Stacey Donovan

Professional Summary

• AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (NYC): Copywriter, Special Assistant to Membership Services Manager – Direct mail to sustaining and new member client list
• EQUITY ADVERTISING AGENCY, INC. (NYC): Account Executive – Copywriting recruitment and general display advertising, monthly newsletter; coordinate ad copy and layout for newspaper, magazine, trade publications
• LEWIS ADVERTISING AGENCY, INC. (NYC): Public Relations – Press release and trade article copywriting for in-house corporate use; real estate publications
  ASTORIA STUDIOS (Queens, NY): Production Assistant – in the filming of  Francis Ford Coppola’s “Cotton Club”
• ANN ELMO LITERARY AGENCY (NYC): Assistant to Ann Elmo – Manuscript preparation for submittal to publishers
• Writing non-fiction for 20+ years (Memoir, Creative Non-fiction, How-to, Financial)
• Writing fiction for 20+ years (Contemporary/Mainstream; Caper/Detective; Erotica; Gay/Lesbian; Literary Fiction; Mystery; Psychological Thriller; Suspense; Women’s Fiction; Young Adult)
• Publishing strategist for 10+ years (i.e., manuscript preparation, submission materials, literary agency representation)
• Social media strategist for 3+ years (i.e., the when and where of user-created online content)
• Writing articles for 5+ years (design, art)
• Conducting Interviews for 3 years (celebrity experts)

Editing Services

• 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

Books Published/Edited

Published Works

Dive, by Stacey Donovan, eBook published by Smudge Ink Press, 2014

“Thomas Wolfe Wasn’t Kidding” – A Cup of Comfort For Writers Anthology, Non-Fiction by Stacey Donovan, Publisher: Adams Media, 2007

Red Shoe Diaries (books 1-4), by Stacey Donovan & Elise D’Haene, Publisher: Penguin/Berkley Books, 2005-2006

Your Fate Is In Your Hands, by Stacey Donovan & Donna McCue, Publisher: Pocket/Simon & Schuster, 2000

Dive, A novel by Stacey Donovan, Publisher: Penguin/Putnam, 1995; iUniverse, 2000

Partial List of of Published Client Titles (ghostwritten and/or edited)*

FICTION

McNally’s Dilemma (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), mystery fiction by Lawrence Sanders
-A New York Times Bestseller

Shadow of Death (Oceanview Publishing), mystery fiction by Patricia Gussin, M.D.
-Nominated for Best First Mystery by Mystery Writers Association of America

The Hampton Affair (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), suspense fiction by Vincent Lardo

 

Ready to Fall (Bridge Works Publishing), contemporary women’s fiction by Claire Cook
Find Courtney (Bridge Works Publishing), psychological thriller fiction by Melissa Clark
Boy on a Pony (Moreland Press),contemporary fiction by George Abagnalo
Scrambled Eggs (Five Star Press), caper/suspense fiction by Boris Riskin
Deadly Bones (Five Star Press), caper/suspense fiction by Boris Riskin

 

Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh, by Timothe Davis, CreateSpace
The Plunge: A Love Story, by Sindhu S., CreateSpace
What a Ride, by Phil Berg, CreateSpace
Trail of Evil, by M.C. Milot, CreateSpace
How to Dance on the Moon, by Laura Ginter, CreateSpace

NONFICTION

The Success Secret (anthology featuring Jack Canfield, et al.), by Dr. Caroline Manuel; Celebrity Press
Your Best Face Now (Penguin {Avery Trade}), by Shellie Goldstein
Talking to the Moon: What Jesus Really Wants From You, by John Weisinger, CreateSpace
Family Outing (Little, Brown and Company), nonfiction memoir by Chastity Bono & Billie Fitzpatrick
Credit Card Debt (Avon), nonfiction by Alex Daskaloff
Displacing Place: Mobile Communication in the 21st Century (Peter Lang Publishing Group), nonfiction by Sharon Kleinman, Ph.D., Editor

