Lux Fotini Publishing Consultants
Unlock the potential of your publishing. Work with a consultant who brings creativity, cost saving, and credibility to your business.
Welcome to my website!
I am Lucy Melville, and Lux Fotini (which translates as "light") is a service I offer to authors and publishers.
Industry insight and expertise
With 30 years' experience across publishing and communications, I bring a wealth of knowledge and application to solving problems, getting clarity, and achieving results.
Perfect for: Fractional roles, one-off projects, strategic consultation and creative input.
Building lasting author relationships
I put the author at the heart of everything I do. I respect the value chain, and add insight and value to developing a rich exchange of ideas and action points as we work together. I have chosen this picture of Dr Graham Speake and myself as Graham is the person who hired me in my first post with Peter Lang, and who became a trusted series editor when I commissioned his Studies in Eastern Orthodoxy...and a lifelong friend. Graham "gave" me my Greek name, Fotini, which I have used in conjunction with Lux from the Latin. Both mean "Light" which is the meaning of Lucy.
Includes: Manuscript assessment, development and structural edits, developing a pitch to publishers and agents.
Trade non-fiction acquisitions
In 2025, I co-founded a new non-fiction Press in the UK called River Light. These were the first two titles published, and were conceived and developed by me.
Outcomes: Good quality, tried and tested acquisitions.
Skills: Acquisitions, strategy planning and audit, task management support, HR guidance, rights management.
Project evaluation and development
I can bring a strategic element to operations. In this case, finding previously-published work and bringing it to a whole new market and readership.
“Lucy has been wonderful in advising me on my re-write and on application for peer reviews. She has also secured me a welcome reading session in a bookshop. It’s so good to have a sympathetic ear for new ideas and discussions
Elizabeth Winder - published author
STATS
Proven track record, measurable results...
From running a global team, to co-founding a new press, to working with clients 1:1, I always strive to bring the best value and deliver the optimal outcomes.
TESTIMONIALS
Hear from the people who’ve experienced working with me
Lucy made a strong, positive first impression on me, with energy, intelligence, goodwill and humour. These qualities have characterised her work and our working relationship in these early days, along with her acute observation, attention to detail, creative thinking, efficient communications and high productivity. She brings a dynamism to her work and thinking which energise me and instill purpose and optimism. She is direct in her critical commentary but also attentive to my wishes and priorities and respectful of them. I regard myself as fortunate to be working with her. I have published extensively over the last fifty years but have been struggling for a long time with two new projects; with Lucy’s help, I now feel there’s a chance of substantial progress.
— Bruce H.
Published writer and international communications consultant.
Project work for Benya Books.
Darrell W. Gunter
Board Director | Former Chair & Treasurer | $385M+ P&L Leader | AI & Digital Transformation Governance Expert | Wharton & MIT Certified | Data & Business Mechanic™
Lucy consistently demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and courtesy in all of our interactions. She was reliable, responsive, and always delivered her work on time. Equally important, the quality of her deliverables was consistently excellent.
"The great thing about publishing is that it's always a conversation. You're putting ideas out there, and people are responding"
— Margaret Atwood
BLOG
Expert advice, proven strategies, and insights from the publishing world.
Whether you are an author seeking advice and editorial support, or an established publisher seeking additional strategic resource, this page should have something for you.
→ Browse topics on strategy, success stories, rights information, and more.
Fifteen plus years of working with academic, trade and educational brands.
Let’s turn your goals into results.
Academic, scholarly, non-fiction specialist
Contracts, rights, and strategic positioning of your list or title. A strong blend of operational and creative solutions tailored to clients’ needs.
