Constance Renfrow

Constance Renfrow – Editor

Professional editor specializing in literary and historical novels, YA, and speculative fiction.

Overview

As an editor and writer specializing in literary fiction, I am deeply in love with the English language and with telling passionate, evocative stories that leave the reader changed. I’m proud to say that I am a consulting editor (formerly lead editor) at Three Rooms Press, a fiercely independent literary publisher in New York. I am the editor of WEIRD GIRL AND WHAT'S HIS NAME by Meagan Brothers (IndieFAB Gold Winner: YA), hailed by Foreword Reviews as “[having] all the makings to become a classic of this generation." I also compiled and edited SONGS OF MY SELFIE: An Anthology of Millennial Stories, a collection of seventeen short stories by up-and-coming Millennial writers, which was an IndieFAB finalist. Bustle writes: “Doing for 'bad Millennials' what Bad Feminist did for uncertain feminists, SONGS OF MY SELFIE celebrates the Millennial stereotypes — flaws and all . . . this story collection not only stands up for Millennials, it gives Millennials a place to stand up for themselves.”

I’ve prepared more than seventy-five titles for publication at both Three Rooms Press and Skyhorse Publishing. My specialty is fiction, particularly literary fiction, and I’ve worked with YA, fantasy, thrillers, historical fiction, speculative fiction, military history, short stories, etc. I have also edited memoirs, crafting books, cookbooks, exercise guides, self-help, works in translation, and more.

As a freelancer, I help writers prepare their works in order to query agents and publishers, as well as for self-publishing platforms. I have also written and edited website copy, cover copy, bios, articles, and more. I wrote a regular column about book publishing for the website DIY MFA and hosted an open mic series at New York's Merchant's House Museum. My writing has been published or is forthcoming in such places as South Carolina Review, Litro, Porter House Review, Red Earth Review, Mud Season Review, Huffington Post, Portland Book Review, and other places. My short story "The Urg" won the Porter House Review Prize for Fiction in 2019 and Best of the Net 2019, and my short fiction has been nominated for Pushcart Prizes. I received my MFA in fiction from Pacific University.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Historical Fiction LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Short Story Thriller & Suspense Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • IndieFAB Gold: YA (Weird Girl and What's-His-Name)
  • Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction (Shortlist) (Exile on Bridge Street)
  • IndieFAB Finalist: Anthology (Songs of My Selfie)
  • Porter House Review Prize for Fiction 2019 ("The Urg")
  • Best of the Net 2019 ("The Urg")

Work experience

Three Rooms Press

Jun, 2014 — Mar, 2018 (over 3 years)

I am the lead editor at Three Rooms Press, a fiercely independent book publisher, inspired by Dada, punk, and passion. My primary purpose is to edit all upcoming titles (developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading). Additionally, I assist the directors in acquiring titles and in marketing and publicity. I was the lead editor for WEIRD GIRL AND WHAT'S HIS NAME, an LGBT YA novel that "has all the makings to become a classic of this generation" (Foreword Reviews), and I compiled an anthology of short stories by millennial writers, SONGS OF MY SELFIE, published in April 2016.

Skyhorse Publishing

May, 2012 — May, 2014 (about 2 years)

I served in the editorial department of this up-and-coming trade publisher for two years after graduating from Franklin & Marshall College. I began as an intern, assessing manuscript submissions and completing minor copy editing tasks, and was hired six months later as an editorial assistant. I was promoted to Assistant Editor in January 2014 and was in charge of licensing and editing books from Swedish publishers. These were usually cookbooks and crafting books, though each season I was also responsible for at least one original novel or memoir. I was lead editor of approximately thirty titles per season. Additional duties included book acquisition, copy writing, and publicity.

Portfolio

Courageous Reader, About the same time I developed absurdity neurosis from book bans and seahorse protests, Sweeties attacked Blaze Union and the Puddin’ Heads with a cookie bomb and cake guns. After Blaze is expelled from school for not following large hand r... read more
Percy the Hare lives just beyond the notice of most decent folk in 1880’s Lafayette, Indiana, a town on the Wabash River and the Wabash & Erie Canal. But the aging hare plays a vital role in the city’s illicit activities and has a colorful mix of friends and a... read more
Chateau Laux

Loux, David

From a London orphanage to a half-burned cathedral, a little girl makes a lonely journey to meet her new caretakers. When they are delayed, she is plunged into a conflicted and grieving community. As unfettered kindness and rigid religiosity war with each othe... read more
Downdrift: A Novel

