Editor
Commissioning Editor at Macmillan Children's UKKesia Lupo
Kesia Lupo is currently the Commissioning Editor at Macmillan Children’s UK.
She started her publishing career in 2013 as Editorial Services Assistant at Pan Macmillan London, working on copy-edits and proofreads largely for the SFF-focused Tor list.
In 2015 she was hired as Junior Editor at YA and MG fiction publisher Chicken House – over the following eight years she was promoted through Editor to Senior Editor, working with Costa Award-winning Jasbinder Bilan and Sunday Times-bestselling Pádraig Kenny among many other talented children’s writers.
In 2023, she transitioned to the US and literary agenting, working at the Bindery Agency for a year which she represented adult and children’s fiction. Her clients included Marvellous Michael Anson (author of epic fantasy trilogy Firstborn of the Sun, launching with PRH in 2025) and Caroline Madden (author of darkly funny women’s fiction debut The Marriage Vendetta, publishing with Bonnier UK and HarperCollins US in 2025). She now works at Donald Maass Literary Agency.
Lastly, Kesia is a writer herself with three YA novels out with Bloomsbury UK – fantasies We Are Blood and Thunder and We Are Bound by Stars, and horror/thriller Let’s Play Murder.
If you’d like to work with Kesia, 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.
Very thorough
Paul K
Previously represented by Kesia at The Bindery Agency
Three book deal with Penguin Michael Joseph
Kesia secured Marvellous Michael Anson a six-figure three book deal with Penguin Michael Joseph. Firstborn of the Sun (the first in the epic fantasy trilogy) was shortlisted for the 2022 Kit de Waal Bursary and the Friday Night Live Competition, won the 2023 Jericho Writers Self-Edit Course Bursary and was a finalist for the 2023 Future Worlds Prize.
Previously represented by Kesia at The Bindery Agency
Published by Eriu (Bonnier UK) and HarperCollins
Kesia secured UK and Commonwealth rights for publication of The Marriage Vendetta by Caroline Madden with Eriu, the Dublin-based imprint of Bonnier Books UK’s Black & White Publishing Group. North American rights were acquired at auction by Nicole Luongo at Park Lane Books, a division of HarperCollins. Film rights are represented by CAA and translation rights by ILA.
Edited Demelza and the Spectre Detectors at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited Demelza and the Spectre Detectors while working at Chicken House.
Edited Asha and the Spirit Bird at Chicken House
Costa Children’s Book of the Year winner 2019
Kesia edited Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan at Chicken House. It went on to win the Costa Children’s Book Award 2019 and was longlisted for the The Jhalak Prize 2020. Kesia edited Jasbinder’s subsequent books until Kesia left Chicken House.
Edited Tin at Chicken House
Nominated for The CILIP Carnegie Award 2019
Kesia edited Tin by Pádraig Kenny at Chicken House. It went on to be nominated for The CILIP Carnegie Award 2019 and was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year.
Edited White Fox in the Forest at Chicken House
Bestselling series
Kesia edited White Fox in the Forest while working at Chicken House. This is the first middle-grade series ever to be translated from Chinese into English and is a bestselling series in China.
Edited The Girl Who Grew Wings at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited The Girl Who Grew Wings while working at Chicken House.
Edited Vita & The Gladiator at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited Vita & The Gladiator while working at Chicken House.
Edited Game Over Girl at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited Game Over Girl while working at Chicken House. She also edited Naomi’s previous book Every Line of You and in her role as an agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency, sold her adult debut to Renegade Books, an imprint of John Murray Press.
Edited The Balloon Thief at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited The Balloon Thief while working at Chicken House.
Edited This is Not the End at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House Books
Kesia edited This is Not the End while working at Chicken House.
Edited Song of the Far Isles at Chicken House
Published by Chicken House
Kesia edited Song of the Far Isles while working at Chicken House.
Kesia's specialties
Why we love Kesia
Kesia’s experience as a literary agent makes her a valuable editor. She’ll expertly advise you on your submission pack to elevate your materials and help you improve your chances with agents. Equally her experience as an editor for Pan Macmillan and Chicken House means her advice on your opening chapters will be invaluable. Kesia has worked with both UK and US based authors, and so is uniquely positioned to answer any questions you may have on the market in either location.
What Kesia says about editing
I’ve always been passionate about helping aspiring writers – not least because I started my journey in books as a writer myself! I was a querying writer for five years before I got my agent for my third written novel – the first two years of which I didn’t yet work in the industry. So, I know a little about how it feels on the other side.
As someone who has worked as an acquiring editor, a literary agent and a traditionally published writer, I have a multifaceted grasp on what works in the industry. I hope to bring all my experience to bear on the projects I work on. That means working on the writing, yes, but also on commercial aspects such as concept and pitch.
My favourite genres are fantasy (including romantasy), horror, science fiction, high-concept thrillers, book club and women’s fiction (especially if it’s darkly funny and/or has a speculative edge). I work across middle-grade, YA and adult fiction.
What Kesia works on
By purchasing any of these products, you'll have the opportunity to express your interest in working with Kesia.
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Opening Section Review
Kesia's published books
