Simran Kaur Sandhu

An ‘Incredible’ Editor

Previously Macmillan Children’s Books

Before joining The Novelry, Simran Kaur Sandhu was an Editor for middle grade and young adult fiction at Macmillan Children’s Books, home to beloved authors including Hilary McKay, Meg Cabot, Sir Lenny Henry, Judy Blume and Eva Ibbotson.

After gaining experience at HarperCollins, Profile Books and Serpent’s Tail, Simran was appointed to the editorial team at Macmillan Children’s Books. Over five years she honed her editorial skills, working across bestselling, acclaimed and award-winners such as author of Children of Blood and Bone, Tomi Adeyemi, Costa-winner Frances Hardinge, Carry On author Rainbow Rowell, Starcrossed author Josephine Angelini and Artichoke Hearts author Sita Brahmachari.

With her deep passion for all things revolutionary, fantasy and coming-of-age YA, she began to build her own list, focussing on young adult literature. She edited a number of titles including the Branford-Bose-winner Muhammad Khan’s groundbreaking school story Mark My Words, George Lester’s Boy Queen and the YA Book prize-shortlisted friends-to-lovers romance Melt My Heart by Bethany Rutter.

Her love for accessible and whacky middle grade fiction led her to Pooja Puri’s A Dinosaur Ate My Sister, the first title selected for the Marcus Rashford Book Club and the How to be a Hero series by Cat Weldon. She brought international YA poetry superstar Nikita Gill to Macmillan with both her titles, Slam: You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This and These Are the Words, landing CLiPPA shortlistings and a Jhalak Prize longlisting. After leaving Macmillan to travel the world, Simran worked widely across the industry as a freelance editor and consultant, gaining real insight into what agents and packagers also want from their authors, and having the honour of working with writers from around the globe, lending a creative hand to their publishing journeys.

For Simran, there is real joy to be had from the collaboration between editor and author. Nailing the narrative, examining characters from every angle, exploring intricate worlds bursting with mystery and playing around with timing to build the perfect crescendo is a beautiful process, and one she feels lucky to be part of with every edit. With her sharp market knowledge, trained editorial instinct and enthusiasm, she hopes to make the steps towards publishing creative and fun.

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‘An incredible collaborator’

‘It was a total joy to work with Simran. I found her editorial process insightful and illuminating. She brought passion, deep knowledge and empathy for young readers and their lived challenges to her treatment of the story and characters. Writers grow and shine in the company of wonderful editors and Simran Sandhu is such an editor.’ – Sita Brahmachari, author of Artichoke Hearts

‘Simran is an incredible editor with a keen eye and a sharp pen. It’s never anything short of a joy working with her. Not only can she drill down and find the essence of a story but she is an incredible collaborator. Always willing to bounce ideas back and forth. An author’s dream!’ – George Lester, author of Boy Queen

‘I absolutely loved working with Simran on both No Big Deal and Melt My Heart because she has such a clear way of thinking and decisive way of getting things done that’s so totally warm and human. I always felt like I was in safe hands and with Melt My Heart in particular, Sim’s editorial input made the book about a thousand times better! (I doubt it would have been shortlisted for the YA Prize without her)’ – Bethany Rutter, author of Melt My Heart and No Big Deal

‘I still revisit my notes from Simran when writing now – her advice was always impeccably sensitive, hugely insightfully and infectiously enthusiastic. Her suggestions were delivered in a way that inspired positivity and confidence, even for large, structural changes; and I always felt inspired and galvanised after our meetings. As well as nurturing my creativity, she pushed me to challenge myself and demand more of my work. I will always be grateful to Simran for giving me the courage to allow my voice to grow at such a critical time. I could not have done it without her. She is a wonder!’ – Vanessa Jones, author of Dance Like No One’s Watching