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EDITOR OF THE YEAR OVERVIEW
The pandemic has put and collaborative skills to the test, but they have responded brilliantly to keep the wheels of publishing turning. These 10 editors—six appearing on the shortlist for the intense respect from their authors, and had their loyalty richly repaid in commercial terms in 2020.
EMAD AKHTAR Akhtar has reinvigorated Orion’s crime and thriller publishing in recent years. He led big author brands like Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin to the top of the best- seller lists again, and steered Ben Aaronovitch there for the first time. “A mad genius,” said one author.
JAMES GURBUTT The Corsair list that Gurbutt founded in 2009 had its best year yet in 2020, with Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing barely leaving the best- seller lists. It was the result of his ability to land on books otherwise overlooked, and to line up everyone at Corsair behind them.
ALEXIS KIRSCHBAUM Bloomsbury’s associate publisher is shortlisted for the second year in a row, having re-energised its adult consumer division. Rutger Bregman’s Humankind and Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age captured the zeitgeist, and she brought more marginalised voices to the fore, too.
JENNY LORD Weidenfeld & Nicolson’s non-fiction publisher gave the list its best year in more than a decade, led by success for Philippe Sands, Adam Rutherford and Deborah Orr, among others. Lord has a knack for matching authors to subjects, and for making seri- ous content accessible.
RAVI MIRCHANDANI Twelve years after his last Nibbie, Picador’s editor-in-chief is back on the shortlists as the editor of 2020’s Man Booker winner, Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain. Books by Rian Hughes, Patrik Svensson and Emma Donoghue showed the diversity and ambition of Mirchandani’s publishing.
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HELEN MCKENZIE SMITH Simon & Schuster’s picture books editorial director has built a vibrant list of both big brands and new author- illustrator partnerships, and helped to grow its sales by a quarter. “Razor smart, super insightful and a brilliant and nurturing editor,” said one agent of her.
CAMILLA REID Nosy Crow’s co-founder and editorial director took the pre-school and novelty list to new heights in 2020. Benji Davies’ Bizzy Bear series was her standout hit, with all the international appeal, longevity and recognisable Nosy Crow feel that has made the busi- ness so successful.
CHRISTINA DEMOSTHENOUS Women’s fiction sales have soared at Bookouture under Demosthenous,who also ranges across crime, historical and suspense. Revered by authors for her energetic championing, she excels at picking up self-published writers like Sophie Ranald.
MIKE HARPLEY Atlantic Books’ non-fiction sales have more than doubled since Harpley arrived there five years ago. He generated two unexpected but distinc- tively Atlantic bestsellers in 2020: John Kampfner’s Why The Germans Do It Better and Chris Atkins’ prison memoir A Bit of a Stretch.
KATY LOFTUS Viking’s publisher was the force behind Richard Osman’s runaway hit The Thursday Murder Club. Her work with William Gibson, Rosamund Lupton and Jane Corry showed the range of her publishing and skill for building brands. “Everything I want in an editor and more,” said one author.
BOOKER WINNER WAS EDITED BY
DOUGLAS STUARTS RAVI MIRCHANDANI
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