Professional Book Editors, Proofreaders, and Publishing Consultants

Award-winning writer and editor H. L. BELL is committed to helping other writers make their work the best it can possibly be. Intimately familiar with the thrills and insecurities of the writing process, she empathizes and works especially well with other writers. Clients have praised her as an editor with an engaging manner, a meticulous attention to detail, and a consummate skill with language.

She has edited a broad range of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction titles, including Bonnie Jo Campbell’s American Salvage, finalist for the 2009 National Book Award in fiction. Her own fiction and book reviews have appeared in Jane, Salon, The Women’s Review of Books, and the Chicago Reader.

Services

• Manuscript evaluation
• Proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing
• Ghostwriting, rewriting
• Fiction: action/adventure, children’s/young adult, crime, historical, horror, literary, mystery, romance, science fiction/fantasy
• Nonfiction: alternative health, biography, education, film and television, how-to, memoir, parenting, self-help, medical, psychology, true crime, women’s studies

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DEANNA BRADY is a highly versatile freelance writer and editor with more than two decades of experience. Known as an "editor's editor," she ghostwrites, rewrites, develops, and copyedits a wide range of material, including self-help/how-to books, novels (both literary and genre fiction), creative nonfiction, biographies/memoirs, proposals, cover and query letters, articles, essays, scripts, business communications, and Web content. She has written and edited marketing and advertising copy for Fortune 500 companies and is adept at editing ESL and translated text, as well as scientific/technical material. In addition, she specializes in projects concerning spirituality, ecology, Native American Indian culture, psychology, allopathic and complementary medicine, and health, and she particularly enjoys working with& fantasy, science fiction, historical, romance, adventure, mystery, and young adult literature.

Deanna spent more than a decade as a magazine editor. She also taught at California State University for a dozen years, has written several children's textbooks, and is an award-winning author of short fiction and poetry. Her many happy clients greatly appreciate her expertise, gentle guidance, and ability to preserve their individual voices and help make their manuscripts shine.

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BETH BRUNO is a columnist, author, and book editor. Hundreds of her articles have been published in print and online, and her first book, Wild Tulips, came out in 2001 and went into a second printing in 2002. Beth's proximity to New York and her position as President of the CT Authors and Publishers Association give her unique access to literary agents and publishers in and around New York City. Several of the authors whose manuscripts she has edited have been published in the mainstream, thanks to her referrals on their behalf. Beth's editing interests are eclectic and include a delicious mix of fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and children's works.

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D.J. BRUNO works closely with authors to develop, liven, and perfect their books and articles. She provides manuscript critiques that offer extensive feedback on every aspect of a narrative, as well as ghostwriting, developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and marketing (proposal, query, and synopsis development and agent contact). 

A fiction writer herself, she was an editorial assistant and reader at Ploughshares, had her fiction published in various literary magazines, taught literature and grammar, and edited a range of material from memoir to erotica, biography, short fiction, poetry, travel writing, personal essays, and literary and commercial fiction. She specializes in film and photography, food and wine, nutrition, travel, psychology, memoir, and literary fiction.

• Copyediting, proofreading, developmental editing
• Ghostwriting
• Manuscript critiques
• Mentoring and writing instruction
• Submission materials: book proposals, query letters, synopses, agent/publisher research
• Non-fiction: marketing & business communications travel, creative nonfiction, cookbooks, psychology, diet/nutrition, health, memoir, biography, self-help, alternative medicine
• Entertainment: photography, film, art
• Poetry and screenplays

"Thanks for your flexibility, great attitude, and hard work. It was a pleasure working with you on this project." - Sarah Yezzi, Senior Technical Editor, Prentice Hall

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FAITH HICKMAN BRYNIE has two specialties:

• assistance to nonfiction book authors on works related to science, medicine, health, psychology, education, and related fields. Brynie provides substantive and developmental editing, rewriting, and ghostwriting of manuscripts and assistance with proposals and query letters.

• critiques of novels for fiction writers working in the genres of mystery; science fiction; action adventure/thriller; literary; contemporary/mainstream; detective/crime; horror; and children/juvenile/young adult. (No romances or fantasies, please.)

Brynie is the author of 25 nonfiction works. Her latest, Brain Sense (Amacom, 2009) explains the latest advancements in neuroscience for general audiences. She has won numerous awards for her juvenile and young adult nonfiction, including “Best of the Year” from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and “Best for Teens” from the International Reading Association.

She has a Ph.D. in science curriculum and instruction, and she is an experienced editor of science activity books, trade books for middle school and high school, and textbooks K-12. She has worked for major publishers as writer, substantive editor, developmental editor, copyeditor, and fact checker. She excels at communicating complex ideas clearly and simply. Over the last eight years, she has assisted more than 20 authors with preparation of their nonfiction proposals and development of their manuscripts. Several have gone on to achieve publication and commercial success.

Brynie loves fiction, and she has written three novels, all published by Geneses under a pseudonym. She has won several contests and awards for her short fiction, which has been published in such magazines as Thema, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Midnight Zoo, Aberrations, Over My Dead Body!, Haunts, and others. She critiques novel manuscripts, helping authors develop their characters, plot, dialogue, voice, and style. Over the last eight years, she has critiqued more than 30 novels. Her advice has led to publication and commercial success for several novelists.

• Nonfiction: assistance with the development of manuscripts, proposals, and queries; developmental/substantive editing; rewriting, ghostwriting

• Fiction: novel critiques: mystery; science fiction; literary; action adventure/thriller; contemporary/mainstream; detective/crime; horror; children/juvenile/young adult (no romances or fantasies, please)

Note: Faith is not taking submissions until March 2012.

Do You Need a Skilled Chicago Manual of Style Editor?

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CARLY CANTOR is a publishing industry veteran who has worked in-house at a New York publisher as an acquisitions editor and is a two-time published author (history books). Most recently, she has worked as an independent consultant and project editor for Random House, Prentice Hall, and  iUniverse. She also represents authors as an agent with a well-established NYC agency. Her extensive experience includes critiquing, organizational and development editing, and line editing of fiction and nonfiction projects. She is a meticulous hands on editor who “becomes one” with every project, paying close attention to both the big picture and the small details.

