Overview
After spending years in the publishing industry acquiring fiction and nonfiction for several major imprints, I'm excited to shift my focus to my favorite part this career: working directly with authors.
I would describe myself as a hands-on editor who cares deeply about her authors and the stories they want to tell. I am warm, collaborative, and curious; I am also rigorous, precise, and determined to make your book the very best possible version of itself. I am a perceptive reader who loves developmental editing and helping narratives find their paths, but first and foremost I always want to hear what *your* goals are for your book. We will develop an editorial vision together.
While I have experience across fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, I've always had a particular fondness for queer stories and have worked on quite a few novels and memoirs in that category. I also love magical realism, coming-of-age stories, and memoirs that braid many strands.
In addition to years of developmental and line editing experience, I also bring to the table a deep knowledge of how the traditional publishing industry works, and a fervent desire to help demystify that black box for authors. I'll be glad to field your questions, whatever they might be.
TESTIMONIALS
"Abby has been the strongest asset my writing process has had. She gets inside the writing and teases out the meaning from it, strengthening through lines and intent. The process of working with Abby has been an easy joy, and I'm a picky bitch. I don't want anyone else's hands on my work."
—Fancy Feast, author of NAKED
"So many times on my journey to publication I would tell other writers how lucky I felt to be working with Abby. I really felt like she got the spirit and the intention of my book in ways many others didn’t. Her editorial vision was so clear and incisive in all the best ways, and she set high expectations while giving me as a writer the exact feedback and support I needed to meet them."
—Zoë Bossiere, author of CACTUS COUNTRY
"Abby's detailed editorial letters covered everything from plot, character, and prose to how to better incorporate backstory, knowing exactly which issues needed attention and what questions to ask to make me dig deeper. Working with Abby was having an encouraging, wise, and committed partner who could see my vision and knew how to guide me through the murkiest waters."
—Jennifer Savran Kelly, author of ENDPAPERS
"Abby has a gift for looking at a whole manuscript and seeing it as a system of moving parts, and thereby identifying precisely what needs to be fixed on a mechanical level. She is an extremely involved, hands-on editor, and the greatest joy of the whole writing process was going back and forth with her in the Track Changes comments. She is such a funny, engaged reader, and I felt newly excited about my novel when seeing it through her eyes."
—James Frankie Thomas, author of IDLEWILD
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Self-employed
I am excited to focus my energy fully on working with authors to develop, hone, and polish their writing.
Abrams Books
I acquired and edited trade nonfiction and fiction books, working with authors to develop, hone, and polish their projects through multiple rounds of feedback, including intensive line edits and detailed editorial letters.
I worked most frequently on literary and upmarket fiction, memoir, and
popular narrative nonfiction on science/history/culture topics. I am passionate about promoting queer voices, particularly with trans, nonbinary, and/or sapphic perspectives.
Algonquin Books
I acquired and edited fiction and narrative nonfiction, building my own list and working with executive editors. I also screened submissions for the Publisher & Editorial Director, submitted books for book awards, proofread all public-facing copy, and worked on a range of administrative tasks that gave me an excellent bird's-eye view for the holistic publication process.
Portfolio