*Other titles editor is contractually unable to reveal

Book Editor Reviews

“Stacey did an amazing job of evaluating my manuscript. I didn’t expect the detail, insight, and feedback she provided. There’s absolutely no question her feedback will make my book more engaging and salable. I couldn’t be more pleased with her work. She was also ahead of schedule! And another thing … She was easy to get in touch with—very responsive.” – Phillip Pace

“Stacey Donovan was very knowledgeable, experienced, and easy to communicate with. She was also very helpful on steering me on the correct path for the style of writing for my career.” – Alicia Santana

“Stacey is a consummate professional. She provided specific and clear suggestions for strengthening plot, character development and style. I applaud her ability to deliver a no-holds-barred critique with the tact and sensitivity that left me feeling inspired to go back and work to make my manuscript better.” – Carol Milot

“This was my first experience working with an editor, so I had no idea what to expect when I hired her. I think I got damn lucky. Stacey did an excellent job. I was impressed by the depth of commentary she provided about my manuscript, and the organized way she reported it. I thought her critique was particularly insightful, and I liked that she described in detail her opinions on the strength and weaknesses of the characters and the story. I had several follow-up questions, and saw the same attention to detail in her responses. I am working on the revisions, and there’s no doubt that the story has improved as a result of her input. I would work with Stacey again, and I recommend her work to anyone looking for a thorough evaluation of a manuscript. She’s a pro.” – Vicki Marie Stolsen

“Stacey Donovan is a writer’s dream. With an incisive mind, she doesn’t let a scintilla of careless writing go by. The barnacles she knocked off some my prose gave it so much lilt and lift, it often made my jaw drop. Her critique of plot, POV, and characters gave me the feeling I had entered a graduate level tutorial, with this difference—the ‘instructor’ was my partner and cared invested in my success. That said, I do not mean to suggest for a moment that Stacey holds back criticism. She is a ‘tough love’ editor. With equal emphasis on each word.” Les AuCoin

“I received a very intense, thorough evaluation of my book manuscript. I had follow-up questions and she answered all my questions and gave insightful suggestions.” – Contact info on request

“Stacey Donovan is a writer’s dream. With an incisive mind, she doesn’t let a scintilla of careless writing go by. The barnacles she knocked off some my prose gave it so much lilt and lift, it often made my jaw drop. Her critique of plot, POV, and characters gave me the feeling I had entered a graduate level tutorial, with this difference—the ‘instructor’ was my partner and cared invested in my success. That said, I do not mean to suggest for a moment that Stacey holds back criticism. She is a “tough love” editor. With equal emphasis on each word.” Les AuCoin

“It is with pleasure that I recommend to you Stacey Donovan. Her editing skills, impeccable professionalism, humor, integrity and willingness to help a young writer are what make  recommendation of her easy. Stacey edited my work and as I have told many, “She made me sound a whole lot better than I could have ever hoped or dreamed.” Stacey has been a wonderful resource for publishing ideas and editing. Her help has often extended far beyond her contract to do so. I know you will find as I have that she is a wonderful resource that is available to the publishing world.” – John Weisinger

“Ms. Donovan was pleasant, professional and communicative. Her services were great. Her attention to detail was impressive and her enthusiasm for her work really shines.” – Deborah Cardillo

“Stacey is smart, patient, witty and really good at what she does.  She has gone far above the contract by being a cheerleader, hand holder, and friend.  Her editing and general advice about writing was the best but her personality and accessibility set her apart and really added to the process.” Allison McBane

“Stacey is knowledgeable, witty and a pleasure to work with. She was very thorough in her evaluation/review of plot, characters and narrative mode. She also suggested areas that needed improvement and made a recommendation for the next step (in my case a copy editing). She completed the work almost three weeks ahead of schedule and was very prompt in answering questions. I do recommend Stacey.” – Grace Karmadi

“I am grateful for her candid criticism and prodding from Stacey that had nudged me into stripping bare the ‘love’ scenes in my novel. She has pointed out some key structural issues that had escaped my notice. I am glad to have had my work reviewed by a professional like Stacey prior to publishing.” – Sindhu S.

