Episode 49 | Everyone Needs an Editor | May 5, 2026
Ellen Morrissey
Show Notes: What does it take to turn an author's vision into a bestselling book? Book editor Ellen Morrissey has done it more than ten times over. After 16 years at Martha Stewart Living — where she shepherded dozens of books to publication, with more than 10 landing on the New York Times bestseller list — Ellen has built a thriving post-Martha career helping authors of illustrated lifestyle books realize their creative visions.
Her collaborators include ceramicist Frances Palmer, writer Matt Hranek, and baker Kristina Cho. And in a full-circle moment, Ellen stepped into the author's chair herself with I Want to Eat Cookies, a collection of more than 90 cookie recipes. In this episode, she traces the path that led her into book editing and shares what that creative life looks like today—and somehow, she has time to craft fantastical cakes whose inspiration often comes from the minds of 4-year-olds. Think ‘zombie unicorn’ for example.
Links from the Episode:
Ellen’s Cookbook I Want to Eat Cookies
Mentioned in the show, Adam Moss’ book The Work of Art
Mentioned in the show, Stopping Off Place on Instagram
