“Susan Chang is an utter joy to work with. Never discouraging, always optimistic, never discounting any ideas but rather giving each concept room to breathe—she made the editorial process, which can be grim and frustrating, something I actually looked forward to with each of my novels. Her keen sense of structure, her ability to get into the mind of the reader, and her sensitivity to what parents, teachers, and other gatekeepers would want children reading, were all key to my successes in the genre. She taught me how to write books for children.”
W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose and the Puppy Tales
“I was so lucky to have Susan as my editor for my debut novel, 96 Miles. She is fantastic! Anytime a reader tells me this book was a page-turner, I have to give credit to Susan. She is brilliant with pacing and tension! She has a sharp eye for story and character, and early on, suggested some key changes that not only added dimension to the plot, but emotional depth to my characters. Her comments and notes were always spot-on. And she was an absolute pleasure to work with. I highly recommend her!”
J. L. Esplin, award-winning author of 96 Miles
“Susan Chang is one of the finest editors in the industry. She has an almost intimidating level of knowledge and expertise, but also a warm personality that at once sets you at ease. She’s what every author wants: a collaborator who won’t intrude on your vision for the novel, but who, with clear-eyed insight, isn’t afraid to deliver straight talk and push you through your comfort zone. Having her in my corner helped turn my manuscript into a much better novel, and, ultimately, into an award-winning one. When I thanked her in the Acknowledgments (as an ‘editor par excellence’), I wasn’t just following publishing etiquette. I meant every word. And you will, too.”
Andrew Fukuda, award-winning author of This Light Between Us
“Susan was my editor on four novels, and was a terrific partner in creating books I am fiercely proud of. She really listened when I told her what my goals were for each story, and her notes were always constructive and on point. She has a keen eye for plot, but it was the heart she brought to my characters that helped me the most. Add to all that Susan’s extensive experience and knowledge of the industry—especially in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy—and you can’t go wrong hiring her to take your work to the next level.”
Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
“Susan Chang is a thoughtful editor with a masterful understanding of what makes a narrative tick. Her deep experience and careful eye can polish and push every piece of a manuscript from characterization to plot to pacing—she knows how to shape a good story into a great one. I’d recommend her to anyone wanting to bring their work to the next level.”
Sarah Henning, acclaimed author of The Princess Will Save You and Sea Witch
“Susan Chang is a brilliant, wise, and insightful editor. With a deep and abiding respect for writers and years of experience in the industry, her superpower is the ability to see through layers of prose to the often buried bones of a story, and then encouraging her authors to put flesh on those bones. Susan was not only my editor, she was a patient teacher, a fierce advocate, and a tireless mentor. Working with her was the most joyful, empowering, and rewarding professional experience of my life.”
Mary Cecilia Jackson, acclaimed author of Sparrow
“Susan Chang was my editor for both Catfishing on CatNet and Chaos on CatNet. Catfishing was the first YA novel I’d ever written, and Susan’s feedback was extremely helpful as I tried to sort out plot and pacing. One of the best scenes in the book was the result of Susan’s suggestion that I come up with something more interesting for the protagonist and her new friend to do together—she was extremely good at helping me to see the problems in the book while also trusting me to find a good way to fix them. What I want in an editor is someone who sees the book I am trying to write, and helps me make the book I’m working on into the book I’m aiming for—and Susan is terrific at that.”
Naomi Kritzer, award-winning author of Catfishing on CatNet
“Susan Chang was my editor on my second novel, Hurt Go Happy. Looking back, I realize I sent her clumps of clay that she sculpted into an award-winning book, eventually published in eight languages, and still going strong 15 years later.
“Susan draws on her empathy to connect with the characters’ physical and emotional burdens, turning them from victims of circumstance to heroines capable of achieving their dreams. Likewise, she relies on her curiosity about the human condition, and, in my case, the ‘humanity’ of my non-human characters, to draw from me more complex characters and therefore a livelier, more relatable narrative.
“Editorially, there wasn’t a suggestion Susan made that I didn’t gratefully take. She made both Hurt Go Happy and Freeing Finch better books and made me a better writer.”
Ginny Rorby, award-winning author of Hurt Go Happy
“Susan Chang is a uniquely brilliant editor. She has an ability I’ve never met with in any other editor: not only does she see through to the hidden depths of the writer’s creative vision, she also brings out those subtexts and gives them new force with a vision of her own. She makes her contributions so gracefully, so tactfully, that there was sometimes a delay before I understood the extent of their impact and their sheer, insightful rightness for my stories. The synergy of her ideas and mine was always exciting, generative, and deeply inspiring. To any writer who has a chance to work with her: seriously, do it!”
Sarah Porter, award-winning author of Vassa in the Night
“Having worked with Susan Chang on multiple projects, I can absolutely vouch for her being one of the best editors in the business. She has a wonderful editorial eye, is easy to work with, and always makes time when I need to talk to her about something. She gets an enthusiastic recommendation from me.”
Brandon Sanderson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Susan Chang is the kind of wonderful editor who helps authors tell the best stories they can. She does this by studying a manuscript for what the author is trying to say and then helps the author do it. She is insightful, empathic, and her notes on my manuscripts have been a great aid.”
Laurence Yep, two-time Newbery award-winning author of Dragonwings
“Susan Chang was my editor at Tor’s YA books, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about her sharp eye as an editor. She is a consummate reader of rough drafts, with the ability to hone in on repeating problems, but with gentle wit so the writer is not defeated but rather eager to get back to the work. I wish she were still there.”
Jane Yolen, award-winning author of more than 400 books for children and adults