She has often worked with academics, psychologists, and medical doctors on high-level material in the social or life sciences and has helped them make their writing more accessible to a trade audience. One thrilled client, a doctor, said of her, “She is a consummate wordsmith, with the facility of not only understanding and integrating scientific and technical material but also illuminating arcane and otherwise opaque descriptions. She expertly shapes the structure of a presentation for better narrative flow, simplifying complex material to make it reader-friendly.” 

Carly also edits fiction, with an understanding of the importance of subtlety and nuance. She approaches fiction with an appreciation for how the brain works and for the idea that a reader likes to pick up clues and figure some things out for himself rather than be told everything directly about how characters are thinking and feeling. One novelist client said, “I have been guided by a number of different editors throughout my career. Without any hesitation, I can say that [she] is the best editor I have ever worked with.

Services offered:

• Manuscript evaluation / critiquing
• Development editing
• Line-editing and writing assistance

Articles

• Editing Fiction
• Editing Nonfiction

 “Carly was indispensable for the birth of my memoir. She helped me to not only tighten my writing but also improve the structure of the narrative to make it more thrilling. I found a very effective, inspirational guide in her ability to culturally translate my experience in Korea for American audiences.”
—Jid Lee, author of To Kill a Tiger (Overlook, 2009)

“My personal experience in working with Carly has been very rewarding. She has the grit to drill down into the material so that nothing is taken for granted. She also demonstrates an intuitive skill to help add an overarching structure to the work that helps expand its scope, further increasing the book’s accessibility to those audiences we wish to reach. Her persistence in getting the content to seamlessly flow from one technical subject to the next is a true gift.”
—John W. Cassidy, MD, author of Mindstorms: The Complete Guide for Families Living with Traumatic Brain Injury (Da Capo Press, 2009)

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MICHAEL CARR has edited or copyedited 300+ fiction and nonfiction titles for major publishers and authors. Notable nonfiction authors include Bernard Goldberg (NY Times best-seller Arrogance), CNN anchor Lou Dobbs (Exporting America), Rev. Al Sharpton (Al on America), and CNN Crossfire host Tucker Carlson (Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites). Michael edits most fiction genres but specializes in literary and historical, crime/mystery, drama, fantasy, and science fiction.

Notable authors include Brad Meltzer (#3 NY Times best-seller The Zero Game), NY Times Notable Book of the Year author Archer Mayor (The Surrogate Thief, Gatekeeper, The Second Mouse), crime grandmaster Donald Westlake (the Dortmunder series), and the fantasy master Michael Moorcock (The White Wolf's Son).

Michael has also edited eight published volumes on world affairs and some twenty self-help books (medical, psychological, personal growth, and business) and has translated a dozen novels and other literary works from Spanish to English.

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KATHRYN CLAPPER is a writer’s editor. She is passionate about partnering with both nonfiction and fiction authors to bring their ideas and stories alive. With 10 years of experience editing more than 300 titles and textbooks for major publishers such as National Geographic, Candlewick Press, Scholastic, Prentice Hall, Pearson Longman, and Blackwell-Wiley, Kathryn knows what it takes to convert an idea into a bound book. With every manuscript, she acts as an advocate of the reader while holding true to the author’s style. Her talents do not stop at developmental editing, however. As an eagle-eyed copyeditor and proofreader, she relentlessly perfects details while keeping the big picture in mind.

Kathryn is a certified English teacher with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University (anthropology) and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (teaching and curriculum). Her areas of expertise include literary nonfiction, YA fiction, biography, general interest nonfiction, scholarly works, children’s nonfiction, and instructional content in the humanities and social sciences.

Kathryn offers the following services:

• Copyediting and proofreading
• Developmental editing
• Project management
• Nonfiction: literary, scholarly, children’s, textbooks, other instructional content, Web content
• Fiction: YA, mass market, literary, historical
• Manuscript critiques and writing assistance

“Thank you for a truly excellent job in editing my nonfiction book. Before retaining your services, I interviewed a number of editors for the job. All of them were highly credentialed editing professionals. However, I was looking for additional qualities in selecting my editor: intellectual integrity, sensitivity, encouragement, and someone that truly enjoys working with writers. I found these qualities and more in working with you. I also found an inspirational guide. You did an outstanding job!” Henry Dahut

“If I were to build my dream editor from scratch ... 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

“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

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ROSANNE CORNBROOKS CATALANO specializes in children's and young adult books, fantasy novels, and Christian/inspirational manuscripts. Prompt and professional, Rosanne works well with any author's voice, providing clarity and punch while respecting the integrity of the work.

Rosanne's love of the written word began with her passion for books, but her knowledge of punctuation, grammar, diction and style comes from a lifetime of exceptional training. A poet herself, Rosanne understands the blood, sweat and tears that go into writing.

She gives each author's work the care it deserves, drawing on her diverse life experiences and knowledge in many fields like period clothing, genetics, all aspects of theater, Celtic legends, rustic camping, the martial arts, architecture and languages (Latin, French, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, a little Welsh and Japanese).

Add that to the marketplace savvy she learned working in publishing houses, and you have an experienced editor who can polish a manuscript and get it past that crucial first reader!

• Copyediting, developmental editing
• Children's/young adult
• Science fiction and fantasy
• Christian, inspirational

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ANNE CREAL specializes in fiction and, as the author of eight published novels, offers a unique editorial perspective.  Her books include contemporary and historical children’s, young adult, and adult literature. She has worked with both small independent publishers such as Roberts Rinehart and Brown Barn Books, and with large publishing houses such as Penguin Putnam and American Girl. She has seen one of her novels made into film and has won numerous literary awards.

She believes that even in today’s tough publishing climate, it is still possible for new writers to enter the business and succeed.  Second to writing her own novels, she loves to mentor others to help them achieve their goals.  She knows firsthand how writers benefit from the help and support of others writers and/or editors.  Her goal is to help you make your unique writing shine.

Specialties

• Developmental editing
• Manuscript critiques/evaluations
• Query letter writing/synopses
• Fiction:  children’s, young adult, and adult, all genres
• Memoir

"Anne has provided expert level editing assistance to me in the writing of my manuscript.  Her ideas and creativity have been invaluable to me."  Kandi Hofmeister, author of the memoir, Held.

"Anne's insight and original input helped improve my novel and matched my expectations beautifully."  Andrea Kolub, author of The Lady in the Cape.