“I found her to be personable, funny, insightful, and helpful. We did not always see eye to eye. Nevertheless, I found her to be engaging and encouraging, even after our contract ended.” – Timothe Davis

“Stacey is smart, patient, witty and really good at what she does.  She has gone far above the contract by being a cheerleader, hand holder, and friend.  Her editing and general advice about writing was the best but her personality and accessibility set her apart and really added to the process.” Allison McBane

“I knew my manuscript needed a major overhaul, but I was afraid that, at 119,000 words, I wouldn’t find someone who would or could do a thorough job, especially because it was dark, sexual, possibly controversial, and maybe not even publishable. I was wrong. I’m very fortunate to have had Stacey Donovan take on my project. She exceeded my expectations beyond anything I could have imagined. I still don’t know that my novel will see publication, but I’ve probably quadrupled my chances now that Stacey has given me some guidance and direction.” – Catherine Dix

“Working with Stacey has been a thoroughly rewarding experience one which has far surpassed my expectations. She consistently went above and beyond in working on my manuscript, providing both insightful and thought-provoking feedback, which opened my mind to hitherto unexplored areas and ideas. To top it all off, she even helped me with my submission strategy as well as the query letter and synopsis for which I am hugely grateful.” (Contact information on request.)

“Stacey did an absolutely fabulous job. I can’t recommend her enough. She went above and beyond her line of duty and her critique was thorough, catching many plot details and errors that I previously missed. Thank you so much!” – Christine Catlin

“Had it not been your network, I would not have found, Stacey. Aside polishing my work, she was dedicated to my personal development as a writer. I now have a manuscript that I’m proud of, thanks to you, Lynda. I shall forever be indebted to you for organizing these excellent editors” –  Constancia E. Matanawui

I owe my writing career to Stacey Donovan. I was astounded at her instincts and her talent to not only point out opportunities for improvement, but to offer concrete guidance as to how to implement necessary changes. I had no idea that inspiration, editing excellence, and patient teaching could all be wrapped up in one individual. Now that I’m working on my fifth book, I look back with gratitude to Stacey who so generously shared her expertise and provided such valuable direction. – Patricia Gussin, MD

“Stacey Donovan is the right woman at the right time. I was with a terribly muddled manuscript – more like jottings than a real piece of writing. Stacey worked her magic on my writing – and suddenly (well – not so sudden in her mind – probably, in fact, rather laborious for her) the writing came to life. But that wasn’t the best part of what she brought to bear on my manuscript. It was the level of organization she found. Yes – in some sense it was inherent already – waiting to be born – but after years of my messing with the book (as well as several other editors who tackled the job and failed), I didn’t seem to have what it took to give birth to this baby on my own. Let’s say Stacey was the mid-wife – or the doula. She is the one who birthed it and made it a coherent whole. I recommend her unconditionally to anyone who is writing challenged for any reason.” – Dr. Jane Goldberg

“Last year, on a friend’s recommendation, I sent the manuscript for a novel I had just completed to Stacey for review. Not only did I find her critique to be inspired and precise, I also found her to be totally supportive and encouraging. Her feedback was invaluable, for not only was she unafraid to point out what she saw as shortcomings in my work, but also showed great enthusiastic for those elements of the work she digged. I would have no hesitation recommending Stacey to anyone looking for an honest, intelligent review of their work.” – Brett Morris

“If you want an editor who will not give up on making your work, be it fiction or nonfiction, the best it can possibly be, then Stacey Donovan is the right choice. I’ve worked with Stacey on several published works, and the one indefatigable quality that defines her is an unwavering dedication to excellence. She is a writer’s writer – intuitive, resilient, tireless – with an emphasis on craft, authenticity, and surprise. Stacey knows down to her bones what is ineffable in any creative work.” – Elise D’Haene

