Alex Messina-Schultheis - Editor
Children's book editor with experience in editing and content creation, passionate about championing people's stories—and writing her own.
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Overview
I'm an experienced editor with seven years (and counting!) of experience working with children's books within the publishing industry. I've worked on titles ranging from board books to young adult novels. I've also worked on licensed titles with brands and organizations like the Smithsonian, the Jane Goodall Institute, PBS Kids, John Deere, and more.
I have gained extensive knowledge of how the publishing world works and have developed and sustained relationships with industry professionals across the board from fellow editors, art directors, marketing professionals, freelancers, agents, etc., whom have all helped improve my knowledge of our industry.
I have an undergraduate degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and a master's degree in writing and publishing. I have worked as a production editor as well as a traditional editor. Both roles have taught me the ins and outs of book production and manuscript development.
While my experience is in editing, my first love will always be writing. I understand the trials and tribulations that can come from trying to get words on to the page, to get your story out in the world. I'm no stranger to writer's block and the insecurities that can come from being vulnerable enough to share things through writing. It's this empathy for being an artist that I believe makes me a good editor because I understand the writing process from the inside.
I would be honored to help a future client in anyway I can. My professional experience lies within children's books, but my interest and heart extend to many adult genres as well.
I'm available for manuscript critique, development, and/or editing, as well as proofreading, query writing help or critique, editing and/or proofreading of non-manuscript materials (academic papers, articles, shorter works of fiction, résumés, etc.,), and ghost writing. If you have a project you feel doesn't fall under one of these categories, please reach out and ask about it. I would love to talk to you about your next creative endeavor and wish you much luck getting it out in the world.
I have gained extensive knowledge of how the publishing world works and have developed and sustained relationships with industry professionals across the board from fellow editors, art directors, marketing professionals, freelancers, agents, etc., whom have all helped improve my knowledge of our industry.
I have an undergraduate degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and a master's degree in writing and publishing. I have worked as a production editor as well as a traditional editor. Both roles have taught me the ins and outs of book production and manuscript development.
While my experience is in editing, my first love will always be writing. I understand the trials and tribulations that can come from trying to get words on to the page, to get your story out in the world. I'm no stranger to writer's block and the insecurities that can come from being vulnerable enough to share things through writing. It's this empathy for being an artist that I believe makes me a good editor because I understand the writing process from the inside.
I would be honored to help a future client in anyway I can. My professional experience lies within children's books, but my interest and heart extend to many adult genres as well.
I'm available for manuscript critique, development, and/or editing, as well as proofreading, query writing help or critique, editing and/or proofreading of non-manuscript materials (academic papers, articles, shorter works of fiction, résumés, etc.,), and ghost writing. If you have a project you feel doesn't fall under one of these categories, please reach out and ask about it. I would love to talk to you about your next creative endeavor and wish you much luck getting it out in the world.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Sex & Relationships
Fiction
Holiday
LGBTQ Fiction
Middle Grade
Picture Books
Romance
Young Adult
Certifications
- Basic Manuscript Editing from University of Chicago
- Project Management course from University of Chicago
Work experience
Editor
Independent Publisher
October, 2018
–
Present
(over 3 years)
Production Editor
Albert Whitman & Company
July, 2015
–
September, 2018
(about 3 years)
Marketing Intern
Albert Whitman & Company
October, 2014
–
July, 2015
(9 months)
Portfolio (24 selected works)
Let's Go to Our Zoo (Smithsonian Kids)
Cottage Door Press, Thea Feldman
Preschoolers will learn fun facts in this Smithsonian Kids book about some of the animals in our zoo. This interactive board book is sturdy enough for the most enthusiastic little explorer, with interactive features such as sliding tabs, spinner wheels, and lift-a-flaps to build fine motor skills. Beautiful illustrations with real-life photos bring the animals to life. It’s a perfect way to ge... read more
Forest: Touch & Feel (Lamaze Activity Books)
Cottage Door Press, Rose Colombe
Let's explore in the forest with Lamaze! Play with sensory features in this sturdy board book for your curious baby and toddler. Touch, feel, trace, and talk about the creatures of the forest. Smell the raccoon's spruce tree, touch the owl's feathers, feel the bears sticky honey, say hello to the beavers and feel their lodge and touch the moose's antlers! Bright, bold illustrations and pattern... read more
A Little Fox
Rosalee Wren, Cottage Door Press
A Little Fox follows a day in the life of...a little fox! Little ones will learn all about the baby fox. What do they do when they are born? How and what do they eat? When they start to grow they learn more than twenty call sounds to their friends! When the sun sets they nuzzle together, wrap their busy tails around each other and drift off to sleep. Mixing sweet illustrations with interesting... read more
