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Hello! I'm a published novelist and professional editor with a degree in fine art and illustration. My first novel, the Promise of the Child, was published by Gollancz in 2015 and followed by two sequels, and I have a new book coming out with Solaris next year. I've also written for Warhammer 40K as part of their fiction arm, Black Library. In recent years I've worked as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing teacher, coaching new authors on everything from worldbuilding and character development to dialogue, plotting, pacing and the ins and outs of publishing, including how to get a literary agent. I've spoken on and moderated panels at book conventions around the UK and Ireland, and hosted writing workshops at the Stonyhurst Literary Festival, the Phoenix Theatre London, Gollanczfest at Waterstones Piccadilly, Fantasycon London and most recently Edgelit Derby. Some praise for my novels: “To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years.” —Tor.com “One of the most ambitious and epic-scale pieces of worldbuilding I’ve read. Reading The Promise of the Child, you feel you’re in the presence of an author at the height of his powers. If this is what Toner is like when he’s just getting started, I think we can expect great things from him. Utterly absorbing; a tremendous adventure.” —Karl Schroeder, author of Lockstep and Sun of Suns “Bold and intense from start to finish, The Promise of the Child is a master-class in innovative, evocative world-building. The entire book buzzes with imagination.” —Michael J. Martinez, author of The Daedalus Incident “An amazing debut—a colorful space opera in the post-human tradition of Iain M. Banks, combined with the razor-sharp plotting of Alastair Reynolds. It left me feverish with delight.” —Loren Rhoads, author of The Dangerous Type “Humming with energy, this is space opera like you've never seen it before. Absolutely brilliant.” —Adam Roberts, author of Salt and Jack Glass “A gorgeously-written, wildly imaginative book. It’s like no space opera I’ve ever read–compelling and addictive.” —Will McIntosh, Hugo-award winning author of Soft Apocalypse and Defenders “I haven’t seen worldbuilding of this breadth and scale since Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, or Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space... it's new and fascinating territory.” - HeradasReview.com “The final book in Toner's ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do... To put it simply, this is bold, challenging science fiction... those who have challenged themselves to absorb the breadth of Toner's vision of the future will find themselves satisfied by its striking conclusion.” - Barnes & Noble on The Tropic of Eternity…Hello! I'm a published novelist and professional editor with a degree in fine art and illustration. My first novel, the Promise of the Child, was published by Gollancz in 2015 and followed by two sequels, and I have a new book coming out with Solaris next year. I've also written for Warhammer 40K as part of their fiction arm, Black Library. In recent years I've worked as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing teacher, coaching new authors on everything from worldbuilding and character development to dialogue, plotting, pacing and the ins and outs of publishing, including how to get a literary agent. I've spoken on and moderated panels at book conventions around the UK and Ireland, and hosted writing workshops at the Stonyhurst Literary Festival, the Phoenix Theatre London, Gollanczfest at Waterstones Piccadilly, Fantasycon London and most recently Edgelit Derby. Some praise for my novels: “To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years.” —Tor.com “One of the most ambitious and epic-scale pieces of worldbuilding I’ve read. Reading The Promise of the Child, you feel you’re in the presence of an author at the height of his powers. If this is what Toner is like when he’s just getting started, I think we can expect great things from him. Utterly absorbing; a tremendous adventure.” —Karl Schroeder, author of Lockstep and Sun of Suns “Bold and intense from start to finish, The Promise of the Child is a master-class in innovative, evocative world-building. The entire book buzzes with imagination.” —Michael J. Martinez, author of The Daedalus Incident “An amazing debut—a colorful space opera in the post-human tradition of Iain M. Banks, combined with the razor-sharp plotting of Alastair Reynolds. It left me feverish with delight.” —Loren Rhoads, author of The Dangerous Type “Humming with energy, this is space opera like you've never seen it before. Absolutely brilliant.” —Adam Roberts, author of Salt and Jack Glass “A gorgeously-written, wildly imaginative book. It’s like no space opera I’ve ever read–compelling and addictive.” —Will McIntosh, Hugo-award winning author of Soft Apocalypse and Defenders “I haven’t seen worldbuilding of this breadth and scale since Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, or Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space... it's new and fascinating territory.” - HeradasReview.com “The final book in Toner's ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do... To put it simply, this is bold, challenging science fiction... those who have challenged themselves to absorb the breadth of Toner's vision of the future will find themselves satisfied by its striking conclusion.” - Barnes & Noble on The Tropic of Eternity

