PRH's Barsby and Lindon join Goudsmit Kay at The Novelry

Penguin Random House editors Tash Barsby and Lily Lindon will join Lizzie Goudsmith Kay at the burgeoning editorial department of The Novelry.

Goudsmit Kay's move to the new department of the online novel writing school was announced this week, shortly before it emerged her Transworld colleague, commissioning editor Barsby, will also join. Lindon (pictured), a Vintage editor and author, is another newly revealed recruit of the virtual writing school, which was founded by Louise Dean in 2018.

“We were seeking blue chip brilliant editors and both Tash and Lily bring an exciting skillset to our new editorial team,” Dean said. “Tash is a fine and quietly renowned commissioning editor who has worked on some big names and brought some exciting stories to publication. Lily is an insightful and adventurous editor. Both combine real literary nouse with their passion for commercial fiction, and we’re delighted to have them join us.”

Barsby rose to commissioning editor in the commercial fiction team at Transworld working with authors such as Shari Lapena, Fiona Barton, Lesley Kara and Tess Gerritsen, as well as building her own list. Barsby specialises in editing general commercial fiction, historical fiction, and crime and thrillers.

“I have had the most incredible time at Transworld, and want to say a heartfelt thank-you to the wonderful authors and colleagues I’ve worked with along the way, but the unique opportunity to join The Novelry at such an exciting stage in the company’s growth was too tempting to pass up,” Barsby said of her move. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Louise and the team, and can’t wait to start working with their authors at such a pivotal time in their writing journeys.”

Lindon has experience across three divisions of PRH — Children’s, Transworld, and Vintage — and intensive training in both publicity and editorial teams. As well as a host of award-winning contemporary authors, she has worked on refreshing Vintage’s iconic red spine Classics, from Jeanette Winterson, Sapphire, Stella Gibbons and Derek Jarman, alongside an international Heroines series showcasing female protagonists. She commissioned and edited books such as The Love Letters of Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West, the first ever English translation of Simone de Beauvoir's rediscovered novel The Inseparables, and the first trans author on a Classics list. Lindon’s own debut was recently bought by Head of Zeus.

She said: “The most important and pleasurable parts of being an editor are helping writers craft their unique voices, and championing great storytelling. I’m really looking forward to bringing my experience to the aspiring authors at The Novelry, and cheerleading them through every stage of the creative process.”

The Novelry’s team has recently expanded to include authors Harriet Tyce and Mahsuda Snaith.