Books

Water at the Blue Earth, young adult historical fiction (Roberts Rinehart, 1998)
A Ceiling of Stars, middle grade contemporary fiction (American Girl, 1999)
Nowhere, Now Here, middle grade contemporary fiction (American Girl, 2000)
The Magic of Ordinary Days, adult historical fiction (Viking Penguin, 2001)
Under a Stand Still Moon, young adult historical fiction (Brown Barn Books, 2005)
Call Me the Canyon, young adult historical fiction (Brown Barn Books, 2006)
Nicki, contemporary middle grade fiction (American Girl, 2007)
Thanks to Nicki, contemporary middle grade fiction (American Girl, 2008)

Other

The Magic of Ordinary Days, adapted for the screen and produced by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions as television movie for CBS, 2005
Currently contracted for story consultation and collaboration with screenplay writer on a sequel to The Magic of Ordinary Days for Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, soon to be produced.

Article

Writing Historical Fiction that Sells

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ESTHER DAVID-ROLAND is a writer and editor whose experience includes writing and editing in technical and non-technical subject areas. She has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor for more than 25 years and brings her many years of experience to each project. As a freelance copyeditor, Esther has worked with major publishers, businesses, and individuals, and has worked extensively with authors whose native language is not English.

* Book editing (nonfiction)
* Developmental editing (nonfiction)
* Manuscript copyediting and proofreading
* Technical, medical, and scientific copyediting
* Website copyediting and proofreading

“My editor went above and beyond the call of duty.  Not only did she fix the flow, grammar and punctuation, she challenged me on what I wrote.  It forced me to either stand behind or get rid of parts of my book.  I really appreciated her passion and l look forward to working with her in the near future on my next book.” - Carlton Bogan, Certified Life Coach, The Gibbor Project

"Esther coached, edited, commented, and offered constructive suggestions.  Her ideas and comments were more helpful than those I received from colleagues. " John R. Schultz, consultant, writer, retired professor

"Esther was great! She was very informative and clear as to the reasons for changes she suggested. Very bright and intuitive, it was a pleasure working with her and hope to do so again soon." (Contact information on request)

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For 35 years KAREN DAVIS has produced award-winning writing and editing, prompting one of many loyal clients to call her his "secret weapon in attaining communications supremacy." She has repaired and revitalized 500+ fiction and nonfiction manuscripts for authors, publishers, and corporations in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, London, and throughout the world. Clients value her meticulousness, intelligence, honesty, reliability, creativity, and warmth.

Karen was the editor of choice for master crime writer John Gilmore (Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder). Several encyclopedic works she edited won American Library Association Outstanding Reference Source Awards. Nonfiction clients have included Walt Disney Company, Penn State University, the State University of New York, Comic Relief, and March of Dimes.

Karen has world-class journalism credentials from London's Times and Regional Newspapers and has written hundreds of features and articles. Her book, Santa Anita Morning Rhapsody, was the first to document mornings at a thoroughbred racetrack. Lyricist and composer, she recorded a CD, Someone Loves, that airs internationally.

Her many areas of expertise include literary works, history and historical fiction, British language and culture, drama and screenplays, children and young adults, crime and mystery, nature and the environment, science fiction, fantasy, music, poetry, romance, and travel.

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Before STACEY DONOVAN became a professional editor more than 20 years ago, she worked in a literary agency where she learned how to say no more often than yes, and include reasons why. A stint in advertising followed, teaching her to tell it short and sweet, meet deadlines, and most important: never give up.

Donovan is a six-time published book author of both fiction and non-fiction. She has edited or ghostwritten more than a dozen published books for her clients. Two became New York Times Bestsellers, and another nominated for Best First Novel by International Thriller Writers.  She is experienced in many genres: Contemporary/Mainstream; Caper/Detective; Erotica; Gay/Lesbian; Literary Fiction; Mystery; Psychological Thriller; Suspense; Women’s Fiction; Young Adult; Memoir/Autobiography; Creative Nonfiction.

Specialties

• Detailed critique/evaluation of your manuscript
• Developmental/structural/stylistic edit of your manuscript
• Complete revision of your manuscript
• Collaborate with you in a mentoring capacity as you edit your manuscript
• Collaborate with you on a query and/or synopsis when the manuscript is ready for publication
• Determine with you which literary agent would be suitable for representation
• Determine with you whether to pursue mainstream, small, or self-publishing
• Consultation on your initial and/or ongoing Social Media strategy

Donovan is a writing coach, mentor, collaborator and ghostwriter. She has published dozens of non-fiction articles on design and art, and specialized in celebrity interviews with experts in their field. She is also a Publishing and Social Media strategist.

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A graduate of Princeton University, Joan has master’s degrees in psychology, English education, and English literature. She has taught writing to high school, college, and university students. At the University of Pennsylvania, Joan taught classes on preparing psychology reports in APA format. In addition to being an expert in APA style, Joan is thoroughly familiar with Chicago and MLA styles.

Joan also has written professionally. Her articles and essays have appeared in magazines, journals, textbooks, and anthologies. Most of her writing has focused on literature, language, psychology, philosophy, and politics. For example, she has written the commentaries for new editions of twenty-one literary classics.

“I consider myself a skilled writer, but I admit that after this experience I realize I have much to learn.  I have never had  my writing so effectively edited.  Joan’s suggestions and revisions were masterfully crafted to retain and enhance the meaning of my writing.  I will certainly ask Joan to help me craft future projects.  I feel very fortunate to have found her.” —W.B. Elder, University of Utah

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LES FOXMAN is a public relations professor. He currently teaches Technology and Ethics, "which examines the impact that technology has upon the foundations of social, legal, cultural, and moral systems as it pertains to education. The course also addresses the challenges of copyright, intellectual property, privacy, free speech, and ethically responsible behavior. The technological and ethical issues studied helps students gain the experience, perspective, and confidence needed in an educational environment increasingly shaped by immersive, convergent digital media technologies."

Dr. Foxman has a great deal of empathy for those involved with extensive writing projects and he is willing to help writers meet the challenge at virtually any stage of the writing process – from framing good research questions to presenting results and conclusions in clear, detailed language. He works closely with students in developing the appropriately narrow focus essential to writing effective introductions, conclusions and abstracts. Likewise, he helps students work through the systematic procedures for identifying relevant theoretical literature, substantiating the significance of the research problem, describing research variables, and demonstrating how the study advances the academic discipline’s knowledge base. Well versed in the full spectrum of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies common to public relations and mass communications, he also works with students on framing the valid research protocol for their theses and dissertations.

