What people say

Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve worked with authors at every stage of their writing career – from debut authors to established professionals – many of whom have gone on to secure literary representation and publication.

‘I recently landed a major deal for my debut novel, thanks in large part to Anna’s advice and encouragement. Anna is a brilliant editor, seeing things in my novel that I couldn’t, pulling out the best of it and addressing areas in which my narrative was less successful. Her constructive and extremely detailed advice allowed me to go back to the novel with fresh eyes and gave me the confidence to take it further. Working with Anna has been such a rewarding experience, and I am definitely a better writer for it.’

Lori Inglis Hall

The Shock of the Light, Borough Press

‘It’s hard to find the right person in a crowded space for editorial services, but I can honestly advise you to end your search now, because Anna really knows what she’s doing’

Cass Bonner

‘Anna is the best of readers, and the best of book minds. Before I met her, I’d never had someone pay such close, kind, imaginative attention to my work. Now I think of her with every draft and rely on her for every book. The mantra is always, ‘when will it be ready to share with Anna?’

Beeker Northam

‘I love working with Anna. She is a meticulous reader of my work and she is always incredibly thorough and sensitive in her feedback. Anna's reports always give me the energy and motivation I need to keep going with my project and I’m grateful to have her on my team! I can’t recommend her highly enough.’

Rachel Bower

‘A delight to work with’

‘An amazing editor’

‘The best of readers and the best of book minds’

‘Anna really knows what she’s doing’

‘A brilliant editor’

‘I can’t recommend her highly enough’

‘She’s clearly an expert in her field’

‘Anna is world-class’

‘A most gifted, kind and supportive editor’

‘Working with Anna was transformative. Her curiosity and insight led to questions I hadn't stopped to consider. Anna's industry experience prepared me for the submission process and there was a touch of magic when she turned my book proposal into something that landed me a contract with a top agent. It's been a joy to have her by my side.’

Judith Nesbitt

‘Anna is an editor with a rare sensitivity to voice, structure, and the deeper architecture of a novel – one who sharpens both the manuscript and the writer’s sense of the book. She reads with genuine care for a writer’s intention, offering guidance that strengthens the work without ever imposing a different voice upon it. I warmly recommend her to any writer seeking thoughtful, intelligent, and deeply attentive editorial support.’

Chris Heape

‘Anna's input into Should We Fall Behind was extremely valuable to me, she's clearly an expert in her field and I feel very lucky to have been sent in her direction. Her feedback was thorough, incisive, and constructive; it was also very encouraging. Anna seemed to intuitively understand what it was I was trying to achieve, and this enabled me to gather my own thoughts.’

Sharon Duggal

Should We Fall Behind, Bluemoose Books

‘I had no experience in novel writing when I started working with Anna, and couldn't have dreamt of a better mentor. She contributed immensely to me signing with an agent.’

Ines Forman

‘Anna's astute assessment of Hush and the advice she gave me about submitting to agents were hugely important parts of my journey to publication. Her considerable experience in the industry was abundantly clear and she was a delight to work with.’

Kate Maxwell

Hush, Virago

‘Anna is the fourth editor I've worked with so I can say from experience she is world-class. She is warm and inspiring; her comments were insightful and constructive. She's not only made me a better writer, she's driven my ambition to be a better artist.’

Nell Bryden

Singer/ songwriter and fiction writer

‘Anna is an astute and incisive reader. As well as an unquestionable expertise in the mechanics of what makes a good novel, she has a keen commercial eye and a deep knowledge of the publishing marketplace. I wholeheartedly recommend her to any novelist looking for objective, insightful feedback. Whatever stage you are currently at with your manuscript, Anna will help make it better.’

Simon Lelic

Rupture, Picador

‘Anna’s report was thorough, detailed, encouraging yet not afraid to point out places where the narrative still needed work. I was impressed with her assessment of my book’s potential in the marketplace and recommendations for where to send it. A year later Sisterwives was in print. In addition to years of industry knowledge, Anna has an instinctive feel for what makes an author and a book ‘tick’, as well as a precise attention to detail and clear communication skills. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services to anyone. I’ll be returning to her in future in the hope that her magic will rub off on my forthcoming books.’

