It is with great pleasure that I recommend Kathryn Clapper. I have known Kathryn professionally for the past seven years. At Pearson Prentice Hall she worked for me as an editorial project manager of language arts textbooks and support materials. I have always been profoundly impressed by Kathryn’s in-depth knowledge and mastery of all aspects of English language arts pedagogy as well the sense of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and creativity with which she tackles all of her work. Kathryn possesses an extremely conscientious work ethic. She manages her time wisely in order to meet deadlines—without ever compromising quality. Her level of collegiality is top-notch, and her relationships with her colleagues are always professional, a reflection of her superb communication skills. I feel confident that Kathryn’s academic background, experience, sound professionalism, and sincere commitment to quality combine to make her an incredibly valuable asset to any editorial endeavor.” — Anathea Simpkins, former language arts managing editor, Pearson Prentice Hall

"Kathryn is an exceptional editor who brings creativity as well as intelligence to everything she undertakes. Her reliability and high standards of excellence make her an asset on any project. She is an outstanding resource for assessing, developing, and editing manuscripts across all disciplines and reading levels. Additionally, she is always a pleasure to work with in every way." —Dina Rubin, former managing editor, Scholastic Library Publishing

“Kathryn Clapper is a fantastic editor and a joy to work with. As a magazine writer working on my first book, I often turned to Kathryn for guidance; I could always count on her for prompt and thoughtful advice.” —Michael Hauenstein, journalist and nonfiction writer

“I thought my book was ready for the printer. Then Kathryn edited it. After that it was really ready. Print runs are expensive. Once the words are on the page there is no turning back. None of my books go to press without Kathryn giving them a final polish.” — Jim Dongweck, self-published children’s author

“If I were to build my dream editor from scratch—well, I wouldn’t have to, because there’s Kathryn Clapper. She’s everything an author needs and wants: highly skilled, thorough, professional, dependable, kind, and cool under fire. With more than 70 books in print, I’ve worked with plenty of editors in my career, but very few are in Kathryn’s class. I can always trust that in her capable hands my work will shine. She is, simply, the best!” — Trudi Strain Trueit, children's fiction and nonfiction author (Trudi is published by Scholastic, Simon and Schuster, Penguin, and Marshall Cavendish)

“Kathryn was invaluable to us as a managing editor. Her attention to detail allowed us to concentrate on the production and design with the confidence in knowing that all aspects of editorial were being taken care of. Kathryn’s quick turnaround kept long-term projects going at a fast pace that allowed us to turn out large series of quality books in a timely manner. We would/will hire Kathryn again in a heartbeat!” — Mary Francis McGavic, project director, The Creative Spark, a book production studio in Bradenton, FL

“I have worked with Kathryn in a freelance capacity for almost four years. I highly value her copyediting skills, as she has always delivered the highest quality work on a large variety of books. She delivers her work on time (or early!), and I consistently seek to hire Kathryn for new projects because she always seems to go the extra mile and is a top-notch professional. I would highly recommend Kathryn to anyone.” — Joy Bean, editor, Marshall Cavendish 

“A book project of any size requires persistence, focus, and clearly stated goals. Kathryn brought each of these qualities to my project and did so with professionalism and enthusiasm. Her skill as both an editor and production facilitator served as an essential guiding light toward our shared success.” — James Holter, nonfiction author

“Kathryn Clapper is a skilled, reliable, and careful copy editor. The nonfiction pieces she has copy edited for The Dana Foundation have benefited significantly from her work. I strongly recommend her.” — Johanna Goldberg, public information officer and editor, The Dana Foundation

“Kathryn Clapper has a knack for polishing words, but she does not stop with this shine. She stretches words to their fullest potential. Not once diluting the meaning of my work, she both simplified and amplified all that I had written, a true partner in the creative process. In the end, Kathryn’s influence made me a better writer.” — Erika Alexia Tsoukanelis, author and journalist

“I have worked with Kathryn Clapper for more than ten years. Her editorial skills are unparalleled whether project managing, copyediting, or proofreading. Kathryn approaches all her projects with enthusiasm and professionalism. No matter the subject matter, she brings insightfulness and intuitiveness to all her work. She is my ‘go-to’ editorial professional!” — Christine Florie, executive editor, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark

“I worked with Kathryn Clapper on a book a while back and found her approach refreshing after a couple of not-so-wonderful experiences with other editors. Entirely professional, she was relaxed and friendly without losing focus on the job at hand, demanding of high standards without making either one of us crazy, and forthright about business matters without being cold. I would work with her again anytime. A thoroughly pleasant professional.” — Stephen Peters, writer/storyteller

“Kathryn was a pleasure to work with from the bookmap to the finished product. She gave helpful suggestions on how to improve the outline for the overall book, and then sharp and concise points when she line edited. She also did a wonderful job making sure the book included fun language for the young audience, but was also packed with information. She knows that the way to write for youth isn't about adding bunches of exclamation points, but instead making sure the text is simply well written.” — Ellen Labrecque, children’s nonfiction author

“On the projects we worked on together, Kathryn’s feedback was thorough, with as much attention to detail as to the overall picture. At the same time, she was positive and affirming in her suggestions and clear in her instructions. She is a friendly and supportive editor who is a pleasure to work with.” — Dana Meachen Rau, author

“Kathryn is a crucial part of the editorial process for most of the books on my list. She copy edits with precision, insight, and grace while improving each manuscript in ways that impress me each time. She addresses her concerns to me and to the author tactfully and knowledgeably. Kathryn’s broad view of the world provides balance and relevance, no matter the topic. I highly recommend her as an editor and a professional.” — Deborah Grahame-Smith, senior editor, nonfiction publisher

“I really enjoyed working with Kathryn Clapper. I found her to be insightful in her comments and suggestions on my manuscript. She had great attention to detail and made sure that the text was clear, concise, and engaging. Kathryn did a wonderful job of shepherding my work through the book production process, from first draft to final pages.” — Wendy Mead, nonfiction author

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kathryn Clapper on children’s book projects. The projects included many different elements, and I valued Kathryn’s organization and attention to detail. She was easy to work with, clear in her expectations, and open to discussion. If given the opportunity, I would be delighted to work with her again.” — Lisa Bullard, children's book author