He also teaches and writes about journalism history, popular culture, criticism, integrated marketing communication, public policy issue management, crisis communication, and media message planning and management for organizations. Dr. Foxman is the U.S. editorial advisor for an online art design publication and is a contributor to a Utah business magazine.

"Les is very professional. An incredible writer. His instruction is helpful in the professional work place. He is a fabulous teacher."

"Les was a hard, but good teacher. I realized just how much he taught me after I graduated and went to the 'real world.'"

Article: From basic proofreading and copy editing to ghostwriting: What services the author can expect and what those services cost.

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MARLO GARNER is an editor, children's author, and illustrator. She has been editing children's books and teaching writing for children since the late 1990s. She is on faculty at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Continuing Education and teaches ‘Writing for Children's Books.’ Her first book for children Let's Visit Space was recently released in 2007 by Macmillan McGraw-Hill, and her second Author at Work, Dr Seuss is forthcoming. Marlo’s middle grade chapter book Ginny Giles series, is due for release mid 2009 from Clean Slate Press. She is currently writing a YA novel, a middle grade fantasy, and innumerable picture book texts (which spring forth at the most inopportune times). Marlo is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI).

Marlo believes in not only editing the work of her clients, but in teaching them to become better writers, equipping them with knowledge they will need as they continue on their journey, while keeping the integrity and unique voice of each author’s work. Marlo is passionate about all sub-genres of children's books and finds it almost impossible to choose which she prefers editing, reading, or writing. She will happily tackle texts in rhyming verse and is a wizard with a rhyming dictionary and her mental metronome.

She provides:

• Copyediting & proofreading
• Developmental/substantive editing
• Cover letters, query letters (free with contracted service)
• Correct formatting & understanding the submission process
• Critiques, writing instruction & mentorship
• Children's books: picture books, poetry, magazine submissions, chapter books, young adult, children's non-fiction.
• Literary fiction, crime, fantasy
• Illustration, illustration critiques and advice for aspiring illustrators.

"Marlo ... is a far greater editor than any I have ever worked with. She did far more than simply read and comment upon my text, as others have done. Marlo worked with me extensively to develop my characters and plot into something of incredible beauty and fluidity. She dedicated her time to my novel, often working late into evening and in the early hours of morning to complete her task. Marlo took my book beyond the extraordinary. She has an instinct and passion for the fine and poignant; a talent for enriching even the most ordinary of text. She breathed new life into every word, every line, every striking sentence!" Michelle Izmaylov

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VAL GERARD, MA, PhD in Biology

Editor/Writer, Science and Medicine

Val Gerard retired in 1999 after 30 years as a scientist and professor.  With a strong record of publications and successful research funding, she now uses her skills to help others achieve similar successes.

Scope:  biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, cell biology, chemistry, developmental biology, ecology, environmental policy, environmental science, evolutionary biology, genetics, geography, geology, marine science, mathematical modeling, medicine, molecular biology, oceanography, physiology, veterinary medicine, zoology, and related fields.

Academic Editing/Writing Experience:

• Science and medical editor and writer since 2001.
• Past and current clients from Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Patagonia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, the U.K., the U.S., and Venezuela.
• High rate of client success with manuscripts submitted to scientific and medical journals, and with grant proposals to various funding agencies, including NIH and NSF (largest successful grant to date, $120 million).
• Assists clients in developing written materials for commercial websites, brochures, etc.
• Specializes in organization, interpretation, and clear presentation of complex information.
• Helps clients improve their own writing skills for future projects, including non-native English speakers.
• Provides rapid turnaround.  Helps you submit your grant proposal, manuscript, book, chapter, or report on time.
• More than fifty publications (see publication list, below) and one million dollars worth of successful grant proposals of her own.
• Past experience as associate editor and/or reviewer for over two dozen scientific journals, including Science, and government funding agencies.

“Dr. Gerard is a wonderful writer. She took something that was a bit dry and made it engaging and easy for regular people to understand. Also, she is lovely to work with.” Vanessa Spann, associate editor, Healthy Travel Media

“Dr. Gerard help was the key for the success of my PhD thesis. She right away picked up my writing flaws and worked with me so I could understand the right way to write. Also, her suggestions about structure and comprehension were right on the mark. My committee was very impressed with the quality of the work presented and I have already recommended Dr. Gerard work to some of my colleagues.” - Successful Ph.D. Candidate in immunology, 2010

"DONE!!! The paperwork is signed and submitted, the after-defense party has been held, and I am feeling very good!!! As far as congratulations go - you deserve MUCH credit. Thank you once again, Val. That mock defense was incredibly helpful, as at least 2 questions were nearly word-for-word! Your assistance with the talk was also of great benefit, as [my advisor] said that it was one of the best defense presentations he had ever witnessed! I can put this project on the 'finally finished' pile. Your help in all this has been pivotal. I will never forget it. I have never—in my life—ever—received such targeted, useful professional advice, and productive feedback. It has been a true pleasure working with you, and learning a new way of writing and putting together a scientific story." Successful Ph.D. candidate in Ecology, U.S. 2007 (contact information on request)

"I had completely given up on the Masters, I emailed my tutor again this week and he said he would chase it up. He has just emailed back saying it has not only passed but been awarded a distinction! I owe this to you over and over, I would have given up but you just kept pushing me on."  M.Sc. in Medical Education, UK, 2009 (contact information on request)

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SHERRY GERSHON has performed developmental and intensive line-editing for over 250 books, primarily novels by new authors, and she contributed the chapter entitled "The Book Doctor is In: The Seven Most Common First Novel Problems and How to Avoid Them" in THE PORTABLE WRITERS' CONFERENCE (Quill Driver 2007.

A former bookstore owner, Sherry knows what sells: Her own books have been published by Forge/Tor, Viking and Warner; her first book was nominated for the PEN West USA Literary Award for Nonfiction, and her first novel was aired as a TV movie. Some of her editing clients have subsequently sold their books to major publishers, including Knopf, Harper-Collins, Berkley-Putnam, St. Martin's Press, Greenleaf Book Group Press, and Jossey-Bass.

She particularly enjoys working on mysteries, thrillers, adventure novels, and speculative fiction/science fiction, but has also had experience with young adult novels (two YA novels she edited were published by Knopf), memoirs, and both contemporary and historical fiction (including an historical published by St. Martin’s Press).

