Alison Cherry - Editor
Editor with years of experience in contemporary fiction, sci fi, and fantasy. I especially love working on books for kids and teens.
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Overview
I have years of experience doing copy editing and developmental editing, and I can't wait to help you make your writing as clear, beautiful, and effective as it can be! I especially love working on books for kids and teens—I've published nine middle grade and young adult novels of my own, so I'm intimately familiar with the world of children's books. I'm currently employed as a copy editor by ABRAMS, Candlewick, Algonquin, Sourcebooks, and Scholastic, specializing in books for kids and teens, and DAW Books, which specializes in science fiction and fantasy for adults.
If you hire me as a developmental editor, I will write you a thorough edit letter detailing how you can improve your manuscript in ways large and small, from the emotional arcs of your characters and big-picture world building to small continuity issues. This service doesn't include line edits or copy edits—I won't comment on word choice or fix your commas—but I will return your manuscript to you full of margin notes asking smaller and more specific questions that occur to me as I read. If you're looking to tighten up your manuscript, I'm excellent at suggesting cuts. If you have further questions after you've read my initial letter, I'm happy to exchange a few emails with you to brainstorm or clarify.
If you hire me as a copy editor, I'll return your manuscript to you with all spelling, punctuation, and grammar issues corrected in track changes. I won't rewrite sentences for you unless you specifically ask me to, but I’ll suggest ways to rephrase if something is unclear. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster as my style guides.
My superpower is making books shorter—if you're looking for someone to trim unnecessary clauses and streamline your writing, I'm the editor for you. I once cut 40,000 words from a friend's epic fantasy novel without removing any plot points, and I'm ready to help you do the same!
Please reach out if you feel my services could be useful to you! I look forward to seeing what you've written and helping your stories reach a wider audience.
If you hire me as a developmental editor, I will write you a thorough edit letter detailing how you can improve your manuscript in ways large and small, from the emotional arcs of your characters and big-picture world building to small continuity issues. This service doesn't include line edits or copy edits—I won't comment on word choice or fix your commas—but I will return your manuscript to you full of margin notes asking smaller and more specific questions that occur to me as I read. If you're looking to tighten up your manuscript, I'm excellent at suggesting cuts. If you have further questions after you've read my initial letter, I'm happy to exchange a few emails with you to brainstorm or clarify.
If you hire me as a copy editor, I'll return your manuscript to you with all spelling, punctuation, and grammar issues corrected in track changes. I won't rewrite sentences for you unless you specifically ask me to, but I’ll suggest ways to rephrase if something is unclear. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster as my style guides.
My superpower is making books shorter—if you're looking for someone to trim unnecessary clauses and streamline your writing, I'm the editor for you. I once cut 40,000 words from a friend's epic fantasy novel without removing any plot points, and I'm ready to help you do the same!
Please reach out if you feel my services could be useful to you! I look forward to seeing what you've written and helping your stories reach a wider audience.
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Fantasy
LGBTQ Fiction
Middle Grade
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Young Adult
Work experience
Copy editor/proofreader
Algonquin
September, 2019
–
Present
(about 2 years)
I edit books for kids and teens for Algonquin.
Copy editor/proofreader
Candlewick
September, 2019
–
Present
(about 2 years)
I edit books for kids and teens for Candlewick.
Copy editor/proofreader
Sourcebooks
May, 2019
–
Present
(over 2 years)
I edit books for kids and teens for Sourcebooks.
Copy editor/proofreader
ABRAMS
January, 2019
–
Present
(almost 3 years)
I edit books for kids, teens, and adults for ABRAMS.
Copy editor/proofreader
Scholastic
January, 2019
–
Present
(almost 3 years)
I edit primarily books for kids and teens for Scholastic.
Copy editor
DAW Books
January, 2017
–
Present
(almost 5 years)
DAW Books specializes in science fiction and fantasy, so I have extensive experience in those genres!
Developmental editor
Self-employed
January, 2013
–
Present
(almost 9 years)
I've provided freelance developmental editing services on dozens of books for kids, teens, and adults—some of them are listed in my portfolio!