Johanna Drucker

Narrated by an Archaeon, a 3.8 billion year old species, the oldest on earth, Downdrift is a work of speculative eco-fiction that describes the impact of ecological pressures on animals that are adopting human behaviors, with droll and sometimes alarming, resu... read more
Punk Avenue: The New York City Underground 1972-1982 is an intimate look at author Paris-born Phil Marcade’s first ten years in the United States where drifted from Boston to the West Coast and back, before winding up in New York City and becoming immersed in ... read more
When Silas Fortunato applies for an editorial position for the “spirituality” section of a local newspaper, he is asked to fill in a bubble sheet to mark his religion. The problem is, his beliefs don’t fall within any of the categories. Silas believes that sel... read more
Exile on Bridge Street details teenage Irish immigrant Liam Garrity's struggle to adulthood in pre-Prohibition Brooklyn. Back home, Ireland's fight for its own independence erupts with the 1916 Easter Rising. The fate of Garrity's father, an Irish rebel, is un... read more
John Nutting is nineteen years old in 1966. Raised in small-town Idaho, to a family that could trace its military roots back to the Revolutionary War, Nutting knows he’s going to fight the war as a Marine. On the day of his high school graduation, he swears in... read more
Are you ready to take your exercise and fitness routine to the next level? Then take a lesson from internationally-renowned action hero Dolph Lundgren, as he shares the personal fitness secrets gained from a lifetime of hard-fought experiences on-camera and of... read more
The Fisherman: A Thriller

Vaughn C. Hardacker

After tracking down a crazed sniper last year, homicide detectives Mike Houston and Anne Bouchard opted to leave Boston for the isolated mountains of Maine. They adjusted nicely to chopping their own firewood, relaxing in their log cabin, and simply enjoying t... read more
William McCloskey is back and better than ever in Warriors, the potent new prequel to Highliners, Breakers, and Raiders. Long before Hank Crawford arrived in the waters of Ketchikan, his partners and compatriots were already in love with its shores. Following ... read more
Swing State: A Novel

Michael T. Fournier

Swing State unveils the generally overlooked decades-long economic downturn in the rural Northeast. With an unflinching eye, novelist Michael T. Founier lays bare the dim dreams and raw existence of the lives of three residents of Armbrister, New Hampshire, wh... read more
IndieFab Young Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2015!Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books 2015!In the podunk town of Hawthorne, North Carolina, seventeen-year-old geeks Lula and Rory share everything—sci-fi and fantasy fandom, Friday night binge-watching of old X-File... read more
SONGS OF MY SELFIE: An Anthology of Millennial Stories celebrates the millennial through the works of up-and-coming fiction writers, all under the age of twenty-six. This collection features seventeen short stories by millennial writers about actual millennial... read more

Constance has 80 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

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Tracie H.

Tracie H.

Feb, 2024

Awe-inspiring! That's the experience you can expect with the perfect editor for your manuscript. Constance is truly exceptional and goes beyond the mere refinement of your work. She sparks inspiration through creative suggestions, gently challenges you with thoughtful feedback, and encourages you to dig deeper into your storytelling. Her copy editing and proofreading skills are superb, and her ...
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Beatrice M.

Beatrice M.

Dec, 2023

Constance provided me with a very thorough, informative and knowledgeable editorial evaluation of my manuscript. She encouraged me to step back and re-evaluate my work from another perspective. I appreciate the benefits of her expertise. She invited me to challenge myself with the goal of creating a better result. I am delighted with our collaboration!
Amanda U.

Amanda U.

Dec, 2023

Constance was a perfect choice to complete the developmental editing my first manuscript. She wrote a thorough letter describing her thoughts and feedback which helped a great deal. She made recommendations and guided my writing in the right direction. Her notes on the manuscript were clear and honest. I appreciated how knowledgable and encouraging she has been through this entire process.
Dobie M.

Dobie M.

Oct, 2023

Constance is terrific. She catches the little things that slip by me (when I thought I wrote one thing but actually wrote another), and provides excellent feedback on tricky passages to make sure the reader can easily understand. I'm very grateful that she continues to work with me on new projects!
Jim B.

Jim B.

Jun, 2023

So, after having Constance edit my book, I knew she would be the best one to help me with the back book cover material. Although a small job, she was fantastic to work with on this and I am so glad she was willing to help with it!

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