Sherry also writes résumés, cover letters, and follow-up letters, and provides her résumé clients with a free job search handbook, six months of free updating, free lifetime storage, and lifetime updating and/or future work at 50% off.

“THE BLOODIEST QUEEN will be my thirty-third published book; I've grown lazy and jaded and had thought there was little anyone could teach me, but I wound up being blown away by Sherry’s editorial acumen. She understood all the nuances of the scene in question better than I did — and pointed out exactly what wasn't working, and why. She then gave me a suggestion which was nothing short of brilliant in terms of making the whole thing work beautifully.

Trust me, Sherry is an honest, top-notch professional editor. Whether you're an aspiring writer or an established professional, if you're writing a novel and could use some help, please consider Sherry.” — Jeanne Kalogridis

“Sherry worked with me on my manuscript for my novel Glint, published by St. Martin's Press. I do not hesitate to say that without her help and suggestions, I might still be trying to figure out what I should be doing. In other words, her editing accelerated my learning curve by at least a year, if not more. I don't know how to put a value on it, except to call it immeasurable. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with her and I hope to work with her again in the future.” — Joseph Valentinetti

"By the time we had finished, I felt I not only had a better book, but I had learned how to be a better writer. Sherry conditioned me to be aware of flowery language, superfluous description, and getting in the way of the story. As far as I'm concerned, the money I spent for editing was a very good investment."
— Stephen B. Carr

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ANNE GREENBERG was an in-house editor of children's books for 16 years at Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, specializing in fiction for readers 5-8, 8-12, and young adult. As a freelancer, she focuses on developmental editing, editing, and copyediting of adult fiction and nonfiction, in addition to children's books (but not picture books). At Pocket/S&S she edited more than 550 books (including all-new Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys titles) and worked with seasoned and first-time authors.

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TIM GRUNDMANN is an author, playwright and TV scriptwriter and story editor with 25 years of experience. His books in the Doug Chronicles series are published by Disney Press. He was part of the creative team behind Pee-wee's Playhouse on CBS (for which he wrote the show "bible"), and developed the HBO comedy Norman's Corner with Seinfeld creator Larry David. As head writer and story editor for the Disney Channel's New Mickey Mouse Club and Nickelodeon's Doug, he guided scripts from concept to final draft. He's written episodes of Allegra's Window and Welcome, Freshmen for Nickelodeon, and was developmental writer for Mowgli and His Friends and WaysideSchool for the Disney Channel and ABC-TV. As house writer for Broadcast Arts in NYC, he wrote scripts, proposals, treatments and show bibles for TV shows starring Gilbert Gottfried, Madeline Kahn and others. Recently he wrote scripts for the PC game My Scene Goes Hollywood for Vivendi Universal Games.

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CAROL HEGBERG is an internationally published, award-winning writer and content editor. Her novel is entitled Pen Pals. Her non-fiction book is Rochelle. Her poetry, scripts, short stories, and articles have been published in many magazines and books. Carol knows the endurance, tenacity, and patience a writer must possess to become published. Beginning writers, published authors, agents with needy clients, and publishers who need developmental editing for their writers use her services. She helps rewrite speeches, short stories or collections, articles, essays, and manuscripts. She helps develop inspirational, Christian, and picture-book manuscripts, children and young-adult fiction and nonfiction. She's available for writing help with manuscript submissions, query letters, and book proposals.

• Developmental editing, rewriting, mentoring
• Juvenile & young adult fiction/nonfiction, Christian topics

Article: Writing a Non-fiction Book Proposal

"Carol breathed life into my top-selling children's story with her wonderful way with words." Nancy S. Mure, author of Irregular Joe

Read How To Write a Non-fiction Book Proposal

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LINES HINES ghostwrites, rewrites, and edits novels, business manuscripts, self-help books, short stories, essays, articles, biographies, literary fiction, proposals, and cover and query letters. She has edited over 100 fiction and non-fiction works and wrote and produced articles as managing editor of a subscription-based, B2B newsletter. She specializes in subjects such as humor, mystery, business, current events and politics, psychology, holistic healing, organic gardening, nature and the environment, weight loss, fitness, health, diet and nutrition, spirituality, alternative healing.

"Linda transformed the first few pages of the manuscript from a dull image to a Picasso-like masterpiece! Having not just the ‘eye' but also the ‘spirit' for the details is what makes me praise her even more. I firmly believe that nobody could have done it better." —Harry Yap, A Last Message to Mankind

"Linda was terrific! I may have written the book but she made it come alive." — Mike Ryan, Paragon Asset Management, The Colors of Money

"Working with Linda was outstanding!! Linda brought my book to life by enhancing all parts of it. She used her own ideas and we worked together to find the best fit for our combining thoughts. At times when I was stuck and unable to find the right words to use, she always came through with exactly what I was hoping for while emphasizing my point. Linda's style was exceptional and exactly what I needed to achieve my goal." —Casey Snyder, Mirror

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SANDRA JUDD is an editor, proofreader, and indexer with more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Her clients have included university presses, large, mainstream publishers, and smaller presses and professional organizations. She has edited or proofread over 300 published books, on topics that include politics, history, business, literary criticism, ethnic history, anthropology, science and medicine, industry manuals, memoirs, Christian and inspirational, parenting and relationships, humor, and fiction.

She has edited 20+ volumes in the Health Reference Series published by Omnigraphics, all published under her name as editor.

She has also edited professional journals and newsletters, business plans, scholarly articles being prepared for publication, economic plans to be distributed to the state legislature, and a number of dissertations.

 She has prepared indexes for more than 30 published books.

She strives for precision in language and is devoted to making the author's voice heard.

