Veteran publisher and editor-in-chief of HarperCollins, Susan Watt, has died, it was announced today. Susan was one of the industry’s longest-serving publishers, with a career spanning more than 60 years.
Her first job was at Blackwell’s in Oxford, where she worked alongside her studies. From then on, she never looked back – books were her passion and her calling.
During her long career she worked at publishers in the UK and the US, including Fontana, Michael Joseph, HarperCollins and Quercus. She discovered, edited, published and made lasting friendships with authors such as Tracy Chevalier, Jeffrey Archer, Boris Johnson, George MacDonald Fraser, Jeremy Paxman, Tom Clancy, Dick Francis, Conn Iggulden, Amitav Ghosh and Adam Nicolson.
Her longest collaboration as a publisher was with Bernard Cornwell, with whom she had a 40-year publishing partnership, beginning with Sharpe’s Eagle 1981 until his last title Sharpe’s Order.
Speaking on behalf of her four sons, Jon Watt said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved mother. She was a truly remarkable person, mother and publisher – a whirlwind of energy, inspiration, intelligence and warmth. We are so proud of her remarkable career and the publishing legacy she leaves behind in an industry that adored her so much.”
Charlie Redmayne, CEO of HarperCollins UK, said: “Susan was an extraordinary editor and personality. She was respected and admired by her many authors and also influenced and inspired many friends and colleagues in publishing. We were privileged to have Susan spend so much of her career with us here at HarperCollins and to be with us until the end of her life. I will always be grateful to her for leaving a copy of Agincourt in my hand before a long trip to the USA and into the incredible world of Bernard Cornwell. We will miss her very much and our thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Bernard Cornwell said: “To be one of Susan’s authors meant to have her friendship and passionate support, and like so many others, I owe my success above all to Susan’s enthusiasm, judgment and generosity. I have not lost an editor, but a dear friend.”
Tracy Chevalier said: “Susan has The Girl with a Pearl Earring for HarperCollins because she clearly saw something in it that the rest of us perhaps didn’t – myself included. I will always be grateful for her solid historical training and her careful but persistent editing, which made this book and several subsequent novels better.”
There will be a private funeral followed by a memorial service honoring her life and work. If you would like to share your memories or attend the memorial service, please email her son Jon Watt ([email protected]). The family has requested that no flowers be provided.
