Em Norry - Editor
E.L Norry is a MG/YA writer represented by The Soho Agency. Her first book was published in 2019, a commission in the historical VOICES series (Scholastic). Em wrote about the Victorian era. Son of the Circus blended fact and fiction, a favourite thing of hers to do.
In 2020 she added non-fiction with a biography of Nelson Mandela (Puffin). She also had short stories in the collection Home Again: Stories about Coming Home from War. (Scholastic).
2021 is busy! Amber Undercover (OUP), a standalone upper MG contemporary action-adventure hit the shelves. She also has stories in three anthologies: Happy Here (Knights Of), The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush (Scholastic) and A Very Merry Murder Club (Farshore). Non-fiction is a football biography of Lionel Messi (Scholastic).
Em has previously written for a younger age group, reluctant and dyslexic readers. A Good Friend (Hodder Education).
Recently, a two-book deal with Bloomsbury was announced. Book 1 in an MG fantasy series is out in 2023, in collaboration with Storymix and Jasmine Richards.
Find Em on Twitter here: @elnorry_writer
WHY WE LOVE EM
Em is such an experienced writer, and this shines through in her editorial reports. If you’re looking for expert knowledge of the MG and YA market to really hone your manuscript, you’ll get this and much more in a report from Em.
WHAT EM SAYS ABOUT EDITING
I worked as an editorial assistant in publishing for one year. I’ve judged Flash fiction and short story competitions. I’ve been an active member of an online critique group, offering almost one million words of critique over the past five years. I was a R7 mentor for the US scheme Author Mentor Match. I am passionate about helping aspiring writers and bring enthusiasm, brainstorming ideas, kindness and empathy to my editorial overview. I enjoy what I call ‘intuitive editing’ so am happy to make line-edit and copy edit suggestions, but that isn’t my focus.
I love giving feedback and helping authors realise their own vision by asking questions that probe deeply and hopefully have them examine their work in a new way. I have a particular interest in writers who might like to explore difficult issues and topics and a fondness for complex (even ‘unlikeable’!) characters, but in a realistic contemporary setting and love history too though! With a film and Screenwriting background, my areas of strength are character, emotional resonance and dialogue.
What Em works on
Manuscript assessment
Developmental Editing
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Line-editing
Copy-editing
Proof-reading
Genres Em specialises in
Em's published books
Son of the Circus
Voices: Son of the Circus – A Victorian Story explores the life of a young mixed-race boy, Ted, living with his mother and poorly older brother in Victorian Bradfield. When a stranger, a man the boys don’t remember ever seeing before, appears in their kitchen, Ted is hit with a shocking revelation. This man is his father – the first black circus owner in Victorian Britain, Pablo Fanque. Before Ted can recover from his shock, he is sent away with Pablo to learn the tricks of the circus trade. Pablo is determined for Ted to follow in his footsteps. But can Ted adapt to this terrifying new life amongst strangers? And will he ever see his beloved mother and brother again?
The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela
NELSON MANDELA is known for dedicating his life to fighting for equality in South Africa and overthrowing racial segregation. He grew up hearing the elders’ stories of his ancestors’ fighting in the wars of resistance, and he dreamed of fighting for the freedom of his people. His childhood wish was granted when he became the first black president of South Africa, and an icon for hope, change and equality.
Extraordinary Lives is a bold, inclusive biography series shining a light on modern and historical figures. Entertaining, accessible and educational, they are the perfect introductions to these amazing people and their achievements.
Amber Undercover
I’m Amber Roberts. Just your average teenager. Life revolves around school and my best mate, Vi. Nothing too dramatic, and certainly nothing dangerous. Well. That’s how things used to be. But now, my life is way more complicated: Mum and Dad have a massive secret and Vi’s being all moody. But, bigger than that, I’ve just been recruited as a secret agent! That’s right. Me. An actual spy. Exciting? It would be, if I had a clue what I was doing . . .
The Place for Me
Explore the lives of the Windrush generation in this full-colour anthology. With a foreword from Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE. This book presents 12 moving tales of sacrifice and bravery, inspired by first-hand accounts of the Windrush generation.
Happy Here
With an introduction from bestselling author Sharna Jackson, Happy Here features stories and poems by 10 Black British authors for readers aged 7+.
Exploring themes of joy, home and family through a wide range of genres and styles, each author has been paired with a different illustrator to spotlight Black British artistic talent. With stories by Dean Atta, Joseph Coelho, Kereen Getten, Patrice Lawrence, Theresa Lola, E.L. Norry, Jasmine Richards, Alexandra Sheppard, Yomi Sode, and Clare Weze.
Lionel Messi
Be inspired by Football Legend, Lionel Messi! Football Legends: Young readers will love finding out all about the lives of their favourite players in this incredible biography series. Discover the inspirational story of this star player’s journey from growing up in South America, to his legendary success at Barcelona FC and becoming one of the greatest players on earth. Packed with footie facts and match statscareer highlights Also in the series: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Tammy Abraham, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kylian Mbappe Amazing cover artwork illustrated by Stanley Chow, whose iconic work has found worldwide acclaim.
A Good Friend
Sometimes it can be hard to make friends. When Fay starts at a new school, she misses her old friends. What if the new children don’t like her? Deepak has started at the school too, but he likes different things to Fay. Fay likes dogs and flowers and feeding the cows at her old farm. A girl called Bella asks Fay to play at lunchtime. But then, Bella does something that is not very fair … Will Fay ever make a good friend?
The Very Merry Murder Club
A wintery middle grade mystery collection of short stories by thirteen of the most exciting and diverse authors in children’s books today!
Co-edited by Serena Patel, the award-winning author of the Anisha: Accidental Detective series and by Robin Stevens, author of the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series.