The Night Before Christmas
Cottage Door Press, Clement Clarke Moore
"Twas the night before Christmas..." Join us in this beautifully illustrated telling of the classic Christmas story. This large storybook features thicker pages to allow for reading over and over again without traditional wear and tear, making it a holiday keepsake for years to come. Share a holiday moment and celebrate the season with your child. Listening and talking with your child sends a ... read more
Dreamy Dress-up (Colorforms Activity Books)
Cottage Door Press, Rufus Downy
Dress up together with Colorforms that "stick like magic"! Explore different dress-up scenes together and use the Colorforms to create new, exciting stories together. Stick the pieces again and again for endless mix-and-match fun!Use more than 50 Colorforms for tons of possibilities!Colorful scenes are perfect for creative funCarry along handle is perfect for little hands on the goOfficially l... read more
Splash! Splash-tastic Under the Sea Sounds (Early Bird Sound Books 5 Button)
Carmen Crowe, Cottage Door Press
Explore the enchantingly bubbly underwater world of mermaid, Sirena “Splash” Splashytail! Young readers will be whisked away on an aquatic adventure through the vibrant kingdom accompanied by Splash and her lovable sea pals; Coral the narwhal and Squirt the jellyfish. Follow along the story by pushing the corresponding audio buttons to play sounds as you tour the kingdom and meet new friends! ... read more
Let's Go!
Cottage Door Press, Carmen Crowe
Let's spend a day learning about things that go! Listen to the sounds with each of the four buttons as you read the story, and lift the flaps to reveal special surprises. Curious toddlers can help find all of our busy friends on the move, and the pages and flaps are perfect for little hands. A bonus activity is a perfect way to end our adventure!Sturdy flaps perfect for small hands encourage e... read more
Silly Animal Stories: Spin-a-Story (Early Bird Learning)
Cottage Door Press, Rosie Winget
Let's create some silly animal stories together! Spin the wheel to create a new, fun story every time you pick up this book. Read along together as every page has a new story, and spin to fill in the blanks. Who helped bake cupcakes at the bakery? Who does the chores on the pirate ship? Who discovered treasure under the sea? Only the spinner can tell! Fill-in-the-blanks stories on each spread ... read more
I Love You More (Love You Always)
Cottage Door Press, Scarlett Wing
I love you more! Sentiments of unconditional love are important in storytime. Snuggle up and remind each other how much you care. Sweet animal characters are used in place of people, to be any race, gender, or age. Collect all the books in the Love You Always series from Cottage Door Press. 10 board pages are just right for even the littlest "readers" Snuggle up and remind each other how much ... read more
Butterflies and Moths (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books)
Scarlett Wing, Cottage Door Press
Want to learn all about Butterflies? Then come touch, read, and discover all about butterflies and moths with your toddler and Smithsonian Kids! Embossed textures and bright, detailed photographs from Smithsonian are sure to engage, entertain, and educate your curious Preschooler or Kindergartner. Special embossed textures help engage in both verbal and tactile learning skills. Learn about the... read more
Trains Then and Now (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books)
Scarlett Wing, Cottage Door Press
Does your little one love trains? Then come touch, read, and discover all about trains and their history with your toddler and Smithsonian Kids! Embossed textures and bright, detailed photographs from Smithsonian are sure to engage, entertain, and educate your curious Preschooler or Kindergartner. Special embossed textures help engage in both verbal and tactile learning skills. Learn about the... read more
T.REX from Head to Tail (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books)
Cottage Door Press, Patrica J. Murphy
Touch, read, and discover all about the incredible T.rex with your toddler and Smithsonian Kids! Featuring special embossing to highlight fun facts about these "kings of the dinosaurs," this book engages both verbal and tactile learning skills. Embossed textures and bright, detailed photographs and renderings from Smithsonian are sure to engage, entertain, and educate your curious toddler.Embo... read more
100 Dinosaur and Prehistoric Words to Know (Smithsonian Kids)
Cottage Door Press, Scarlett Wing
The world is full of wonderful words to learn so let's get started with prehistoric animals! Learn 100 prehistoric words the Smithsonian way! Curious kids and their curious grown-ups will love to explore these pages full of Smithsonian treasures. This amazing book contains 100 dinosaur and prehistoric words to spark curious young minds - all inspired by the collections found within the walls o... read more
The Spy with the Red Balloon (The Balloonmakers Book 2)
Katherine Locke
Siblings Ilse and Wolf hide a deep secret in their blood: with it, they can work magic. And the government just found out.Blackmailed into service during World War II, Ilse lends her magic to America's newest weapon, the atom bomb, while Wolf goes behind enemy lines to sabotage Germany's nuclear program. It's a dangerous mission, but if Hitler were to create the bomb first, the results would b... read more
Ignite the Stars
Maura Milan
Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cōcha is a seventeen-year-old girl. A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age ... read more
I Used to Be Famous
Becky Cattie, Tara Luebbe
Kiely's been famous her entire life, but when a baby sister appears on the scene, she feels like a has-been. Now Kiely has to figure out how to gain back the attention of her adoring fans (her family), even if it means sharing the spotlight.
