I’m Jamie Coleman, an editor and writer based in London. Doing whatever a book needs.
After seven years as an in-house editor, commissioning and editing titles that have sold more than a million copies in the UK, I know how to help books be the best version of themselves.
I now work with most of the major publishers in a variety of roles, including structural and line editing, book-doctoring, ghostwriting and project editing, concept/development editing and work that doesn’t quite fit into any one box.
Please tell me about your project and let’s work out how I can help.
Recent projects
Take Nothing for Granted, Ross Kemp - Orion Publishing Group
Ghostwriting
Sunday Times Bestseller
The Traitors Interactive Game Book, Century
Project editing/writing
Turdle, I.P. Freely
Blink
Writing
Big Beacon, Alan Partridge
Orion Publishing Group
Line editing
Undoctored, Adam Kay
Orion Publising Group
Line editing
Sunday Times Bestseller
You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here, Dr Benji Waterhouse
Jonathan Cape
Structural editing
Trevor McDonald On Cricket
Sir Trevor McDonald
Dialogue Books
Ghostwriting
Sunday Times Bestseller
Dogs (and their humans)
Noel Fitzpatrick
Gallery Books
Book Doctor
Truck It! The Drive around the World that Saved my Life
Bobby Bolton
Pan Macmillan
Book Doctor
How to Speak Oasis
HarperNorth
Writer
Sound Affects,
Julian Treasure
Quercus Books
Book Doctor
My Beautiful Sisters: A Story of Courage, Hope and the Afghan Women’s Football Team
Two Roads Books
Structural editing
Always Winning
Ashley Walters
Transworld
Book Doctor
Sunday Times Bestseller
Minority Rule, Ash Sarkar
Bloomsbury
Book Doctor
I Was There: Dispatches From a Life in Rock and Roll, Alan Edwards
Simon & Schuster
Book Doctor/Ghostwriting
Across Mountains, Land & Sea: One Boy’s Extraordinary Journey, Arman Azadi
Trapeze Books
Book Doctor
The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too, Tim Clare
Canongate Books
Structural/line editing
Inside Parkhurst: The Final Stretch, David Berridge
Orion Publising Group
Book Doctor
Testimonials
“Jamie’s input on edits has been transformational and I hugely value his expert editorial eye on my projects.”
Anna Valentine , MD Orion Publishing Group
“Eternally calm and brilliant.”
Adam Kay
“What can I say, this man is a genius. No one works quicker or better than Jamie. When someone just gets it, there is nothing more to be said.”
Ashley Walters
“Jamie is a gift for any publisher during the editorial process. He has a total holistic understanding of what makes a book great, and is a naturally gifted writer. Authors love working with him, and he's an invaluable conduit between them their and publisher to ensure the very best book emerges. His background in commercial publishing and his enthusiasm for creating brilliant books make him an asset for any project.”
Holly Harris, Publishing Director, Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster
“Without Jamie, Minority Rule would probably still be little more than a nervous breakdown spread across half a dozen Google Docs. He has a phenomenal sense of what a book can be, without foisting a compromise on an author’s voice or vision. He knows how to get the best out of your writing, and absorb all manner of neuroses along the way. I couldn’t have done it without him!"”
Ash Sarkar
“‘Jamie is like an editorial Swiss army knife. He has such brilliant instincts, and can always see a way through problems. Working with him is effortless and I have really come to value his judgements, as well as his speed, his sensitivity and his ability to adapt to the particular needs of a project or author.’ Henry Vines, Editorial Director, Transworld
“Jamie found a way of capturing my voice on the page that was really special and was wonderful to work with.”
Ross Kemp
“Brilliant. Thank you for his trust, guidance, ingenuity and infinite patience in herding an obstinate barrister through the contours of the literary world, an exercise akin to shepherding kittens up the Travelator on Gladiators.”
The Secret Barrister
“Working with Jamie was a dream from start to finish, his quick understanding of the assignment, impeccable author care and incredible ability to capture the subjects voice was a masterclass in publishing professionalism and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again and highly recommend him to other publishers and writers widely’
Sharmaine Lovegrove, MD, Dialogue Books
“I was initially hesitant working with a writer, as I had never done so before, but Jamie made the process a delight and I’m am so proud of the book we made together.”
Sir Trevor McDonald
“Jamie is a fantastic writer and editor. He completely transforms projects, bringing bags of creativity, energy and insight. I couldn't recommend him highly enough.”
Lydia Ramah, Commissioning Editor, Pan Macmillan
“Jamie is a book wizard. He’s a master of structure and can somehow hold all the strands of an early manuscript in his head and help to weave them into something more coherent. On top of that’s he’s a good egg with a solid joke in him too. I feel very lucky to have had his help”
Benji Waterhouse, author of You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here
'“Jamie’s great to work with. He has an intuitive grasp of editorial collaboration and brings a seriousness of focus to the work as well as real creative flair. I’d have no hesitation recommending him.”
Francis Bickmore, Publisher at Large, Canongate Books
“Jamie has the skill and dexterity to shape structure and hone words until they shine, along with the ability to guide authors with great confidence and care. It’s a winning combination.”
Jenny Dean, Associate Publisher, Jonathan Cape
“‘Jamie is a brilliant editor and writer. He is able to manage complex projects with tight schedules without ever compromising quality or creativity. He’s also a pleasure to work with and excellent at working with stakeholders.’”
Zennor Compton, Editorial Director, Century
“Jamie has a hugely impressive mix of creativity and practicality and this proved to be a very powerful partnership. Jamie’s deft handling of the material brought out the best out of Alan’s extraordinary career. He also perfectly captures Alan’s personality and sensitivities in all his work on the book. Which is why the book has become the excellent piece of work that it is.”
Ian Chapman, CEO and Publisher Simon & Schuster UK
______
Prior to becoming an editor I worked for seven years as a literary agent, with multiple prize-winning and Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling authors of fiction and non-fiction.
Over seven years, as an editor in London at Pan Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Orion Publishing Group, I commissioned and edited bestsellers in multiple languages from authors across a wide range of non-fiction including number one bestsellers Adam Kay, The Secret Barrister, The Supervet, Scarlett Moffatt, Tom Marcus, author of Soldier, Spy, and top ten bestsellers Tony Bellew, neuroscientist Dean Burnett and mental health activist Joe Tracini.
I've also worked succesfully with a diverse range of shows and brands including Traitors, Stranger Things, Doctor Who, Roald Dahl, Schitt's Creek, Doug the Pug. The Ordnance Survey and Gogglebox.
I am the author of 'What I Lick Before Your Face...And Other Haikus By Dogs' and 'Please Stop Touching Me...And Other Haikus By Cats'. I could only think of about three funny ones for hamsters and one for goldfish, so the franchise ended there.
Jamie_coleman329@hotmail.com