Fay Sampson - Editor
Fay Sampson has three times been shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, with Pangur Ban, Chris and the Dragon and A Free Man on Sunday, and won the Barco de Vapor award. Her crime novel The Hunted Hare was the CRT Fiction Book of the Year.
She has taught creative writing and been a Writer in Residence. She has been editing manuscripts for nearly 20 years. Fay has helped other writers to publication, including Mark Leyland who won an award for an unpublished children’s novel. Hilton Pashley’s Gabriel’s Clock became the first in a YA series. Fay has had many positive feedbacks from clients, like the following: “It’s exactly what I was hoping for – your feedback is invaluable.”
Testimonials
- Nicholas E.
- Sharon H.
- Thomas M.
- Pablo C.
- Rebecca S.
WHY WE LOVE FAY
She is the author of 55 books. She has written novels for children, and fantasy, crime and historical novels for adults, as well as some Dark Age history. Her novels include the Morgan le Fay fantasy series and the Suzie Fewings genealogical mystery books.
WHAT FAY SAYS ABOUT EDITING
Editing is something I really enjoy. I have worked both as a writer and as a maths teacher. The latter is more relevant than you might think. I’m used to analysing work to see just where it went wrong. Often an aspiring novelist has a great idea, but somehow it doesn’t quite come off. My skill is in identifying why. I’ve had a publisher send me a script which they knew was good, but didn’t quite work. I was able to spot the problem. The writer is now a well-published author.
One well-known writer used to send me all her new scripts to check.
I have a low boredom threshold. I have ranged across a wide range of genres – children’s and adult, fantasy, historical and crime, as well as non-fiction. I enjoy the variety.
I’m looking for clients who bring a fresh eye to the world they write about, whether the one we are familiar with or an imagined one, and for great stories that keep me turning the pages.
Genres Fay specialises in
Fay's published books
Pangur Ban, the White Cat (Pangur Bán Celtic Fantasies Series)
“Now! Now you shall see what happens to those who would break the spell of mermaids!” Fleeing the king’s justice for his accidental crime, the monk Niall has been bewitched by mermaids in the underwater realm, while vengeful Princess Finnglas is in the grip of a terrifying sea monster. Pangur Bán, the white cat, is desperate. He must rescue them—but how? Only Arthmael can do it. But who is Arthmael? And where is he? Can Pangur Bán find him in time?Beautifully written, wilder and less safe than Lewis’s Narnia, this beloved allegory is newly republished. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or rediscovering that book you loved as a child, Pangur Bán, The White Cat delivers breathless fantasy and spiritual depth for young readers and adults.
Morgan Le Fay 1: Wise Woman's Telling
Morgan le Fay is the neglected daughter of the Duke of Cornwall and his beautiful wife Ygerne. Her childhood is tragically altered when King Uther Pendragon sets eyes on her mother. He kills her adored father. By Merlyn’s magic, he enters the convent of Tintagel and tricks Ygerne into giving him a child.
Morgan’s upbringing, and that of her sisters, is in the hands of their nurse. Gwennol is a wise woman, who teaches them her craft. But she soon realises that Morgan will become far more powerful in magic than herself.
How will Morgan react when the baby Arthur is born?
Them: A People Enslaved, A Promised Hope, A Legendary Rescuer
A compelling fantasy adventure set in the not-too- distant future in a place that is not-too-different from our own (similar in this respect to some titles by Joan Aiken or Philip Pullman). The ordinary people are in the thrall of Them, a ruthlessly powerful group who have denied the use of technology to others for several generations. However, rumours abound of a Prince who will bring freedom to the people and help them to overcome their oppressors. This gripping adventure tells of the quest to find him which includes action-packed chases, encounters with creatures of myth and legend, and mental and physical conflicts with a surprising twist at the end. The powerful story has timeless themes which will resonate with many readers.
The Hunted Hare
Pennant Melangell lies at the head of a mountain valley in North Wales. It consists of a church, with the medieval shrine and pilgrimage site of St Melangell, a few cottages – and a newly constructed hotel, the House of the Hare, built by its imposing director Thaddeus Brown. To the House of the Hare come Aidan and Jenny Davison, with their seven-year-old daughter Melangell. Jenny has advanced cancer: will the sacred location become a place of healing? Or will the hotel’s new facilities – for instance, its impressive archery range – become a place of death? In this secluded setting, who might be the victim? The first of a series of new mysteries featuring Aidan and Melangell and set in what Fay Sampson describes as the “thin” places of the Celtic world.
The Wounded Thorn
The first in a thrilling new mystery series set around the sacred historical sites of the British Isles”
Recently retired teacher Hilary decides that the best way to stop herself worrying about her husband, who s away doing voluntary work in war-torn Gaza, is to distract herself with a holiday. She invites her good friend Veronica, a recent widow, to accompany her on a trip to Glastonbury, to see the ancient sights.
The Wounded Snake
Friends Hilary Masters and Veronica Taylor are eager to embark upon their weekend-long masterclass in crime writing at the evocative, fourteenth-century Morland Abbey, hoping to gain inspiration for their own novels. The queen of crime fiction herself, Dinah Halsgrove, is the guest of honour, giving the opening talk. But when Dinah suddenly falls ill later that evening, the pair can’t help being suspicious. Has her mysterious illness been staged by the organisers, or does someone in their writing group have murderous intent?