Lumber Jills: The Unsung Heroines of World War II
Alexandra Davis
In World War II, Great Britain needed lumber to make planes, ships, and even newspapers—but there weren’t enough men to cut down the trees. Enter the fearless Lumber Jills! These young women may not have had much woodcutting experience, but they each had two hands willing to work and one stout heart, and they came together to do their part. Discover this lyrical story of home front heroism and... read more
A little-known but fascinating and larger-than-life character, Mary Fields is one of the unsung, trailblazing African American women who helped settle the American West. A former slave, Fields became the first African American woman stagecoach driver in 1895, when, in her 60s, she beat out all the cowboys applying for the job by being the fastest to hitch a team of six horses. She won the dang... read more
Queen Charlotte brought her family's festive holiday yule bough from Germany to England. While planning a Christmas Day party in 1800 at Windsor Castle for over 100 children, she realized a single bough isn't enough. So she brought in the whole tree instead, making it the first known Christmas Tree in England. This story tells a little known fact about a favorite holiday tradition.
There’s a new cop on the scene with a nose for justice, and his name is Detective Paw of the Law! He's an old dog, which is why he leaves all the new tricks up to his partner, Patrol Officer Prickles, a young officer with all the latest police gadgets! In The Case of the Piggy's Bank, Paw and Prickles are called to the scene of Piggy's Bank, where all the money has vanished! Can Paw and Prickl... read more
Glow
Megan E. Bryant
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017 SelectionLydia is thrilled to join the working girls in the factory, where they paint luminous watch dials for the soldiers fighting in World War I. In the future, these girls will be known as the tragic Radium Girls: factory workers not only poisoned by the glowing paint, but who also had to fight against men who knew of the paint's deadly effect. One hundred... read more
A Treasury to Read With Grandma
Cottage Door Press
A Treasury to Read with Grandma is a beautifully illustrated treasury with over 80 stories to share. From traditional favorites like The Three Billy Goats Gruff and the Ugly Duckling to new tales, this treasury is perfect for reading together or for children to read to themselves.
A Treasury to Read With Mommy
Cottage Door Press
A Treasury to Read with Mommy is a beautifully illustrated treasury with over 80 stories to share. From traditional favorites like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jack and the Beanstalk to new tales, this treasury is perfect for reading together or for children to read to themselves.
Bedtime Stories is a beautifully illustrated collection of thirty classic tales you and your children will treasure.
Alex has 23 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
I selected Alex to help me with a children's book project. She provided me with an editorial assessment and a copyedited version of my manuscript. Both contained a wealth of great information, insight, and edits. I utilized many of her thoughts and edits and applied them to my story. The value was very good and her pricing was also good and fair. I would absolutely hire Alex again for the same ...
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Jonah Keith Young, April 2022
Thank you, Alex! You exceeded all expectations and it was a pleasure working with you!
Melanie Boyle, March 2022
Reply from Alex Messina-Schultheis
Alex put my mind at ease during this whole process. She was not only knowledgeable and super helpful with my edits, she made me feel comfortable. This was my first time sending out any sort of manuscript to be edited and her personality was exactly the one I needed!
Mel Steinbrecher, March 2022
Reply from Alex Messina-Schultheis
Her comments on the project were very helpful and the project was completed on time as promised.
amanda stogsdill, March 2022
Reply from Alex Messina-Schultheis
Alex was delightful to work with! Positive, a great communicator, and her feedback was clear, specific and very comprehensive. I'd 100% recommend her!
Tanya Lee, January 2022
Reply from Alex Messina-Schultheis
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