• Proofreading and copyediting
• Stylistic editing
• Substantive editing
• Indexing
• Fiction: Thrillers, mysteries, Christian, historical fiction
• Nonfiction: Inspirational, self-help, business, science and medicine, ethnology, history, political science, memoirs, scholarly/textbooks

"While I have never met Sandy Judd face to face, I have used her services as a copyeditor since 1997. She is easy to work with, extremely competent, and has helped me improve my writing skills. I will continue to use her services as long as she is available." -- Lewis C. Forrest, Ed.D., technical writer and published author, North Carolina

"As senior editor of a book publishing company, I used Sandy Judd’s services for several years as a proofreader and copyeditor. Her detail-oriented skills and her unfailing ability to meet deadlines kept her at the very top of my list." -- Kathryn Deering, Ann Arbor, Michigan

"I kept Sandra Judd as busy as she’d let me while I was senior editor at Servant Publications (1995–2001).  She produced high-quality work on time and at reasonable cost. I highly recommend her." -- Heidi Hess Saxton, former senior editor, Servant Publications

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JEFF KARON is a writer, teacher, and consultant who has helped students and professionals for over twenty years. He has edited, revised, and proofread publications that include reports, theses, dissertations, textbooks, proposals, essays, stories, and articles. His Ph.D. is in English with a specialization in Rhetoric and Composition, a choice that signals his devotion to clarity and power in language. Prior to his years as an English professor, he studied and taught philosophy, critical thinking, and logic, publishing in these fields as well as in literary studies. He has led writing and editing workshops for students, teachers, and artists. Currently, he is leading creativity workshops and developing ways to build honor in the classroom and workplace.

As a writer and teacher, he believes that we should strive for excellence by practicing effective and fair techniques at all times. He has combined a life-long interest in the martial arts with writing: if you choose to work with him, he will ensure that your writing is powerful, not merely competent.

Scope: Poetry, creative nonfiction, scholarly/educational, biographical essays, business and self-help topics.

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JOHN DAVID KUDRICK (MA in Journalism, Professional Writing: Fiction).
You are sitting at your computer, smiling, with an incredible sense of satisfaction in your heart. After more hours than you can count, you've finally finished your novel – a story from deep inside your soul that you want to share with the world.

But soon the questions start hitting your mind: Is it the very best that it can be? Will anyone even want to read it? Will an agent or publisher want to look at it?

With more than a decade of experience as an editor, John David understands the gamut of feelings that comes with getting your novel from your hard drive onto the shelf at your local bookstore. That's why he'd love to partner with you in getting your novel to the next level, whatever stage you may be at after you've written it …

Services:

• Manuscript Diagnostic – A big-picture look at your novel and how to take your story from good to great.
• Developmental Editing – Specific guidance and comments on how you can fine-tune your story.
• Substantive Editing – Hands-on editing help in reorganizing and revising the structure and content of your story for better readability.
• Copyediting – Line-by-line editing and polishing of your story.
• Proofreading – Making sure the smallest detail of your story gets fixed.
• Book Proposal Development – Jointly creating a compelling, well-crafted proposal.

Genre Specialties:

• Christian fiction (all genres – for both adults and young adults)
• Action / Military
• Historical Fiction
• Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) / Fantasy
• Contemporary / Mainstream

As an editor, John David has been privileged to work with some of the best publishers of fiction in the nation, including Whitaker House (where as senior editor he worked on James Byron Huggins' Nightbringer, a book that Library Journal named one of its annual top five Christian novels), David C. Cook, NavPress, Realms Fiction, and Marcher Lord Press.

"You have a true talent, John David, something God-given. All the learning in the world can't give it to you, and nothing can take it away. You comprehend on several levels far beneath the story itself, a rare thing in literature these days. You can have my back anytime."
– James Byron Huggins, Author of A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, Leviathan, Cain, Hunter, Rora, Nightbringer, The Scam, and Sorcerer

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JO-ANN LANGTREE writes and edits books, stories, and articles in the following fields: business, medical, insurance, health, holistic health, spirituality, religion, psychic phenomena, young-adult fiction, children's books, mystical experience, self-help, New Age, nutrition, diet, exercise, saints & masters, gurus, theosophy, Christianity, homeopathy, vitamins & minerals, herbs, and food supplements. She was a writer and editor for Aetna Life & Casualty. As editor of Life NEWS, she had sole responsibility for finding, developing, writing, editing, and proofing all articles. Topics included new products, sales campaigns, insurance-agent interviews, accolades, seminars, Company acquisitions and policies. Jo-Ann also edits personal and business websites.

• Proofreading
• Editing (Copyediting and Developmental)
• Spirituality, metaphysics, religion, theosophy, psychology, holistic health, food supplements, homeopathy, nutrition, psychic phenomena, lucid dreaming, mystical experience, self-help, saints, masters, and gurus

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FLOYD LARGENT specializes in history, natural history, anthropology and the sciences on the non-fiction front, and speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and allied fields) otherwise. He's published his own e-book on fiction marketing (100 Great Places to Sell Your Short Stories, Both On and Off the Web), and is intimately familiar with technical writing, having worked as a technical writer and editor for ten years. He's also been published in most of the popular American history magazines, including American History, America's Civil War, Old West, and True West. Mr. Largent can provide publishing assistance (especially with short stories and journal articles), content development, manuscript evaluation, and mentoring services, supplemented with advice concerning manuscript mechanics,query letters, book synopses, and proposals.

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TOM GRANT LEMONS is a successful novelist, editorial consultant, publisher, ghostwriter, and managing editor. His historical fiction has won awards and appeared on bestseller lists, and his novels have been translated and published in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Poland. Tom is passionate about the written word, and he is eager to bring his passion and expertise to your writing project. Authors Tom has worked with include Oliver North, T.D. Jakes, Bob Hamer, Joe Moscheo, and Hamilton Gayden. The fiction and nonfiction books Tom has worked on both as developmental editor and ghostwriter have been published by major houses including Broadman & Holman, Warner Faith Publishing, Hachette/Center Street, and Greenleaf Book Group.

• Developmental and substantive editing, both fiction and nonfiction;
• Line/copyediting (including scholarly/academic projects)
• Ghostwriting
• Coaching
• Manuscript critique
• Book proposal development
• Christian, historical fiction, memoir/autobiography, scholarly publications/textbooks, music, nonfiction (general)

“Tom is ...one of the best writers I've ever encountered. His combination of creativity, craftsmanship, integrity, and intelligence puts him at a level I've rarely seen.”—Gary Terashita, Executive Editor, B&H Publishing Group

“Tom is an exceptional editor. An author himself, Tom is meticulous and creative in his work as he expertly brings a writer's best ideas forward. Not only are his editorial abilities outstanding, he is also warm, patient, caring, and thus a joy to work alongside. I recommend him wholeheartedly!”—Edwina Barvosa, Associate Professor, University of California at Santa Barbara

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Lynda Lotman
Freelance Network Coordinator
Copy Editor, Proofreader
Science Fiction
Historical Fiction
Ethnic, Christian, Jewish topics

LORNA LYNCH has over twenty-five years of editing, copyediting, and proofreading experience, and has worked on more than a hundred books to date. She also co-owned a monthly newspaper for seven years, where she wrote and edited hundreds of articles. She has a tremendous instinct for what "works" and what doesn't in both fiction and non-fiction, and has guided numerous authors to publishing success. Her primary goal is to see that writing with some potential becomes writing with great potential, and she works closely with authors to achieve that goal.