Portfolio (21 selected works)
Spell and Spindle
Michelle Schusterman
Doll Bones meets Splendors and Glooms as a boy who trades bodies with a wooden marionette. . . . The Museum of Peculiar Arts holds many oddities--a mechanical heart, a diary bound in its owner's skin . . . and Penny, a child-size marionette who almost looks alive. Fog clouds Penny's memories from before the museum, but she catches glimpses here and there: a stage, deep red curtains, long-finge... read more
Furyborn (The Empirium Trilogy Book 1)
Claire Legrand
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!"One of the biggest new YA Fantasies." —Entertainment Weekly "Empowering." —BuzzFeed The stunningly original, must-read fantasy of 2018 follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one... read more
Loki: Where Mischief Lies
Mackenzi Lee
This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy a... read more
The Cityborn
Edward Willett
Two young individuals must uncover the dark secrets of their stratified city in this suspenseful sci-fi standaloneThe metal City towers at the center of the mountain-ringed Heartland, standing astride the deep chasm of the Canyon like a malevolent giant, ruled with an iron fist by the First Officer and his Provosts in the name of the semi-mythical Captain. Within its corroding walls lies a str... read more
Archangel (Spectre War Book 2)
Margaret Fortune
Archangel is the second installment of the explosive, pulse-pounding Spectre War science fiction series.An enemy you can’t kill. A soldier who can’t fight. An interstellar war that can’t be won . . . until now. As a soldier of the Celestial Expanse, Guardian First Class Michael Sorenson knows better than anyone that when the Spectres invade, there are only two options. Run or die. However, his... read more
Rocks Fall Everyone Dies
Lindsay Ribar
Twin Peaks meets Stars Hollow in this paranormal suspense novel about a boy who can reach inside people and steal their innermost things—fears, memories, scars, even love—and his family's secret ritual that for centuries has kept the cliff above their small town from collapsing.Aspen Quick has never really worried about how he's affecting people when he steals from them. But this summer he'll ... read more
Lucky Girl
Amanda Maciel
Lucky Girl is an unflinching exploration of beauty, self-worth, and sexual assault, from the author of the acclaimed Tease.Rosie is a beautiful girl—and it’s always been enough. Boys crush on her, men stare at her, girls (begrudgingly) admire her. She’s lucky and she knows it.But it’s the start of a new school year and she begins to realize that she wants to be more. Namely, she’s determined t... read more
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean! (Secrets of Topsea)
Kir Fox, M. Shelley Coats
Welcome to Topsea, the strangest place you'll ever visit. In this town, the coves are bottomless and the pier has no end in sight. There's a high tide and a low tide... and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal-watch out, it might just start chewing you back!New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom ke... read more
Unraveling
Karen Lord
In this standalone fantasy novel by an award-winning author, the dark truth behind a string of unusual murders leads to an otherworldly exploration of spirits, myth, and memory, steeped in Caribbean storytelling. Dr. Miranda Ecouvo, forensic therapist of the City, just helped put a serial killer behind bars. But she soon discovers that her investigation into seven unusual murders is not yet co... read more
Finder
Suzanne Palmer
From Hugo Award-winning debut author Suzanne Palmer comes an action-packed sci-fi caper starring Fergus Ferguson, interstellar repo man and professional finder Fergus Ferguson has been called a lot of names: thief, con artist, repo man. He prefers the term finder. His latest job should be simple. Find the spacecraft Venetia's Sword and steal it back from Arum Gilger, ex-nobleman turned power-h... read more
Minor Prophets
Jimmy Cajoleas
After their mother’s death, two siblings must navigate the strange world of the occult in this thrilling YA mystery Lee has always seen visions: cats that his mother promises aren’t really there, a homeless man who he’s convinced is out to get him, and three men who give him ominous warnings in the woods. His mother and his sister Murphy try to keep him grounded in the real world. But when his... read more
The Sandcastle Empire
Kayla Olson
Before the war, Eden’s life was easy. Then the revolution happened, and everything changed.Now a powerful group called the Wolfpack controls the earth and its resources. And even though Eden has lost everything to them, she refuses to die by their hands. She knows the coordinates to the only neutral ground left in the world, a place called Sanctuary Island, and she is desperate to escape to it... read more
Lightbringer (The Empirium Trilogy)
Claire Legrand
The incredible conclusion to the trilogy that started with the instant New York Times bestsellers Furyborn and Kingsbane!In this epic finale to the Empirium Trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claire Legrand, two queens, separated by a thousand years must face their ultimate destinies. Queen Rielle, pushed away from everything she loves, turns to Corien and his promises of glory. Me... read more
A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed and Morris finalist S. K. Ali Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Mus... read more
The Light in Hidden Places
Sharon Cameron
The extraordinary story of Stefania Podgorska, a Polish teenager who chose bravery and humanity by hiding thirteen Jews in her attic during WWII -- from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sharon Cameron.One knock at the door, and Stefania has a choice to make...It is 1943, and for four years, sixteen-year-old Stefania has been working for the Diamant family in their grocery store in Przemsyl... read more
The Campaign
Sales, Leila, Balacuit, Kim
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss
Parks, Amy Noelle
Where We Go From Here
Rocha, Lucas, Helena, Larissa
Furia
Méndez, Yamile Saied
The Nature of Witches
Griffin, Rachel
Be Dazzled
La Sala, Ryan
Alison has 18 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Working with Alison as a developmental editor has allowed me, without a doubt, to produce a better book. Her insights were sharp and clear; she showed me areas to improve but also complimented what I did right; she took an active interest in how I could develop as an author. This is my first novel so I didn't know quite what to expect. I found that Alison was professional, timely, engaged and...
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Einar Dod, August 2021
Working with Alison was a fantastic experience. She offered me a hybrid line and copy edit package after I described what I was looking for. She was able to start the project and complete it much sooner than her original timeframe, which was a pleasant surprise. I also appreciated the few extra notes Alison left on the document to point out tiny continuity or logic errors that I hadn't caught ...
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Ryan Hoyt, July 2021
Alison helped me through several drafts of a query letter, pointing out something important I'd omitted and helping me organize and wordsmith the rest. She answered all of my questions, was very positive and encouraging, and the end result is much improved. I'd absolutely recommend her!
Sandi Ward, June 2021
Alison offered many great suggestions as to how I could strengthen my query letter. It was a pleasure working with her!
Shannon Hollinger, June 2021
Alison is a fabulous editor! She answered questions promptly and delivered the proofread manuscript early, which is pretty much a dream situation. Her proofread was thorough and even more than I'd hoped. We'd been searching for an editor with expertise in YA so that the slang in the manuscript didn't get edited out, and her handling of this was spot-on. So happy to have found her!
Maya Walker, May 2021
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