Copywriting, editing & translation

As the editorial lead at Gallic Books, a London-based independent publishing house, I shaped the company’s editorial acquisition strategy and helped build compelling messaging and positioning for books. This included transforming books into concise, engaging blurbs that would inspire and resonate with readers, and writing press releases that would stand out on crowded press desks.

The tone? Refined and sophisticated, but still accessible.

I wrote all the blurb copy that appears on printed books and online, and helped guide the creative direction of the covers too. Writing the above blurb for She’s a Killer by New Zealand author Kirsten McDougall was a nice opportunity to play with a younger, slightly edgier tone of voice for Gallic, reflecting the book’s dark wit and cynicism. This dictated the tone of all messaging for the book.

The copy below is for Second Best, a bestselling French book about an imaginary boy who loses out on the lead role in Harry Potter. I came up with a strapline that would intrigue audiences and tease the book’s plot when seen in combination with the striking graphic cover. For the copy on the back, I aimed to paint the portrait of an ordinary boy whose life is turned upside down by failure and disappointment, bringing home the book’s more relatable themes.

I also wrote the copy for supporting sales material. The above catalogue copy showcases Gallic’s story and mission, and is a good example of the elegant tone of voice that underpinned everything we did.

PS. I translated books for Gallic too! See here for my published translations, which include works by Chef Alain Ducasse and bestselling author Antoine Laurain.