Her area of expertise is character-driven fiction; however, she has edited books of all stripes, including political commentary, how-to books, humor, mysteries, romance novels, children's books, young adult fiction, detective novels, and psychological thrillers.

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KELLY LYNNE is the proud “auntie” to over 20 published novels, novellas and short stories, which have sold to Kensington Publishing, Cerridwen Press, Awe-Struck Publishing, Samhain Publishing, and The Wild Rose Press. These books have gone on to earn high praise from reviewers and readers, as well as multiple awards and contest wins. As an editor for The Wild Rose Press, she has edited contemporary western and light paranormal romances, with heat ratings from sweet to spicy. Her fiction fortes include sci-fi, fantasy, romance, speculative fiction, young adult, and stories of psychic or supernatural phenomena.

Empathic about the “feel” of a story, Kelly provides suggestions so that authors may revise with their own style in mind, preserving the individual voice, while alerting authors to current trends in publishable styles. Developmental fiction editing requires an emotional investment in the work—an investment of time and effort that Kelly is happy to make.

Specialties:

DON McCLAIRE uses forty years of editing and writing experience to help both fiction and non-fiction writers polish their work for publication.  He’s spent his career as a magazine editor (11 years), award-winning public relations executive (six years), head of his own marketing communications firm (21 years), professional editor, and writing instructor.  He’s written and placed hundreds of press releases and trade magazine articles, and has produced three non-fiction “how-to” books two young-adult novels, and four Donna McClaire-bylined romance novels, all published. McClaire’s work won him The Public Relations Association’s highest award, the Silver Anvil, plus two Golden Trumpets from the Chicago Public Relations Associarion. 

McClaire knows firsthand, after editing for others for years and judging numerous writing contest entries, the many mistakes unpublished writers make.  He spreads this knowledge by conducting workshops at weekend writing conferences and teaching two online writing classes: Editor-Proof That First Chapter for WriterUniv.com, and 21 Steps to Fog-Free Writing, at WritersOnlineClasses.com.

He'll edit your manuscript, correcting things you may have been doing wrong your whole writing career.  Areas of focus include appearance, hooks, plot, motivation, dialogue, setting, point of view, research, conflict, and voice. He'll also edit weak verb forms, strip away author intrusions, identify character filters, ban redundancies, eliminate foggy phrases, correct passive voice sentences, slash misused and overused words, and correct other writing bugaboos.  These are all problems an acquisitions editor or literary agent won't take the time or effort to tell you about, but they could keep you from being published!

"I’m going back and redoing everything I’ve everwritten…ever! When you edited the first chapter of my latest manuscript, you opened my eyes to a whole new world—and that’s way too cheesy to be an exaggeration! I can’t thank you enough for the
profound impact you’ve had on my work. I don’t think it was coincidence that I received my first contract hardly a month after you set me straight!" Amber W. Shedeck, w/a Amber Leigh Williams, Fairhope, Alabama

See Don's articles:

McClaire Tackles Tough Editing Problems

Cut the Dialogue

Don't Be an Information Dumper

Fog Free Writing

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• Developmental editing, rewriting, copyediting
• Medical and academic/scholarly topics
• Religion, theology, history, music
• Chicago Manual of Style

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HOLLY MONTY, MA, MAComm, ELS, has been a professional APA and Chicago style editor and writer for 10 years.

Since operating as a freelance editor and writer, Ms. Monty, a Microsoft Word and LaTeX expert, has worked on books and articles published by many of the world’s leading publishers, including Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, MIT Press, John Wiley, Springer, Lawrence Erlbaum, Pearson-Prentice Hall, Berg, Macmillan, Berkshire, American Geophysical Union, Praeger, Greenwood, Blackwell, Elsevier, Sage, Begell House, Teacher Ideas Press, Libraries Unlimited, UTH Zürich, RAND Corporation, and other top names in academic and nonfiction publishing. To date, she has edited over 1,500 published journal articles, over 100 nonfiction books, and a wealth of dissertations and theses. An elected member of the board of governors of the Editorial Freelancers Association from 2007 to 2008, Ms. Monty is proud to have worked with a diversity of students and academics from a broad range of our nation's universities. Given her wealth of experience, she is adept at working within the precise terms of your university's thesis/dissertation guidelines or with the publication guidelines of any peer-reviewed journal.

Article: Chicago Manual of Style: Essential Changes in the 16th Edition

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Theodora O'Brien focuses on mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, adventure, and horror titles. She has considerable experience with trade non-fiction. As Editorial Director of her own publishing house, Theodora published almost 100 titles, garnering several awards in "Best Of" categories. Almost half of the titles were bought for paperback reprints, and two were optioned for TV/movies. She has invaluable knowledge about the industry, the type of people who run it, how to work within it, and tips for getting your foot in the door. She’s reviewed, evaluated, and edited thousands of manuscripts through the years, and uses that knowledge to help her clients produce results-driven manuscripts, query letters, and synopses. She works particularly hard at staying in the author’s “voice,” making sure the facts and dialogue match the time period in which the book is set, and “losing” excess verbiage. She's a good mentor, hard worker, and in many cases, has ultimately become a good friend.

• Book doctor--fiction. Action-military, contemporary, mainstream, detective, crime, history, literary fiction, mystery, romance, women's fiction, science fiction, horror, fantasy, thrillers, espionage, Westerns
• Developmental editing
• Manuscript evaluations, critiques

"I am absolutely sure I wouldn't have gotten the publishing contract if it hadn't been for Theodora's evaluation and editing. What an enormous find she was for me!" Shayne Easson, Wrath of Zar.

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MARK ORRIN has authored ten published books, scores of articles and poems, and taught writing on college and university levels. A seasoned publications editor, he has also mentored numerous successful American and international authors and poets. During a career in fund raising, Mark was considered one of America's leading copywriters, copy chiefs and creative/strategic consultants. He has been listed in Who's Who In the West, Who's Who In America, Who's Who In Entertainment and The Dictionary of International Biography. His services include mentoring, critiques and evaluations, substantive editing and content development; submission materials (synopses, book proposals, query letters); ghost writing; line editing; and help with "self-agenting" your own work. His fiction focuses are sci-fi, fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, Westerns, mysteries, adolescent and children's books, action-suspense; non-fiction includes memoirs, inspirational, public issues, self-help. Mentors projects into royalty-paying (non-"subsidy") print in the general book market.

