Mary Torjussen - Editor

Mary is prominent in the crime-thriller writing scene and has travelled the globe furthering this passion and experience. It is for this reason she brings a well-rounded perspective to her edits and is clued in on a variety of writing techniques that are important to, not only crime, but all commercial fiction. Her books have been translated into three languages and demonstrate she knows how to elevate manuscripts to have widespread appeal – this shines through in her tremendously observant reports. Knowing what works and what doesn’t is integral to any author, and Mary is a wizard with character, plotting and pace. The key ingredients to any gripping book.

Editing is something I love most in writing. The blank page is both exhilarating and terrifying, but once the words are down, there’s something so creative about editing it into shape. We can be too close to our own work, especially if we’ve spent a really long time on it and the story’s changed many times; it’s great to get another perspective from someone who has respect for the work you’ve done and can give kind and constructive criticism.

I love to look at other writers’ work in the raw. With each editorial project my goal is to see what the novel is actually about. Does the story arc work? Are the characters convincing? Whose point of view is the most interesting? Most of all: do I want to keep reading and if not, why not?

I also love line edits, where I can suggest changes line by line which would make such a difference to a book. After teaching for so many years, I’m also a wizard proof-reader!