• Home
  • About us
    • Team
    • Editors
    • Books
  • Editorial services
    • Packages
    • FAQs
    • Make payment
  • Course
    • On Editing
    • Testimonials
  • Scouting programme
  • Blog
  • Contact us

UK Site

  • Home
  • About us
    • Team
    • Editors
    • Books
  • Editorial services
    • Packages
    • FAQs
    • Make payment
  • Course
    • On Editing
    • Testimonials
  • Scouting programme
  • Blog
  • Contact us
Menu
  • "Cornerstones paired me with a fantastic editor, Ben, who helped me to turn my raw draft into a submittable one. We worked on characters, storyline, and the essential suspense and goosebump readability. Helen then passed me through to my hands-on agent. We did further revisions and one year on, I have a dream two-book deal with Headline! Thank you so much to Cornerstones, I couldn’t have done it without you."

    Emily Gunnis, 'The Girl in the Letter' (Headline, 2018)
  • "Dinah's thorough, wise and helpful report really helped improve the manuscript. The fact that she was so positive carried me through the tough months before publication of We Do Not Kill Children."

    Penelope Wallace, 'We Do Not Kill Children', Mightier than the Sword
  • "Cornerstones helped me navigate the treacherous journey between first draught and finished manuscript, and with their encouragement, I was shortlisted for The Bath Novel Award and now have an agent."

    Scott Bain, 'The God Bullet'
  • "Working with the staff at Cornerstones was one of the best writing decisions I’ve made. They gave me direction and the belief to keep going - can’t thank them enough."

    Libby McGuan, 'The Eidolon', Solaris, and shortlisted for British Fantasy Awards 2014
  • "I always loved writing, but my writing was aimless and unfocused – and getting nowhere. Cornerstones gave me the missing piece. They taught me the crucial editing, planning and plotting tools that focused my work and led to publication. I might still just be dreaming if it weren’t for Helen and Lee."

    Dean Carson, 'Dead or Alive', Endeavour
  • "My Cornerstones’s report was a pivotal moment in the writing journey. It guided me towards the story I wanted to tell and it gave me clarity and confidence. For a debut, would-be author, these are things that money can't buy."

    Claire Hajaj, 'Ishmael's Oranges', Oneworld
  • "I’d managed to work my manuscript (and myself) up into a bit of a tangled mess that I couldn’t seem to get out of… Cornerstones helped me to unpick the knots and smooth out my plot, and they did this with clarity and simplicity. The guidance and feedback they offered was instrumental in helping me to find a home for my writing, and now I’ve signed a great deal with a fantastic publisher for a Young Adult trilogy!"

    Johanna Handley, 'The Burning of Juniper Slaide', Rudling House
  • "Cornerstones' review came at a pivotal moment, as I was about to give it up and stick to Sci-fi. The journey was long, and I wrote to 25 agents and five publishers; in the end it was three publishers who got back to me, two of whom made an offer."

    JF Kirwan, '66 Metres', Carina
  • “At a time when I nearly gave up, Cornerstones provided encouragement, tools and tips, and – most importantly - hope. They’re like a literary hug, with a sprinkling of magic.”

    Rosemary Dun, 'The Trouble With Love', Sphere
  • "I always loved writing, but my writing was aimless and unfocused - and getting nowhere. Cornerstones gave me the missing piece. They taught me the crucial editing, planning and plotting tools that focused my work and led to publication. I might still just be dreaming if it wasn't for Helen and Lee."

    Anthony Galvin, Penguin and Endeavour Press
  • "Many thanks to Cornerstones and the team for the invaluable advice. I took it seriously, and now it's paid off! My journey to publication has been a really long one, but I'm glad I stuck it out."

    Imran Hashim, 'Annabelle Thong', Epigram Books
  • “I was a complete novice about writing and coming to the publishing industry very green.  Cornerstones helped to shape my manuscript, find an agent and now the book is being published.  It’s the realisation of ten years of work and a dream come true for me to see my story about my disabled twins finally come to light.”

    James Melville-Ross, 'Two For Joy', John Blake Publishing
  • "Thanks for building up Cornerstones, Helen. I sometimes wonder whether I would have given up by now if you all hadn't been there to push and guide and shove. You really do provide a remarkable service to us budding writers with big dreams."

    Tina Konstant
  • "Cornerstones really gave me that initial kick start and I'll always be grateful. I am thrilled to say I'm now signed with PFD and have a book deal with Scholastic in the UK and US."

    Lisa Thompson, 'The Goldfish Boy', 2017
  • “For constructive and professional editorial advice, contacting Cornerstones is a very wise move for any aspiring author. Their reports pushed my writing in the right direction, and I’m so pleased I picked up the phone and said; “The thing is, I’ve got a first draft of a novel and…”

    Daniel Godfrey, 'New Pompeii', Titan Books
  • “Sound advice and constructive criticism–invaluable whether you’re starting out as a writer, or simply in need of a fresh pair of expert eyes.”

    Craig Simpson, 'Resistance', Random House
  • "I believe the process I went through with Cornerstones helped me get my manuscript in shape to secure a book deal."

