Peng Shepherd – Editor

I’m a nationally bestselling author, and former university creative writing instructor and editorial assistant, who’s spent over ten years in the publishing and creative writing fields. My novels have hit multiple regional and national bestseller lists, won national awards, been featured on multiple “best of” lists, and are translated into several languages, as well as have been optioned for film and television.

As an editor, I love helping other writers reach their own goals, whether that’s to improve their craft or to seek publication. I believe every story can have compelling characters, rich worldbuilding, and gripping plots, regardless of genre. I live for the moments in a novel when something happens I didn’t see coming, no matter how big or small. My passion is the strange, eerie, magical, poignant, bittersweet, or adventurous—if there’s something new to discover within the pages, I’m hooked.

In my critiques, I read every draft with sensitivity, nuance, and vision. My aim is to help writers find the heart of their stories and improve their manuscripts to be the best they can be, not merely what I think they should be. I focus especially on characterization and plot, because I believe those are the keys to a truly incredible, unforgettable book readers won’t be able to put down. In particular, one of my strengths is working with writers who worry their projects seem to have no direction or theme, and helping them find the electric, central third rail that will ignite every aspect of their work and drive them onward to a finished piece of art.

TESTIMONIALS

“Peng lives and breathes story. She can take even the most convoluted manuscript and get right to the soul of a character to help you find their true motivation, or flesh out a world so it feels authentic. She’s fast, thorough, brilliant, and genuinely loves working with other writers. I would trust her with all of my drafts.”

—Mike Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Here and Now and Then, Light Years From Home, and Star Wars: Brotherhood

“Peng S. has given me comments on everything I’ve written for the past five years. She’s a wise and generous reader, who is unmatched at intuiting the aims of the work and working within that framework to make it as interesting and marketable as can be. You won’t find an editor with a better mix of literary and commercial instincts.”

—Naomi Kanakia, author of Enter Title Here and We Are Totally Normal

“Peng is brilliant... This is someone who you’re eventually going to have on [the Today Show] couch. She’s that good.”

—Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on the Today Show