Rachel Connor

Sisterwives, Crocus Books

‘I was given Anna's details by a successful author and ended up using her editing services twice during the development of 'The White City', which was published earlier this year. Each time the feedback report was clear, concise and pulled sufficiently few punches to force me to confront issues I hadn't previously identified. Ultimately, this allowed me to polish my manuscript to a level of professionalism I wouldn't have otherwise reached.’

Alex Cutts

The White City, Troubadour

‘Anna's incisive, detailed feedback showed me invaluable ways to improve my writing. My novel has been picked up by a literary agency, which would not have happened without her input. I loved working with her.’

Lois Pryce

‘I recently published my first novel The Ones We Keep and it wouldn’t have happened – not by a long shot – without Anna’s input and guidance. She knew what I was aiming for and showed me, very gently, how to get there. I valued her so much that I had her do the same with my second novel, and as I write this she’s in the middle of editing my third.’

Bobbie Jean Huff

The Ones We Keep, Sourcebooks

‘I first worked with Anna on the manuscript of The White Flower and was immediately impressed by her detailed feedback, honesty and instinctive feel for how to improve the work. She was passionate about achieving the best possible draft. Highly sensitive to the writing process she always provided comments in a thoughtful and encouraging manner. I am truly grateful to Anna for her belief in my work at this critical stage. She also guided me through the submission process. I have no doubt that a large part of the novel's route to publication was due to Anna's involvement.’

Charlotte Beeston

The White Flower, Les Fugitives

‘'Mentorship with Anna was part of the award I received after winning the Bridport Prize. It was amazing to have Anna to engage with and believe in my work at a critical point. Encouraged by her I then signed with an agent, won a second literary prize and now have a two-book deal with a major UK publisher. Anna is an amazing editor with a keen eye for plausibility and emotional detail. She is kind and encouraging and yet was unafraid to point out where my writing needed work. I learned a huge amount working with Anna and would not hesitate to recommend her as both an editor and writing mentor.’

Megan Davis

The Messenger, Zaffre

‘I was lucky enough to work with Anna on my novel The Trouble with Jo as part of a Northern Writers Award. What impressed – and surprised – me so much was how Anna was able to 'give' my novel back to me in a way I hadn't seen it before, and this was crucial in enabling me to complete it. I'm now represented by Curtis Brown Creative and wouldn't have got here without Anna's enthusiasm for and belief in my writing.’

Sarah Corbett

Novelist and poet

‘Anna did an amazing job on my non-fiction book. Her feedback was detailed, precise and insightful. She brings a wealth of editorial and commercial knowledge to her work, and is thoughtful and kind. I believe that Anna's input played a significant part in my getting an offer from a publisher, and am extremely grateful for all her words of wisdom.’

Lulah Ellender

Elizabeth's Lists, Granta

‘It’s rare to find someone with quite the combination of Anna’s skills. Not only does she have a keen eye for literary talent and a sure feel for the mood of the market, but she is a careful and sympathetic editor with a lifelong love of books who still – after many years in the industry – approaches each manuscript with real relish and curiosity.’

Laura Barber

Editorial Director, Portobello

‘The advice I received from Anna was detailed, forthright yet encouraging and pretty spot on. I felt that she’d truly understood the problems I was having with the book and managed to come up with great suggestions for solutions. I re-read the manuscript and, with Anna’s excellent advice, rewrote. When my agent sent the book off again we secured a deal with Serpent’s Tail.’

Bethan Roberts

The Pools, Serpent's Tail

‘Anna South was recommended to me by a leading publisher when I was writing my first novel, The Sense of Paper. The book had taken me years to pull together and I was floundering. In plain language and with a strong sense of what would work commercially, she convinced me to undertake a final edit that – when done – made perfect sense of the whole book. A few months later the book was sold to Random House, New York, in a six-figure deal that changed my life. I will always be indebted to her.’

Wendy Holden

The Sense of Paper, Bantam