Adam Rosen - Editor
Asheville, United States
Scholarly and nonfiction editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital and print publishing. Reader advocate and prose polisher.
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Overview
I'm a freelance developmental editor, copy editor, and proofreader who has worked on the editorial side of print and online publishing since 2008. Before I became a full-time freelancer, I held in-house positions at HarperCollins, Oxford University Press, and Soomo Learning. I'm also a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course, the six-week publishing certificate program administered through the Columbia University School of Journalism. I'd love to help make your writing stronger.
As a freelancer, I've edited or proofread the following authors: historian and PEN America member Scott Donaldson (The Paris Husband, a biography of Hadley Hemingway); UNC–Greensboro professor Andrea Hunter (forthcoming collection of personal essays about growing up in the South); German film journalist Philipp Koenig (English translation of Hollywood critique Luck & Disasters); National Indie Excellence Book Award-winner Thomas Burchfield (the novel Butchertown); author of the bestselling Unofficial Guides series Bob Sehlinger (Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas); and others.
I began my career at the late, great Collins nonfiction imprint of HarperCollins, where I worked directly under the publisher on mass-market titles including Bill Russell’s memoir Red and Me; CNN correspondent Suzanne Simons’s profile of Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, Master of War; Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s The Hidden Life of Deer; and the Sarah Palin–inspired humor title Terminatrix.
I moved into scholarly publishing in 2009. As an associate editor at Oxford University Press, I commissioned and edited contributions to the press’s flagship online references, Oxford Biblical Studies Online, Oxford Islamic Studies Online, and the Oxford African American Studies Center, a collaboration with Harvard University’s W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute.
In 2012, I left New York City for Asheville, North Carolina, where for four years I worked as an editor and course designer at Soomo Learning, an independent online educational publisher. At Soomo, I created interactive digital anthologies in early and modern world literature and international development from scratch.
For the past decade I’ve been moonlighting as a journalist and essayist. Some of the places I’ve contributed to include, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Wilson Quarterly, the Awl, Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, Literary Hub, the Baltimore Sun, the Onion, JSTORY Daily, and the Forward. I contributed an essay on pulp literature to the 2013 book Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino’s Masterpiece (Voyageur Press), and I've authored five titles for Open Road Integrated Media's condensed e-books imprint Worth Books (2016).
I’m proficient in Chicago, MLA, and AP styles, and I’m conversant in Adobe InDesign.
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Management
Education & Reference
History
Politics & Current Affairs
Sports & outdoor recreation
Fiction
Classics
Humor & Comedy
Certifications
- Columbia Publishing Course
Work experience
Editor-Owner
Self-employed
August, 2016
–
Present
(almost 2 years)
I provide developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting services for independent authors and nonfiction and fiction book publishers. Publishing houses I've worked with include AdventureKEEN, Columbia University Press, Apollo Publishers, and Simply Charly Books.
