Hannah’s passion for historical fiction first took root in the classics. Enchanted by wild atmospheres and compelling heroines, she found inspiration in the works of the Brontë sisters and Tolstoy and later expanded her interests to authors such as Shirley Jackson, Sarah Waters, and Toni Morrison.

At university, Hannah undertook a degree in English and Creative Writing, focusing on war literature, Gothic fiction, and postcolonial narratives. She deepened her fascination with religious and domestic themes, in particular, during her master’s degree in Creative Writing.

Since 2017, she has worked as a senior commissioning editor in publishing, collaborating with authors at various stages of their careers to refine their manuscripts. She takes great pleasure in clarifying a writer’s vision and is always attentive to the intent behind a novel while offering valuable commercial insights from her industry experience.

Hannah’s reading tastes are eclectic, but she has a particular affinity for the early modern period, the 19th Century, Gothic fiction, women’s history, and stories set in unique or dramatic locations, as in The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

If stranded on a desert island, she would likely be at fault for bringing enough books to sink a ship! However, with plenty of time to read, she would revisit The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese for its spiritual power, Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks for its exploration of humanity, and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell for its daring variety. Plus, everything by Stacey Halls and Lauren Groff!