Editor
Renowned editorDebi Alper
Debi Alper is an author and book mentor. Her first two novels, Nirvana Bites and Trading Tatiana, urban thrillers set among the sub-cultures of South East London, were published by Orion to critical acclaim.
Debi has now set up her own imprint and has re-published both novels as e-books, along with the other three in the Nirvana series.
Since 2006, Debi has spent most of her time helping other writers to perfect their novels through critiques, mentoring, Book Doctor sessions and creative writing workshops. She edits in all genres and many authors that she has worked with have been signed up with agents and gone on to see their books published.
She also runs the phenomenally successful Jericho Writers’ Self-Edit Your Novel course, together with Emma Darwin. An astonishing one in five authors have gone on to be published following the course. Debi also acts as a competition judge and was a reader for the Costa Short Story Awards.
* Please note that, due to extreme demand, Debi only works with self-edit alumni and previous clients *
Find Debi on X here: @DebiAlper
You can find out more about the Self-Edit Your Novel course here.
If you’d like to work with Debi, get in touch with our Writer Support team; tell us about your book and what you’d like support with, and we’ll help you identify your next steps.
Laser-sharp insight
- Steve C.
Very encouraging
- Caroline S.
The best thing in helping develop my writing skills
– Genna R.
Self-Edit Your Novel student and editorial client
Published by Troubador
Hastie Salih worked with Debi on the Self-Edit Your Novel course and later received further editorial feedback on her novel The Cradle and the Cage from Debi. The Cradle and the Cage was published by Troubador Publishing in 2025.
Debi's specialties
Why we love Debi
Debi has been one of our top editors since 2005. Her phenomenally successful Self-Editing course has been running since 2011 and has helped 1 in 5 writers to success. Debi IS Jericho Writers.
Take a look at Debi’s sought-after Self-Editing Course. Places are high in demand with alumni from the first five years having an average (and very impressive) one-in-four publication rate!
You can also take a look at our Events with Debi, including our 2022 Book Doctor Surgery where Debi answers members’ questions on all things writing with Emma Darwin.
What Debi says about editing
I believe that the role of an editor is to help authors to write the book they want to write – and, in many cases, believe they already have. It is a collaborative process and authors should divide feedback into categories of accept, adapt or reject.
There will hopefully be suggestions in my reports that make sense and that you accept that by implementing them, you will end up with a better book. Then there may be some advice that you absolutely reject. You are the author and creator of this world, so that is your privilege and the last word has to be yours. You may feel that making an adjustment in a different place or using a different technique will be a better solution than my suggestions. This is exactly as it should be and what makes the book your own. I am happy to use email to discuss or clarify anything after sending the report if you would find that helpful.
What Debi works on
By purchasing any of these products, you'll have the opportunity to express your interest in working with Debi.
Manuscript Assessment
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Debi's published books
