Bonnie
Hill -- Manuscript editing, book proposals, query letters
Whether working with the
Cosmopolitan magazine Bedside
Astrologer on a humor book,
co-authoring a memoir on the Scott
Peterson murder case, assisting a
U.S. Presidential candidate/author
or mentoring a first-time mystery
writer, Bonnie Hill loves
working with authors. When editing
your work, her goal is not to change
for the sake of change, but to make
you sound more like *you* -- without
leaving editorial fingerprints.
Writer-friendly
A newspaper/magazine editor for 22
years as well as a national
conference speaker and contest
judge, Bonnie is a writer-friendly
editor/mentor who has helped
numerous authors break into print
and published writers reach the next
stage of their careers. She teaches
workshops for Writer's Digest Online
Workshops and authorlink.com and
speaks at writing conferences across
the country. In the private writers'
workshop she leads in Fresno,
California, her workshop members
have won awards (such as the Hackney
Literary Prize for fiction, Dark Oak
Award for a first mystery and first
prize in contests at the SouthWest
Writers and Yosemite Writers
conferences) and sold everything
from novels to nonfiction books,
essays and cowboy poetry to top
publishers such as Woman's Day,
Cosmopolitan, Writer's Digest, Story
Line Press, Santa Monica Press, and
Simon & Schuster.
Top publication credits
A former newspaper editor and
magazine columnist, Bonnie has
completed a six-book contract with
MIRA Books. Her titles include:
Killer Body, a thriller
set in the weight-loss industry, a
Cosmopolitan magazine “pick”;
Intern, called "a
page-turner" by Publishers Weekly;
Double Exposure a
political thriller, and a series of
three mass-market paperback
newspaper thrillers published in
2006. She has co-authored books on a
wide range of topics, including
motivational subjects, memoirs, the
history of Muscle Beach, California,
and the Scott Peterson murder trial.
Bonnie has worked as a contributing
editor and columnist for American
Writers Review and columnist for
Editor-Writer and Byline magazines.
In addition she has sold hundreds of
freelance articles to such magazines
as Writer's Digest, Writing for
Money, Family Circle and others and
writes book reviews for Publishers
Weekly.
The
(Expanded) Freelancer's Rulebook
was published in 2002 by Story Line
Press and named one of the top 25
writing books by The Writer
magazine. With fitness pioneer
Harold Zinkin, she wrote a
nonfiction book,
Remembering
Muscle Beach
in 1999.
A matter of focus
Bonnie feels that most writers don't
lack talent—they lack focus. And she
believes character, especially
internal conflict, is the key to
creating marketable fiction. “The
good have flaws, and the bad have
reasons.” She also believes that
whatever the genre, fiction provides
closure in the way real life doesn't
always do. She reads widely and
enjoys teaching and editing writers
in all genres, especially writers
who are passionate about their work.
"Passion," she says, "is the one
ingredient you can't edit in later."
Submission materials: Book proposals and query letters
Developmental Editing / Rewriting
High-profile ghostwriting
Critiques / Evaluations
Mentoring
Book Proposals / Synopses
Feedback
"The Slacker's Guide to US History was just purchased by Adams Media. We are so excited to be taking this step on our quest to become authors! Don and I wanted to thank you SOOOOO much for your help and advice on this project." J. Mueller
"Bonnie Hearn
Hill has been my editor
for almost 10 years.
During that time she has
edited book proposals,
non-fiction and fiction
manuscripts, and
numerous articles for
me. Her editorial skills
are superior and she's
one of the most sought
after writing
instructors in the
country. She is one of
those rare individuals
who gives 100% to each
of her students and
clients. She's is truly
dedicated to helping
writers succeed.
I can't
recommend Bonnie highly
enough, and I'm sure
you'll hear the same
thing from any of her
clients."
Hazel Dixon-Cooper,
author of: Born on
a Rotten Day and
Love on a Rotten Day,
Simon & Schuster, and
the Cosmopolitan
magazine Bedside
Astrologer column.
"She is quite simply the
finest editor I've ever
met
and/or worked with. And
I don't say that
lightly. She's a truly
gifted editor."
Cindy
Wathen,
editor of the
award-winning nonfiction
book, Remembering
Cesar, and former
editor for McGraw Hill
and the University of
California Press.
"The network was responsive and helpful. Bonnie was fabulous. Her comments and edits were invaluable, and her mentorship and friendship are irreplaceable. Would definitely work with her again, and plan to do so soon." Contact info on request
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