Development Editor
Soomo Learning
July, 2012
–
August, 2016
(about 4 years)
• Developed and managed the following interactive online humanities anthologies: Early World Literature, Modern World Literature, and Understanding Development
• Commissioned magazine feature-style commentaries, managed academic advisory board, and supervised acquisitions for Early World Literature reference
• Curated and acquired excerpts from diverse articles and publications, including New York Times-bestselling books, for inclusion in Understanding Development reference
Associate Editor
Oxford University Press
June, 2009
–
June, 2012
(about 3 years)
• Acquired and edited contributions to Oxford’s flagship online reference titles: Oxford Islamic Studies Online, Oxford Biblical Studies Online, and the Oxford African American Studies Center, a collaboration with Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Research Institute
• Managed Oxford African American Studies Center homepage
• Created and commissioned bimonthly photo essays for Oxford African American Studies Center
focusing on black history and culture
Editorial Assistant
HarperCollins Publishers
April, 2008
–
Present
(about 10 years)
• Evaluated agent-submitted nonfiction book proposals
• Worked directly under Collins imprint publisher to provide editorial support for the following nonfiction books: Bill Russell’s memoir Red and Me; CNN correspondent Suzanne Simons’s profile of Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, Master of War; Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s The Hidden Life of Deer; and the Sarah Palin–inspired humor title Terminatrix
Portfolio (7 selected works)
Weddings scheduled around a college football team’s bye week. Children taken out of school on Fridays so their family can attend away games. Public officials who win or lose elections based on their college affiliation. Welcome to life in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the most fanatical family in college football, if not all of college sports. In the fall of 2014, self-professed Notre Dam... read more
The Wolf at the Door: Undue Influence and Elder Financial Abuse
Michael Hackard
In THE WOLF AT THE DOOR, veteran California attorney and elder financial abuse writer Michael Hackard draws from forty years of legal experience to advise families, caregivers, and professionals who work with seniors what elder financial abuse is, how to identify it, and—most importantly—what to do if abuse is suspected. As the baby boomer generation rapidly ages into retirement, elder financi... read more
So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Alexander Hamilton tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Ron Chernow’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow includes: Historical contextChapter-by-cha... read more
When Pulp Fiction was released in theaters in 1994, it was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. The New York Times called it a “triumphant, cleverly disorienting journey,” and thirty-one-year-old Quentin Tarantino, with just three feature films to his name, became a sensation: the next great American director. Nearly twenty years later, those who proclaimed Pulp Fiction an instant classic have... read more
Butchertown
Thomas Burchfield
Paul Bacon, ex-Navy boxer and fun-loving, Jazz-Age fashion plate, moved to 1920s California for the endless sunshine, oranges, and bright, white beaches. But all he finds is loneliness and misery in the chilly, fog-choked canyons of San Francisco.One night, homesick and miserable, he meets, and falls for, Molly Carver, a mysterious beauty who lures him on a romantic weekend escapade across the... read more
North Carolina Adventure Weekends: Best Outdoor Getaways
Jessie Johnson, Matt Schneider
North Carolina Adventure Weekends makes it easy for campers, hikers, cyclists, paddlers, and climbers to plan weekend after weekend of memorable outdoor trips. It’s written for both novice and experienced adventurers who enjoy―or aspire to enjoy―a variety of outdoor pursuits but don’t have time to spend hours researching the best destinations or can’t get away for a long trip. Most outdoors en... read more
Mount Shasta: A Guide to Climbing, Skiing, and Exploring California's Premier Mountain
Andy Selters, Michael Zanger
Mt. Shasta is California s premier, stand-alone, 14,000-foot mountain— with the largest and longest glaciers in the state. Along with Washington s Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta is one of the two most prominent large mountains in the contiguous United States. Shasta is sought after by so many climbers and skiers nationwide because it offers such a wide variety of routes, especially moderate ones for ... read more
Adam has 6 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
I hired a content editor expecting some high-level guidance on structure, organisation, and whether the book generally made sense. And I got that. But with Adam, I *also* got an insane level of attention to details like individual word use, potential ambiguities in the language, and a general thoughtfulness about the future reader's experience when encountering this material for the first ti...
Read moreRob Fitzpatrick, April 2018
I appreciate the kind words, Rob, and I'm very happy to hear that I exceeded your expectations. It was a pleasure working with you!
Reply from Adam Rosen
Adam is prompt and thorough, and I would highly recommend him as a development editor. His feedback was valuable and helped me iron out subtle aspects of my work into a good final draft.
Read moreApoorva Mittal, March 2018
Thank you, Apoorva! The feeling is mutual. It was a pleasure collaborating with you.
Reply from Adam Rosen
Throughout the process, Adam was great, very professional and communicative. His copy edits were easy to follow and very helpful. Definitely strengthened my work.
Read moreDean Lampros, February 2018
Adam is the best freelancer you will find. If you're like I was about a month ago, you are looking at the vast swamp of possible freelancers trying to figure out who to go with. They all seem great, yes, but I did the legwork for you. I vetted several people before committing to an editor for my non-fiction piece and Adam was clearly the best choice. He responds to all of your questions and com...
Read moreCameron Kawato, November 2017
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