Editor/Senior Editor, Crime Fiction

Publishers Marketplace; New York (NY); Remote; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Crooked Lane Books seeks an ambitious Editor to join our fast-moving crime fiction program. The role is hands-on, deeply connected to Millennial/Gen Z readers, and requires ownership of projects from acquisitions to publication.

The Editor will work closely with authors, agents, and internal teams to shape a compelling lineup and drive commercial success. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in acquisitions at a trade publisher, exceptional writing, and a proven track record with commercial crime

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 3–5 years of experience in an acquisitions role at a trade publishing house.
• Ability to identify trends and acquire high-profile projects.
• Established network of authors and agents.
• Proven track record of publishing commercial crime fiction.
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
• Experience with Excel, including sales tracks and title P&Ls.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, acquire, and edit 10–15 crime fiction titles with strong sales potential in their first year and continue to develop their list from there.
• Build and maintain a robust network of literary agents and authors to find or develop the very best mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels.
• Identify shifts in culture and source crime fiction projects targeting untapped markets.
• Conduct sales, marketplace, and reader research for titles to meet reader expectations and reach target audiences.
• Shape offers with market and P&L knowledge and negotiate preliminary author terms.
• Collaborate with authors, agents, marketing, publicity, sales, production, and design to set vision and goals for each title and manage publishing process.
• Prepare title information, catalog, jacket copy, and review marketing materials.
• Pitch titles at internal and external meetings from acquisitions to sales conferences.

Skills

Acquisitions

Author/agent network

Trend spotting

Writing excellence

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Excel

Job description

*Remote available for candidates residing in approved payroll states. Crooked Lane Books is looking for an ambitious, connected, analytical, and energetic Editor to join our fast-moving team. The ideal candidate must be an expert in and a champion of crime fiction who is deeply embedded in the cultural trends driving Millennial and Gen Z readership. They are hands‑on, know what readers want, and are constantly collaborating with authors and agents to deliver it. An entrepreneurial spirit, a sense of ownership of projects, and close relationships with agents and authors are essential. This role reports directly to the Publisher. This position provides the opportunity for rapid professional growth.

Essential responsibilities:

• Evaluate, acquire, and edit 10-15 crime fiction titles with strong sales potential in their first year and continue to develop their list from there.
• Build and maintain a robust network of literary agents and authors to find or develop the very best mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels.
• Proactively identify shifts in the culture and aggressively source or reverse-engineer crime fiction projects that capitalize on these untapped markets.
• Conduct sales, marketplace, and reader research as it relates to potential and/or existing titles to ensure that every title meets readers’ expectations and reaches its intended audience.
• Shape offers with an understanding of the market and profit and loss statements and negotiate preliminary business terms for author agreements.
• Work with authors, agents, marketing, publicity, sales, production, and design to set the vision and goals for every title and manage the publishing process to ensure the achievement of those goals.
• Prepare title information, catalog, and jacket copy, and review marketing and publicity materials.
• Pitch titles at internal and external meetings from acquisitions to sales conferences.

About you:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 3-5 years of experience in an acquisitions role at a trade publishing house.
• Ability to identify trends and acquire and/or conceive of high‑profile projects.
• Established network of authors and agents.
• Established track record of publishing commercial crime fiction.
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
• Experience with Excel, including sales tracks and title P&Ls.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask several projects concurrently and demonstrate strong attention to detail and follow-up.