I've always wanted to know more about the 'kind editor'? Is a he or a she? Are they involved with VFD? Why would they go through so much inconvenience (just read Snicket's instructions in each letter on the end of a book) to publish a book series that the author himself consider too depressing for kids? What is the gain for the editor?
I like to think the âkind editorâ is based on Daniel Handlerâs real-life agent, Charlotte Sheedy. But in Lemony Snicketâs universe, Daniel Handler becomes the fictional authorâs agent⌠So if we follow this hierarchy, Charlotte Sheedy would become the editor. We know that Brett Helquist (Handlerâs illustrator) and Meredith Heuer (Handlerâs photographer) also exist within the Snicket universe as well. Why not Charlotte Sheedy?
It would be fitting because Lemony constantly reassures the editor that nobody would be depressed enough to read about the Baudelaire orphans and that the books should be shelved at once. This echoes real-life events: Charlotte Sheedy is the person who encouraged Daniel Handler to write childrenâs literature. He first answered that nobody would like the grim, horrible things he wanted to write for children, but she insisted⌠The rest is history.
B&W: How did you originally pitch A Series of Unfortunate Events?DH: I pitched it unprofessionally. I called the editor and I said âLook, I have a really terrible idea for childrenâs books. So donât make me write it downâI canât behave professionally about it because itâs such a terrible ideaâbut Iâll meet you at a bar and then Iâll tell you the idea and then youâll say yes, thatâs terrible, and then at least weâll be at a bar and weâll have another drink and it wonât be a complete waste for everyone. And so she met me at a bar. And then she said that she liked it.[The Kids Arenât All Right: A Conversation With Daniel Handler, Bwog Staff, 3rd of September 2014 (Link)]
Update, 2nd of July 2016:
Daniel Handler recently covered the question in a Q&A (Link). It seems I mistook his agent (Charlotte Sheedy) with his editor (Susan Rich).
Q: Can you reveal anything about Mr. Snicketâs âKind Editorâ, or any other kind editors you yourself have known?A:Â Being an editor is largely a thankless business, but I try to thank Susan Rich as often as I can.