    Annabel Kantaria, 'Coming Home', three-book deal with Harlequin
  • “My first experience of working with a professional editor came through Cornerstones; it’s taken a few re-writes but I’m now proud to say I’ve signed a five-book deal with Accent Press.”

    Jan Ruth, 'Wild Water'
  • "From start to finish, I found the process seamless.  My manuscript was critiqued by a fantastic editor and I wouldn't have been signed so quickly by such a prestigious agent had it not been for Cornerstones. Thank you!"

    Abi Elphinstone, 'The Dreamsnatcher', Simon & Schuster
  • "From start to finish, I found the process seamless.  My manuscript was critiqued by a fantastic editor and I wouldn't have been signed so quickly by such a prestigious agent had it not been for Cornerstones. Thank you!"

    Abi Elphinstone, 'The Dreamsnatcher', Simon & Schuster
  • “Cornerstones offered crucial help at a time when I really needed it. Thanks to the team for matching me with the right editor: my manuscript transformed from something that had previously only given me panic into a story that inspired confidence.”

    Roshani Chokshi, 'The Gilded Wolves', Wednesday Books
  • “Thank you CornerstonesUS for your brilliant help in getting my first book up off the ground. I won't ever write another book without you by my side.”

    Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Cool by Shantelle Bisson, Dundurn, April 4 2020.

About us

Welcome to Cornerstones U.S.! I am the Managing Editor, and am thrilled that you have found us. Formerly, I was an agent at Writers House for almost 25 years, and am now bringing my 30 years of publishing and agenting experience to our authors. We are proud to be part of the Cornerstones family, the long-standing No. 1 literary consultancy in the UK. Cornerstones is bringing its unique and extensive range of editorial services to the American corner of the world. Every character has an origin story, and while we originally hail from the U.K., the Cornerstones U.S. team is an outstanding group of experienced home-based story editors, with a sharp knowledge of what American agents and publishers are looking for.

We are the writer’s friend, and are here to help writers work to the best of their creativity and energy. Our principles are rooted in respect for the remarkable creativity it takes to write a book—any book, about any story, told in any voice. Cornerstones U.S. looks at every client personally and individually, customizing our editorial packages for each particular project. We bring insight, expertise, and above all, our creative passion to each and every story.

We assess every submission, and review your work to ensure that you are at the right stage to work productively with an editor. Whether you are ready for a detailed editorial letter, a full line edit, or workshopping, we will match you with the right service and editor. Cornerstones’ services are designed to give every writer the tailored editorial guidance they need to move their projects forward. We aim to provide our writers with powerful editorial tools that will help them as they continue to work on their writing. Cornerstones works at the speed of writing culture—always bringing up-to-the-minute editorial expertise and knowledge to every project we edit, workshop, and polish.

I am here as an added resource to our clients and am always available to answer your questions, and help you figure out what your best next steps should be!

Check out our services and pricing tiers on our rates card. Follow us on Twitter, and check the website for blog posts and our newsletter. We hope to be reading your work soon!

Michele Rubin

Managing Editor, Cornerstones U.S.

New York City

The Team

Click image for bio

Helen Corner-Bryant

Founder/Director

Helen Corner-Bryant spent a number of years in editorial at Penguin before setting up Cornerstones Literary Consultancy in 1998. Cornerstones is known for teaching self-editing techniques, providing feedback, scouting for agents and launching writers. In 2016, she opened Cornerstones US, creating the world’s first transatlantic literary consultancy. Helen is a guest lecturer at leading universities including UCL Centre for Publishing and the Columbia Publishing Course at Oxford. She loves helping authors get a step closer towards achieving their dreams, whether that’s to become a better writer, acquire an agent, get published, or hit the bestseller list.

Isobel Leach

Assistant Editor

Isobel Leach graduated from Oxford University in July 2019, where she read French. Spending two years as a bookseller at The Alligator’s Mouth, an independent children’s bookshop in Richmond, sparked her interest in the publishing world. After interning in a copywriting agency in Paris as part of her year abroad, she undertook work experience at Caskie Mushens Literary Agency. Isobel joined the Cornerstones team as an editorial assistant in October 2019, and was promoted to Assistant Editor in January 2021. Her role includes managing author/client relations and assisting in assessing submissions, proofreading and copyediting editorial reports. Isobel enjoys reading everything from literary and commercial fiction, to memoir and YA.

Sarah Rouse

Desk Editor

Sarah Rouse graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She has prior experience as a proofreader and copyeditor, and completed internships at OUP and Palgrave Macmillan during her time at university. Sarah joined the Cornerstones team in September 2017 as the editorial assistant, before becoming the Assistant Editor in March, and the Desk Editor in October 2018. Her role involves assessing submissions, liaising with editors, authors, and agents, sourcing editorial talent, and overseeing the development of projects, in addition to scouting. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading literary and experimental fiction, poetry, noir, dark/urban YA, and suspense narratives.

Facebook

Cornerstones Literary Consultancy

Twitter

Tweets by CornerstonesUS

Get in touch

In the US call:

+1-646-584-5552

Outside the US:
+44 (0) 1308 897374

or info@cornerstonesUS.com

Web design and branding Yorkshire by Feel Design

  • Privacy Policy