Research/Writing – Quality on Time

Rigorous research. Strategic writing. Editorial leadership

Dr Chris McNab is the author of more than 100 published books and has delivered large-scale writing projects across historical, scientific, educational and business topics for over two decades. He combines deep subject expertise with a disciplined editorial process, producing work that is intellectually rigorous, structurally precise and tailored to its intended audience.

What does this mean for you?
You receive writing that meets the brief exactly, aligns with your commercial or reputational goals, and is delivered reliably to deadline, whether you require a full-length book, a policy report, a research white paper or tightly structured educational content.

Areas of Specialism

History and culture
Military history and defence technology
Education and curriculum development
AI and learning technologies
Business, leadership and organisational analysis

As a working writer, Chris has also written to commission in sport, travel, natural history and literature, demonstrating both range and adaptability.

Business & Professional Writing

Beyond trade publishing, Chris works with organisations on:

Research reports and analytical briefings
Thought-leadership articles
Strategic white papers
Education Reform documentation
Structured training materials
Executive-level communications

His background in Education Reform and international publishing means he understands how to write for decision-makers, boards, ministries and senior stakeholders – balancing clarity, authority and strategic intent.

Editorial & Project Leadership

Chris' writing is informed by a career as a professional development editor, copy-editor and project manager. He can:

Shape early concepts into coherent publication structures
Develop author briefs and house styles
Edit manuscripts to publication standard
Ensure factual, structural and pedagogical accuracy
Manage multi-author projects with consistency and control

He is experienced in working with Adobe InDesign and InCopy, writing into layouts to streamline production workflows and reduce editorial bottlenecks.

Illustrated & Multi-Component Publishing

Chris has extensive experience developing both illustrated and non-illustrated publications, for markets ranging from children to academic and specialist readers. He understands:

Image–text integration
Caption and feature writing
Layered learning design
Multi-component structures (student book, workbook, teacher guide)

He is also highly experienced in bind-ups and backlist redevelopment, transforming existing catalogue material into fresh, commercially viable new titles.

Specialist Research Networks

Through Colourblue, Chris can source specialist researchers and subject-matter experts across science, economics, statistics, business and politics. All external contributors are carefully briefed and supervised, ensuring that every project is delivered precisely to specification, with rigorous quality control and editorial oversight.