Hafsah Faizal
Hafsah Faizal burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel We Hunt the Flame. I was co-editor and assistant on We Hunt the Flame, then all of Faizal’s books to follow; I provided editorial guidance, assisted on all steps in the end-to-end production process, and developed a powerful professional relationship with the author that continues across all four of her novels, even after my departure from Macmillan.
Image courtesy of Hafsah Faizal on x.com
Date: 2017 - present || Role: Editor || Performed for: Macmillan Publishers
Business Goal: Develop story of such high quality that it would return on a major investment and establish Hafsah Faizal as a promising new voice in young adult literary fiction
Results: Faizal’s novels have sold hundreds of thousands of copies; each has debuted on the New York Times bestseller list, with A Tempest of Tea at #1, and all have received a wide array of industry accolades and commercial recognition. Faizal herself has become a leading voice in young adult fantasy—she was a Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2021 Honoree, and profiled on Bookish, NBC, Publishers Weekly, and The Washington Post, among others. Our editorial relationship has continued across four novels, and become so meaningful that I’ve stayed on as a freelance co-editor after departing Macmillan. Her fourth novel is slated for 2025.
Project Tasks & Scope:
Assist with acquisition materials, including:
product descriptive copy
key selling points
author bio information
market research on comparable products
profit & loss projections
pitch presentation to executives and wider team
contract terms drafting
Offer editorial guidance—maintain style consistency, compelling points of view, plot and character development, inclusivity, and market relevance, all while distilling complex themes into a teen-friendly voice and story
Cross-functional collaboration and deadline management—communicated frequently with graphic designers, copyeditors, proofreaders, and production/layout teams to develop physical product on time and in alignment with goals
Product launch materials—developed sales enablement materials for division-wide product launch meeting, including enhanced descriptive copy and key selling points, PowerPoint slide deck, and oral presentation to executives, marketing/publicity reps, and sales teams
Copywriting—wrote and revised product copy for variety of audiences, including:
sales enablement copy and key messaging for in-house teams
online copy, complete with SEO keywords and metadata
jacket copy printed on the physical product