“Because of Stacey Donovan’s insightful questions and belief I could do better and reach deeper, the novel I was writing went from being a rather predictable story to one full of surprises that kept the pages turning. The story was told from three points-of-view, and Stacey helped me develop each narrator’s story and knit them into a cohesive whole. She stayed involved throughout the entire project, including my query letter and strategy for approaching agents. While the novel didn’t sell, it did land an excellent agent, who has continued to be responsive to me based on that effort. Stacey taught me to be precise in my word choice and how to more effectively use details to evoke character. In addition, she was a pleasure to work with and very knowledgeable about the industry and current marketplace. She consistently kept to our agreed upon schedule and was always available for my endless questions. I am a much stronger and more confident writer for having worked with her.” – Laura Stein

“Working with Stacey has been very rewarding. Her thoughtful and thought-provoking insight lingers. She doesn’t make changes just for the sake of making changes, or just because she knows better (which she does), but shares her reasoning with you so it’s a learning process. Understanding where her changes come from allows you to then apply the knowledge you’ve acquired to the next proposal draft or any new piece of writing. She’s always so responsive and often has an amusing anecdote to share to illustrate her point. I truly appreciate her candor and refreshing sense of humor along with her extensive experience. Having your work edited can be a painful process but Stacey has made it less so by being willing to share why as well as how.” – Anne O’Connell

“Stacey Donovan is more than a good editor. What makes her better than just good is an unerring ability to work with an author. She brings to the table not just an eye for weakness, but the creativity to make suggestions that the author can work with. Naturally, the writer’s talent is a factor, but with an editor’s help, the writer can give it his or her utmost. Stacey makes you work and work better than you ever thought possible.” – Robert Boris Riskin

“Stacey Donovan was an inspirational individual in my writing career. Self-possessed, passionate, and well-informed about the industry – Stacey brought out the best in my efforts and advised me on how to present my work to the trade. As a developing memoir writer, I possessed exceptional life experiences and the intellectual capital to articulate them. But without the guidance, instilled confidence, and empowerment that Stacey Donovan provided to me, I would not have been able to bridge the great divide that ultimately produces a book. Besides being a decisively insightful first reader, Stacey enabled me to visualize the vehicle that transformed my string of anecdotes into a cohesive well-formed framework. My personal story used a vast vocabulary of nautical vernacular; without it, the authenticity of my story would have been lost. Stacey was instrumental in enabling me to cull colloquial expressions to create just the right amount of edge; treading the fine line between believable authenticity and illusive expression. Our work sessions challenged and elevated my desire to express myself with clarity and joy.”
– Pat Mundus

“My experience with Stacey Donovan spanned 2 years. As a first time novelist, I remember our first meeting well. I showed up with a shopping bag of journalistic writing and a good idea. Thanks to Stacey’s experience and creativity, my idea grew wings and substance. With her direction, character development, plot continuity, tone and language were expertly handled, I can rightfully say, without Stacey’s skill and direction, Love at First Site would never have become a novel. With great appreciation and thanks.” – Bobbie Braun

“I approached Stacey to get her advice on my work so far for my first novel. She was very friendly, honest, professional and diplomatic in her approach. The way she communicated constructive criticism didn’t come across as criticism at all, rather articulated suggestions followed by advice backed with industry experience. I will be continuing to seek Stacey’s advice and would heartily recommend her to any writer, new or established.” – Kishun Gohl

“My first ever foray into the world of website-making was fraught with fear of going live into the big world out there, knowing that everyone I’ve ever known would be reading through my site and commenting, either in their heads, or letting me know what I could’ve done better. Having Stacey Donovan check me out before pressing GO was an insurance policy to keep my stress level below a roar and clean up the rough spots. After all was said and done, I got more compliments than complaints because Stacey’s important nudges moved things in the right direction. Now I know to always get a professional to look me over first and make me look good. Stacey’s eye for quirky, edgy and hip allowed me to be myself in the copy, and still sound sharp and smart. I didn’t lose my voice or color in the editing process…all I got was clarity. Thanks Stacey!” – Eve Springwood Minson