“The first word that comes to mind when I think of Kathy is ‘transformational’.

We started working together at a point when I could have easily misdirected a huge amount of time and effort. Instead, Kathy taught me how to write for other people – not just myself.

She brings vast experience and industry knowledge, the empathy and understanding of a skilled psychotherapist and a dogged persistence to match that of any aspirant author. I’m incredibly grateful to Kathy – it is thanks to her that I’m now represented by one of the world’s leading literary agencies.
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“When I began working with Kathy Gale my confidence in my own ability was fairly low, and I wasn’t sure how best to develop my writing skills. She helped me identify and work through the things that were blocking me, and then guided me into a working pattern, and a way of thinking about writing, that were really productive.

As I began to work on a book Kathy was able to ‘plug in’ to my manuscript, working with me in a way that was very sensitive to its possibilities, and to my own strengths. She absolutely ‘got’ what I was trying to do, and she treated me like a writer, not like a ‘wannabe’ writer, which was a huge boost.

I was able to work flexibly with Kathy – really, as much support as I wanted and needed, both in person, on the phone and by email – rather than being committed to a fixed schedule of meetings. That was immensely helpful and reassuring.

Now, just over a year later, I have a first draft of a book, an offer of representation from a leading agent, and interest from a major publisher. None of those things would have happened without Kathy’s support. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”

“I will forever be enormously grateful to Kathy. I had been stuck for so long with my story before I met her, knowing I was onto something, and close, but seemingly unable to find a way through. From the get-go I knew I was in capable hands. It was a huge relief to have found a guide I could trust. Kathy understood the story I was trying to tell and helped me coax it into being, teaching me how to weave and tell it as powerfully and precisely as I could, with the benefit of her considerable wisdom and experience. I appreciated her approach. She was empathic but no-nonsense, wasting neither words nor time and could zoom in and out, moving from the structural questions down to the detail of syntax and words. Thanks to her help I have secured representation from a brilliant agent. But more importantly I can complete my creation and that gives me a chance to resolve something deep inside that I have been struggling with for a long time. It sets me free . . . Thank you Kathy!
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“I took Kathy a manuscript that I knew needed more work but couldn’t yet see how to tackle. She immediately pinpointed the problem areas, encouraged me to open up the text, restructure and deepen it. If something new didn’t gel, we worked out why and I had another go. Sticky sections began to unstick, the narrative gained momentum, and the whole process became incredibly exciting. Kathy’s patience and eagle eye enabled me to drill down to the very heart of the book and strengthen it.

Then came the proposal. How much information should it contain to whet an agent’s appetite without causing indigestion? Janine was also a tremendous help in finding the right balance. As a result, on the book’s first submission a top agency offered me representation.

Without Kathy’s input I doubt I would ever have achieved such a fantastic result. Working with her has been illuminating and a joy, and I wholeheartedly recommend her. ”

“Kathy was an amazing and inspiring support, taking me from a rough draft to a finely crafted set of sample chapters and proposal that secured me a great literary agent. First, she took time to really understand what I wanted to achieve with my book and then coached me patiently and with great skill and insight through the writing and rewriting of sample chapters. Second, she helped me craft a brilliant proposal, subsequently sending it out to a carefully selected collection of agents. Through a few initial rejections, Kathy stayed positive and focused. On our next submission I was delighted to get a very excited and positive response from an agent, followed by another and then another. In the end I had four agents wanting to meet me. Finally, Kathy stayed in my corner, helping me talk through my options with the agencies and know what questions to ask. I have just signed up with Curtis Brown, one of the UK’s top agencies which feels like a massive achievement. Thank you Kathy, I really could not have done this without you. I’d highly recommend Kathy to anyone.”

“Kathy was one of the first people who made me think I really might be able to do this. I was very new when I met her, and just blindly guessing at how to be a writer. Kathy saw potential in the manuscript I sent her and helped me turn it into something stronger and better. I felt so encouraged and I learnt a lot. I now have four books published by Nosy Crow, with two more on the way.”

“Janine has played an instrumental role in helping shape the fortunes of so many of our biggest-selling brand-name authors, including Kate Atkinson, Malorie Blackman, Dan Brown, Bill Bryson, Lee Child, Jilly Cooper, Richard Dawkins, Sophie Kinsella, Andy McNab, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson.”

“I had already been writing for several years when I began working with Kathy. I wanted to take my work to the next level and break into the publishing industry, which at the time felt distant and impenetrable.

Kathy brought the sort of keen editorial eye to my work that I was unable to bring myself, and I firmly believe her narrative instinct, exacting standards and insight into the workings of the publishing industry were instrumental in me receiving an offer of representation from David Higham Associates. I always felt that Kathy was personally invested in both my work and me as an author, and working with her was also a great deal of fun. I will miss our meetings in the coffee shops of Upper Street!”

