Mr Andrew Chapman | History & business editor | Non-fiction typesetting | Self-publishing expert
UK based, with clients worldwide
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://preparetopublish.com
- Organisation
- Prepare to Publish Ltd
- Membership Grade
- Professional Member
About Andrew
Non-fiction copy editor, expert typesetter, self-publishing consultant. Specialist areas include history, business, self-development and popular ideas.
Over 25+ years in publishing I have copy edited many books and been editor of four newsstand magazines (three history magazines and one computer title), a B2B title and a newspaper. I'm a writer of history-related books and articles, including a weekly history newsletter. I have done the typesetting/formatting/layout (pick your preferred term!) for hundreds of books, ebooks and magazines. I also provide up-to-date advice on self-publishing. My business, Prepare to Publish Ltd, also offers a full book production service from first draft to press.
If you've reached at least the first draft stage, I'd love to hear about your book and help you take it forward for publication, whether you are self-publishing or taking it to agents or traditional publishers.
Editorial roles
Present:
- Editor, Discover Your Ancestors genealogy/social history magazine (and spinoff books), Discover Your Ancestors Publishing (2011–present); also typesetting in InDesign
- Editor, Local History News – journal of the British Association for Local History (2023–present)
- Production manager (project management, copy editing and typesetting/formatting in Indesign), The Right Book Company (2019–present)
- Typesetter/formatter in Indesign and Vellum, Edward Everett Root (2021–)
- Copy editor and typesetter, Byline Books (2022–)
- Copy editor and typesetter in QuarkXPress (books and magazines), Hawker Publications (1999–present)
- Freelance editor and typesetter for numerous other publishers, organisations and private individuals.
Past:
- Project manager, copy editor and typesetter/formatter in Indesign and PressBooks, Unbound (2017–2022)
- Executive editor, Your Family History magazine, Dennis Publishing (2015–2018)
- Writer, Your Family Tree (Future Publishing, 2005–2015)
- Fiction editor, Osiris Press (2005–2008)
- Associate/acting editor, Interviewer and Negotiator magazines, Inside Communications/Trinity Mirror (1999–2003)
- Associate editor, The Chalkface Project (1999–2000)
- Assistant editor, Methodist Recorder newspaper (1996–1998)
- Editor, PCW Plus magazine, Future Publishing (1995–1996)
Memberships
- Professional member, CIEP
- Associate member, Alliance of Independent Authors
- Member, Independent Publishers Guild
- Member, Society of Authors
- Associate member, Historical Writers' Association
- Publishing committee member, British Association for Local History
Software expertise
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe InDesign
- Google Docs
- Open Office
- QuarkXPress
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Photoshop
- Calibre
- Vellum
- Atticus
- Sigil
- Jutoh
- PressBooks
- Kindle Create
- HTML and PHP
- File format conversion
Subject areas
- antiquarian
- book design
- British history
- British landscape
- British travel
- business
- ebooks
- family history
- folklore
- formatting
- genealogy
- Great Britain
- heritage
- hiking
- historical memoir
- history of ideas
- literary biography
- literary history
- local history
- museums
- page layout
- popular ideas (maths, science, psychology etc.)
- psychogeography
- self-help
- self-development
- self-publishing
- social history
- topography
- typesetting
- walking
Testimonials
I really can't thank you enough for your hard work and professionalism in consistently delivering every issue at the highest quality and generally making a great magazine. I will most definitely recommend your services.
John Garewal, managing director, Dennis Publishing
Andrew has worked with us as an editor and a designer for many years. he has always done a great job despite the 'challenges' we send him on a regular basis. He is an excellent colleague - unflappable and knowledgeable and I would thoroughly and unreservedly recommend him.
Dr Richard Hawkins, managing director and editor-in-chief, Hawker Publications
Andrew was the ideal editor. He combined excellent editorial & design skills with a breadth of industry understanding and experience which was critical in turning our scribbled concepts and beer-mat outlines into a polished, refined end product. Andrew's accuracy, versatility and patience were exactly what we needed to take this project forward, and I would not hesitate recommending Andrew as a writer, editor, designer or consultant.
Chris Timms, Blue Compass Ltd
I am learning so much from seeing you take my raw words and polish them up. Not only are you helping me to make this a better book, I know my writing will be better whenever I put fingers to keyboard in future!
Kate Trafford, author
Service(s)
Specialisms
Client types
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.