Tom Toner

Concept Artist, Writer, Illustrator, +2

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Hello! I'm a published novelist and professional editor with a degree in fine art and illustration. My first novel, the Promise of the Child, was published by Gollancz in 2015 and followed by two sequels, and I have a new book coming out with Solaris next year. I've also written for Warhammer 40K as part of their fiction arm, Black Library. In recent years I've worked as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing teacher, coaching new authors on everything from worldbuilding and character development to dialogue, plotting, pacing and the ins and outs of publishing, including how to get a literary agent. I've spoken on and moderated panels at book conventions around the UK and Ireland, and hosted writing workshops at the Stonyhurst Literary Festival, the Phoenix Theatre London, Gollanczfest at Waterstones Piccadilly, Fantasycon London and most recently Edgelit Derby. Some praise for my novels: “To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years.” —Tor.com “One of the most ambitious and epic-scale pieces of worldbuilding I’ve read. Reading The Promise of the Child, you feel you’re in the presence of an author at the height of his powers. If this is what Toner is like when he’s just getting started, I think we can expect great things from him. Utterly absorbing; a tremendous adventure.” —Karl Schroeder, author of Lockstep and Sun of Suns “Bold and intense from start to finish, The Promise of the Child is a master-class in innovative, evocative world-building. The entire book buzzes with imagination.” —Michael J. Martinez, author of The Daedalus Incident “An amazing debut—a colorful space opera in the post-human tradition of Iain M. Banks, combined with the razor-sharp plotting of Alastair Reynolds. It left me feverish with delight.” —Loren Rhoads, author of The Dangerous Type “Humming with energy, this is space opera like you've never seen it before. Absolutely brilliant.” —Adam Roberts, author of Salt and Jack Glass “A gorgeously-written, wildly imaginative book. It’s like no space opera I’ve ever read–compelling and addictive.” —Will McIntosh, Hugo-award winning author of Soft Apocalypse and Defenders “I haven’t seen worldbuilding of this breadth and scale since Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, or Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space... it's new and fascinating territory.” - HeradasReview.com “The final book in Toner's ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do... To put it simply, this is bold, challenging science fiction... those who have challenged themselves to absorb the breadth of Toner's vision of the future will find themselves satisfied by its striking conclusion.” - Barnes & Noble on The Tropic of Eternity…Hello! I'm a published novelist and professional editor with a degree in fine art and illustration. My first novel, the Promise of the Child, was published by Gollancz in 2015 and followed by two sequels, and I have a new book coming out with Solaris next year. I've also written for Warhammer 40K as part of their fiction arm, Black Library. In recent years I've worked as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing teacher, coaching new authors on everything from worldbuilding and character development to dialogue, plotting, pacing and the ins and outs of publishing, including how to get a literary agent. I've spoken on and moderated panels at book conventions around the UK and Ireland, and hosted writing workshops at the Stonyhurst Literary Festival, the Phoenix Theatre London, Gollanczfest at Waterstones Piccadilly, Fantasycon London and most recently Edgelit Derby. Some praise for my novels: “To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years.” —Tor.com “One of the most ambitious and epic-scale pieces of worldbuilding I’ve read. Reading The Promise of the Child, you feel you’re in the presence of an author at the height of his powers. If this is what Toner is like when he’s just getting started, I think we can expect great things from him. Utterly absorbing; a tremendous adventure.” —Karl Schroeder, author of Lockstep and Sun of Suns “Bold and intense from start to finish, The Promise of the Child is a master-class in innovative, evocative world-building. The entire book buzzes with imagination.” —Michael J. Martinez, author of The Daedalus Incident “An amazing debut—a colorful space opera in the post-human tradition of Iain M. Banks, combined with the razor-sharp plotting of Alastair Reynolds. It left me feverish with delight.” —Loren Rhoads, author of The Dangerous Type “Humming with energy, this is space opera like you've never seen it before. Absolutely brilliant.” —Adam Roberts, author of Salt and Jack Glass “A gorgeously-written, wildly imaginative book. It’s like no space opera I’ve ever read–compelling and addictive.” —Will McIntosh, Hugo-award winning author of Soft Apocalypse and Defenders “I haven’t seen worldbuilding of this breadth and scale since Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, or Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space... it's new and fascinating territory.” - HeradasReview.com “The final book in Toner's ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do... To put it simply, this is bold, challenging science fiction... those who have challenged themselves to absorb the breadth of Toner's vision of the future will find themselves satisfied by its striking conclusion.” - Barnes & Noble on The Tropic of Eternity

Available to hire

Bristol, United Kingdom

Hello! I’m a published novelist and professional editor with a degree in fine art and illustration.

My first novel, the Promise of the Child, was published by Gollancz in 2015 and followed by two sequels, and I have a new book coming out with Solaris next year. I’ve also written for Warhammer 40K as part of their fiction arm, Black Library.

In recent years I’ve worked as a freelance editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing teacher, coaching new authors on everything from worldbuilding and character development to dialogue, plotting, pacing and the ins and outs of publishing, including how to get a literary agent. I’ve spoken on and moderated panels at book conventions around the UK and Ireland, and hosted writing workshops at the Stonyhurst Literary Festival, the Phoenix Theatre London, Gollanczfest at Waterstones Piccadilly, Fantasycon London and most recently Edgelit Derby.

Some praise for my novels:

“To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years.”
—Tor.com

“One of the most ambitious and epic-scale pieces of worldbuilding I’ve read. Reading The Promise of the Child, you feel you’re in the presence of an author at the height of his powers. If this is what Toner is like when he’s just getting started, I think we can expect great things from him. Utterly absorbing; a tremendous adventure.”
—Karl Schroeder, author of Lockstep and Sun of Suns

“Bold and intense from start to finish, The Promise of the Child is a master-class in innovative, evocative world-building. The entire book buzzes with imagination.”
—Michael J. Martinez, author of The Daedalus Incident

“An amazing debut—a colorful space opera in the post-human tradition of Iain M. Banks, combined with the razor-sharp plotting of Alastair Reynolds. It left me feverish with delight.”
—Loren Rhoads, author of The Dangerous Type

“Humming with energy, this is space opera like you’ve never seen it before. Absolutely brilliant.”
—Adam Roberts, author of Salt and Jack Glass

“A gorgeously-written, wildly imaginative book. It’s like no space opera I’ve ever read–compelling and addictive.”
—Will McIntosh, Hugo-award winning author of Soft Apocalypse and Defenders

“I haven’t seen worldbuilding of this breadth and scale since Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, or Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space… it’s new and fascinating territory.”

HeradasReview.com

“The final book in Toner’s ridiculously ambitious trilogy will force you to redefine what space opera can do… To put it simply, this is bold, challenging science fiction… those who have challenged themselves to absorb the breadth of Toner’s vision of the future will find themselves satisfied by its striking conclusion.”