Teresa Heapy - Editor
Teresa has worked in children’s publishing for 27 years. She’s an editor and an award-winning author, with 11 picture books and 80 educational books published.
Teresa worked in-house as a Commissioning Editor for Heinemann and Oxford University Press before going freelance, and now combines editorial work with writing picture books and books for young readers. She has worked with authors such as Rod Hunt, Jo Nadin, Jamie Smart, Jeanne Willis, Nick Ward and Elen Caldecott.
She has also been the Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Buckingham, giving writing tutorials to university students on a 1-to-1 basis.
Teresa loves visiting schools, libraries and festivals to inspire children to write their own stories. Her books have been translated into 15 languages, and her first picture book, Very Little Red Riding Hood, won the Oxfordshire Book Award and the Coventry Inspiration Book Award.
Find Teresa on Twitter here: @theapy
WHY WE LOVE TERESA
Teresa Heapy is both an established editor and renowned author, who has a wealth of successful publications under her belt. As an editor with us, she has a reputation for a friendly approach with a rigorous attention to detail. Of course, this coupled with her broad knowledge of the children’s market, makes for reports filled with plenty of encouragement and advice that will increase your title’s marketability. Teresa knows how to elevate an author to make even their best work that much better. She will be able to instruct you on how to streamline your narrative, whilst making the most of the things that are unique to you.
WHAT TERESA SAYS ABOUT EDITING
As an editor, I love working with authors: helping them create books which make readers want to turn the page. As an author, I’m familiar with that yearning to get a book published – and how it feels to receive feedback. I understand what it’s like to sit on both sides of the table.
Children’s books matter, and they’re often hard to get right. Children deserve good stories which have depth, humour and emotion – and they’re often ruthless critics, so you have to grab their attention quickly and keep them wanting to carry on reading!
I particularly love working on picture books, which can be deceptively demanding: they have to withstand being read out loud over and over again. It’s exciting seeing the story spin around as the author finds exactly the right word for the right page.
I’ve also taught writing skills to students, which has enabled me to dig down into why language matters. It’s truly wonderful helping authors of all kinds refine and hone their voice.
What Teresa works on
Manuscript assessment
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Post-editorial guidance
Line-editing
Genres Teresa specialises in
Teresa's published books
Very Little Red Riding Hood, illustrated by Sue Heap
Very Little Red Riding Hood is little. Very little. She’s off to see her Grandmama and she won’t let anything stand in her way. Not even a Wolf.
Winner, Best Picture Book, Oxfordshire Book Awards;
Winner, Best Picture Book, Coventry Inspiration Book Awards
‘Delightful – switches on a nightlight to bleach the darkness of the Grimms’ version’
Children’s Book of the Week, The Times
Very Little Cinderella, illustrated by Sue Heap
Very Little Cinderella is little. Very little. She wants to go to the party but her Ugly Sisters won’t let her come. But with a fairy godmother and a big blue scooter, anything could happen!
‘Heapy and Heap celebrate the spirit of wilful toddlers’ Starred review, Publishers’ Weekly
‘Destined to become a family favourite’, Carousel
Very Little Sleeping Beauty, illustrated by Sue Heap
Very Little Sleeping Beauty is little. Very little. Tomorrow’s her bedtime, but she’s not very tired…
‘An engaging read which will be clamoured for again and again at bedtime.’ Mango Bubbles Books
Very Little Rapunzel, illustrated by Sue Heap
Very Little Rapunzel has very long hair and nits! How long will it take to get them out – and how will she get down from her tower?
‘So brilliantly observed, funny and cute.’ ReadItDaddy
The Wonder Tree, illustrated by Izzy Burton
Mummy Owl tells Little Owl about the wonders of the tree where they live, and how it will be there forever for them.
‘‘A clever blend of soothing bedtime tale and science.’ The Little Literary Society
‘A simple but lovely story that will help young children feel more grounded at this time of uncertainty.’ Margaret Pemberton, Margaret’s Reading Shelf
The Marvellous Moon Map, illustrated by David Litchfield
Mouse and Bear live in a little dark house together. Mouse sets off to find the Moon on his own – but then he finds he needs more than just his Map to find his way…
‘A truly sublime slice of storytelling’ ReadItDaddy
‘A sweet-natured story with a lovely sentiment’ Books with Baby
The Spectacular City, illustrated by David Litchfield
Mouse wants to go to the Spectacular City – but then he and Bear meet Cat, who isn’t all that she seems…
‘A touching cautionary tale’ Littlest Librarian
Loved to Bits, illustrated by Katie Cleminson
‘My ted’s special. Stripy Ted. We make adventures round his bed. But he’s no longer at his best – so will I love him more…or less?’
‘Outstanding’ Sunday Express
‘A book to make your heart sing’ My Book Corner
Ten Cars and a Million Stars, illustrated by Sue Heap
Alice is counting toys for Baby, all the way up to 100 – and beyond!
Who Eats Who?, illustrated by Rebecca Elliot
Who Eats Who? looks at animals and plants that are part of food chains. Read this book to discover who eats who! Oxford Reading Tree inFact is a non-fiction series that aims to engage children in reading for pleasure as powerfully as fiction does. The variety of topics means there are books to interest every child in this compelling series.
Shortlisted for the ALCS Educational Writers’ Award
The Chicken Who Liked Chocolate, illustrated by Sarah Horne
In this egg-stra-ordinary chapter book, Charlie the chicken has a taste for chocolate. Now she wants more and more – but how can she get it? Books with short chapters are a great way for children who are reading independently to extend reading stamina and progress to the next step of their reading journey.