Mark is the author of How to Leap the Slush Pile to Non-Subsidy Print, and gives a free copy to each of clients.

Click here for a sample query letter written by Mark Orrin

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JAMES N. POWELL. As an editor of fiction and non-fiction, he views manuscripts with a broad, comprehensive vision and an eye for detail-for "the right word in the right place." Powell's editors will tell you that his books need no editing, as Powell is, himself, an editor. He will read your fiction with and eye to making it believable and your non-fiction with a knack for making it both convincing and engaging. James N. Powell is "a good literary surgeon," as one of his accomplished clients noted. His books and short stories have been translated into many languages and are known throughout the world. His list of publications includes The Tao of Symbols (Morrow 1982), Energy and Eros (Morrow 1985), The Prentice Hall Global Employment Guide (Prentice Hall 1983), Mandalas: The Dynamics of Vedic Symbolism (Sterling 1980), Derrida for Beginners (Writers and Readers 1996), Postmodernism for Beginners (Writers and Readers 1998), Eastern Philosophy for Beginners (2000), and Deconstruction for Beginners (2005). His short story "The Silence of the Hummingbird" was published in Spanish in Revista Katharsis. in Malaga, Spain and his journalism has appeared in the Santa Barbara Independent and Montecito Journal.
Articles: The Snows of Hope Ranch Beach, Writing Your Memoirs

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ARLENE W. ROBINSON has developed and edited 450+ full-length manuscripts in a variety of genres since 1996. Her clients include women's fiction author Angie Daniels, sociology professor Joyce Tang and college-success guide author Josh Richardson. The true crime memoir The Twelfth Man Standing received Turner Broadcasting Network's Trumpet Award in 2002, and 'PRESSIONS: Memoirs of a Southern Cat by Edith M. Holmes won the YOUnity Reviewers Guild Top Honor Award. Arlene welcomes new or published authors as clients, and enjoys helping journalistic, business and academic writers transform their writings into marketable, polished products for mainstream readers.

While not a professional humor writer, she could be. Arlene lives in the Deep South with her probation officer/journalist husband and two almost-adult sons, and looks forward to the day when her human offspring venture into the world as independently as she envisions her writings springing onto bookshelves.

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KAREN SCHADER specializes in fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults, including chapter books, picture books, and educational resources. She has worked as a substantive editor, copyeditor, and proofreader for authors, trade publishers, and educational publishers. With an academic background in child development, she brings an understanding of children to her work, and several of her titles have been recognized with iParenting Media Awards and National Health Information Awards. A client once described Karen's editing as going beyond "simple grammar and sentence structure to style, age-appropriateness, and clarity." She respects readability, grammar, punctuation, accuracy, deadlines—and the importance of preserving the author's voice.

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A. J. SOBCZAK is an editor, proofreader, and writer (business writing, business methods, business history, communication, literary analysis) with more than 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. He works directly with authors of academic articles and books as well as working for publishers. As an in-house editor for Salem Press (6 years) and freelance editor for Sage Publications (since 1993), along with work for University of California Press, ABC-CLIO, Rowman & Littlefield, and other clients, he has edited dozens of books and journals in various topics in the social and hard sciences, including economics, research methods, mathematics, political science, psychology, business and management, supply chain theory, and history. He holds an MA in economics from UCLA, has done graduate-level coursework in mathematics, and taught economics at California State University, Northridge, for 4 years.

He is an expert in APA and Chicago styles and is on several publishers' lists of "go-to" editors for manuscripts with heavy math content. His writing on business and economics has appeared in several reference volumes, and he is the editor of and a contributor to Great Events from History II: Business and Commerce, containing approximately 500 articles on critical events in 20th-century business history.

Formats: APA, Chicago

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CAROLINE T. has been editing popular fiction for 20 years and has 200+ novels under her belt. Her ability to see the big picture, combined with an in-depth knowledge of today’s publishing market, makes her an invaluable partner in the editing and publishing process.

A former in-house editor at Pocket Books—a division of Simon & Schuster, the premiere New York City publisher of commercial and trade fiction—an outside editor for Harper Collins/Avon, and a reader for The Literary Guild and The Rhapsody Book Club, Caroline’s particular expertise is historical and contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and romantic suspense. Carla Neggers, Karen Robards and Andrea Kane—three New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling authors—had books edited by Caroline. She also specializes in suspense thrillers, crime fiction, amateur sleuths, sagas, inspirational romance, westerns, urban fantasy and African-American popular fiction.  She holds workshops on the writer’s conference circuit and speaks at numerous venues to help advance the cause of popular fiction for women.

Known for her accessibility, Caroline is available to answer any questions a client may have; from a simple inquiry regarding point of view switching, to a larger issue regarding career path. She is a hands-on editor, likes to put her blue pen to work, and enjoys brainstorming with writers. She is a mentor, a guide and a source of vast knowledge on the subject of popular fiction.  Caroline offers content and developmental editing with commentary; minor line-editing if necessary, submission help, and career consulting.

“Caroline and I worked together as an author/editor team for a dozen years.  She is, by far, the finest editorial partner I've ever had the good fortune to work with-- a partner in the truest sense.  Her commitment extends beyond the novels to the authors themselves.  Her instincts about how to make the book the best it can be are dead-on, and her willingness and abilities to achieve that end (without making the author feel that the book is no longer his/her own) are amazing.  She has experience in a broad range of genres, and she puts that experience to work whole-heartedly.  There is no one I would more strongly recommend to you if you want to make your book the best it can be, and if you want the best chances of becoming published or further published!” -- NY Times bestselling author, Andrea Kane

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*Note: The editors in this network will turn down your manuscript if they do not see a way to improve the material. In this case, however, they might offer mentoring as you learn the craft. They will also decline to edit your manuscript if they determine that your work is in such good shape that paying a freelance editor would be a waste of your money. Although they believe that every manuscript should be read and critiqued by someone other than the author, it may not be necessary to pay a professional to find the few flaws and kinks in an excellent manuscript.