Working with [Claire] has been wonderful, pleasant, and fruitful for me [...] I really enjoyed it." - Balthazar Pagani, author, How to Draw a Graphic Novel, How to be a Manga Artist
"What started as a simple proofreading job became something much more valuable because of her insight, attention to detail, and care for the project.." - Cameron Smith, author, Dive Dad Dive!
"What started as a simple proofreading job became something much more valuable because of her insight, attention to detail, and care for the project.." - Cameron Smith, author, Dive Dad Dive!
"Her professionalism combined with her personable approach made the collaboration not only productive but also enjoyable. " - Amy Korman, author, Loco Moco
"Her professionalism combined with her personable approach made the collaboration not only productive but also enjoyable. " - Amy Korman, author, Loco Moco
Lost and Found in History (2025), Clara Booth
If I had a dragon (2024), Gabby Dawnay, Alex Barrow
If I had a polar bear (2023), Gabby Dawnay, Alex Barrow
How to be a Manga Artist (2024), Asuka Ozumi, Silvia Vanni, Fumio Obata
How to Draw a Graphic Novel (2023), Balthazar Pagani, Otto Gabos, Marco Maraggi
Little Mo and the Great Snow Monster (2024), Michael Foreman
Bright Stars of Black British History (2023), J.T. Williams, Angela Vives
Let's Fill This World with Kindness (2023), Alexandra Stewart, Jake Alexander
Brainiac's Book of the Internet (2025), Larissa Suzuki, Harriet Russell
The Brainiac's Book of the Body and Brain (2024), Rosie Cooper, Harriet Russell
The Brainiac's Book of Robots and AI (2023), Paul Virr, Harriet Russell
Little Bee's Book of Blooms (2025), Yuval Zommer
Little Turtle's Book of the Blue (2024), Yuval Zommer
Services Available
Proofreading
Because the small details matter.
A fresh perspective on any piece of writing can identify the final, essential corrections required in spelling, punctuation and grammar to make your piece complete, polished and professional.
Copy Editing
From first draft to full manuscript, the changes that make everything click into place. Is your piece working and what can be done - from boosting a character arc, putting a little more action into the plot or just some sentence restructuring, to make it bookshelf-worthy.
Book Development and
Writing Services
Full of creative ideas but struggling to put them into words? Find writing synopses headache-inducing? Struggling to perfect your pitch? From early book development to ghostwriting services, let me help bring your ideas to life.
Submission Package Review
Are you putting together a submission package? Why not let someone with experience writing catalogue entries for London, Bologna and Frankfurt Book Fair marketing material take a look.
Special deals for full or partial manuscript and submission material assessments available!
Get in touch
To enquire about any service, pitch a project, receive a quote for editorial work or if you have any questions, send a message! I’ll be in touch as soon as possible.