“Working with Janine on my first novel has been enjoyable and extremely helpful. She showed real faith in my writing and ideas, provided clear-eyed and constructive criticism and helped me develop my baggy first draft into a tighter and more engaging read. She was also a great source of knowledge and advice in writing a compelling pitch to agents. Though I haven’t been successful yet, I have learnt a huge amount in the process. I started working with Janine at a time when I was running out of steam with my writing. I am now enjoying it again and have been inspired to keep going!”

“Kathy has given me the advice and support that I was seeking as a young author looking to progress my career. She was able to get me in contact with a reputable agent, who has given me further contacts in the industry. It is these sorts of opportunities that are hard to come by in a competitive industry but can make a big difference to a person’s career. I am very grateful for her support.”

“It’s been a long and winding road and a lot of hard work, but Kathy’s quiet persistence and thorough knowledge of the publishing industry has taken me on an eye-opening journey from keen amateur writer to achieving a three-book deal with HarperCollins.”

“Kathy Gale encouraged me, taught me how to believe in myself, gave me faith in my ability to write, stimulated me and put up with me, with undying patience, when I was totally out of order! She enabled me to get my first book accepted by a top publisher at the first try.”

“True, the book had to be written, but the problem was confidence. I didn’t have much, in me as a writer or in the book finding a publisher. But Kathy grasped this and the project evolved. In due course there was a book that looks as if it has been written by a real writer - and a publisher emerged as well - but it would never have happened without her.”

“It was a great pleasure to work with Kathy as she was incredibly encouraging and really boosted my confidence as a writer. With Kathy’s help and gentle advice, I created a proposal and chapter samples that led me to being signed by a literary agent after only a few weeks of working with her. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough!”

“Kathy Gale gave me invaluable guidance.”

“I cannot recommend Kathy Gale and her Writers’ Studio groups highly enough. For authors and aspiring authors, having Kathy on your side with her wisdom, technical expertise, industry experience and supportive style, is invaluable. Kathy is very skillful, facilitating the group in way that ensures everybody gets what they need and feels safe, and she nurtures the group to become much more than the sum of its parts.”

“As my publisher/editor, Kathy Gale was astute, empathetic, entertaining, focused and engaged. I entirely enjoyed working with her.”

“I worked with Kathy Gale for a number of years when she was publisher at The Women’s Press and found her to be a talented and dedicated editor who was committed to high-quality publishing.”

“Kathy Gale is a superb editor, extremely perceptive in seeing the true shape, direction and texture of your writing and helping you to refocus, cut and restructure. Her sensitivity and respect for the writing and the writer made her adept at helping you to do this without pain. In my earlier career, she was an immense support to me - and I learned a great deal from her.”

“Kathy Gale was very important in getting my first three books, the Diving In trilogy, successfully published. As an editor, she was never afraid to tell me where I’d gone astray, but she’d be enormously supportive too. My sessions with her were honest, invigorating and, most of all, creative. I’ve got a lot to thank her for.”

“Having been a TV writer for nearly twenty years, I’d decided I wanted to write a book but was nervous of switching disciplines, uncertain whether I’d be able to adapt my skills from one area to another. I gave my first three chapters to Kathy to read and found her thoughtful analysis, detailed feedback and encouragement extremely helpful, all of which gave me the confidence to continue.”

“I worked closely with Kathy Gale on several novels. We did extensive work together, shaping and fine-tuning my books. I highly valued Kathy’s advice and expert, professional opinion, which greatly helped me to develop as a writer.”

“I have worked with Kathy Gale over many years at Simon & Schuster. She is a fantastic, collaborative, intelligent, smart woman and I have had so much fun working with her. Her ideas are great and she can certainly see them through to the end. She is an asset to anyone!”

“I have had excellent experiences of working with Kathy. She is a skilled and sensitive editor with an eye for talent and a gift for helping authors making the very best of their work.”

“I have always found Kathy the most charming and professional individual to work with. She has a can-do personality that makes things happen. Those authors privileged enough to work with her found her an absolute pleasure. In a dream team of publishing personnel for any fantasy publishing company, she will always be at the top of the list.”

“I have known Kathy Gale for over fifteen years and have always admired her. She has had a unique career in publishing: editorial, senior management and marketing. Few people could embrace such a range of jobs and do them all well, but Kathy’s intelligence, good judgement and calm professionalism has always carried her through. I know that Kathy is one of those people who makes a success of everything she wants to do.”

“Kathy Gale has many years of publishing experience, which she has always put to good use for her authors.”

“During her six years at Simon & Schuster, Kathy spearheaded many successful marketing campaigns across hardback and paperback, fiction and non-fiction. She has always shown professionalism, dedication and an unswerving commitment to excellence. Her contribution to the growth of Simon & Schuster has been significant.”