Overview

I am a freelance editor who has worked in the publishing industry for twenty years. I have worked in-house on award-winning children's and adult fiction and nonfiction and now assist authors with self-publishing. My service is attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. My career began in 1998 with a small children's press. We later branched out into literary and crime fiction. Our crime imprint was very successful, winning Canada's top crime fiction honor several times. Our children's fiction was shortlisted for many awards. Upon the sale of that company to Dundurn Press, I continued in my senior editor role before starting to work freelance in 2013. My knowledge extends to every area of the publishing process.

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Proofreading

Query Letter Review

Fiction

Fantasy Historical Fiction Mystery & Crime Science Fiction Young Adult

Non-Fiction

History Music

Languages

English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Editor

Self-employed, freelance editor

Jul, 2013 — Present

Self-employed. I supply full editorial and self-publishing book production services, including content editing, copy editing, manuscript evaluation, proofreading and consulting on submissions packages, query letters and self-publishing.

Senior Editor

Dundurn Press

Mar, 2011 — Jul, 2013 (over 2 years)

Senior editor of fiction and nonfiction; acquisitions editor. I was responsible for signing a number of successful books and authors, as well as my daily duties of editing up to 20 books per year.

Editor/Associate Publisher

Napoleon & Company

Apr, 1998 — Feb, 2011 (almost 13 years)

Editor of children's and adult fiction; acquisitions editor and book production. As part of a three-person team, I was responsible for signing new authors, editing all stages of their work, assisting in layout and design and even handling some of the tasks of marketing and publicity. This gave me insight on all aspects of the publishing industry, from a book's conception to its place on the bookstore shelf.

Portfolio

Strange Way to Live: A Story of Rock 'n' Roll Resurrection

Carl D.

Carl Dixon’s journey through the twists and turns of a music performer’s life began in Northern Ontario, where his boyhood dreams, shaped by the 1960s, collided with a new musical culture. Though Carl’s road was rocky, it was still paved with gold. It has led ... read more

The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden: The Night Flyer's Handbook

Philippa D.

Gwendolyn Golden has a bad temper and hates to read. She's a pretty normal teenager until … one morning she wakes up on the ceiling. Along with her many average teenage qualities, Gwendolyn Golden can also fly. What’s happening to her?

Prisoners of Hope: An Amanda Doucette Mystery

Barbara F.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Georgian Bay, Amanda Doucette finds herself drawn into the world of exploited foreign workers when she meets a Filipino nanny accused of murdering her wealthy employer.

The Greater Fool: A Novel

Joseph H.

Real-estate hotshot Reynard Xavier has it all: fantastically wealthy; an enviable professional reputation; the trappings of power and privilege. But he's also deeply flawed, narcissistic, and delusional.As his addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex spiral out of... read more

Mother of Mars (Mars Ascendant Book 2)

D.M. P.

An ageless menace lurks on the surface of Mars...An unscrupulous industrialist seeks to control it...One woman was bred to destroy it...In the twenty-third century the descendants of the original Mars colonies struggle to retain their independence from the Ter... read more

Shaman Express

Beretta R.

Shaman Express is a provocative and deeply humorous novel about the dangers of pursuing enlightenment. A depressed divorcée and a recovering addict are both at a crossroads in their lives. They barely know each other but decide to embark together on a journey ... read more

Rise: A Blood Inheritance Novel

M. A.

When Amanda Garrett stumbles across a strange artifact in the woods, she has no idea of the dangerous secret it holds. The teen soon discovers that she has unwittingly released Erol, an imprisoned jinni, and whether she likes it or not, they are bound together... read more

Alone At War

A. M.

In a war-torn French town on the Western Front during the First World War, Sara, at fourteen, is left alone to take care of her nine-year old sister when her mother dies of the flu. Forced to feign madness after abuse, she struggles to maintain her sanity and ... read more

A Warrior's Sacrifice

Ross W.

Human. Outsider. Traitor.Corwin Shura does not belong. After his family is killed playing both sides of the war that rages across the face of Earth, he is taken in by the very people who orphaned him.Now, with his own soldiers to lead, Corwin is thrust back on... read more

Learn Your Guitar Chords: Chord Charts, Symbols & Shapes Explained (Book + Online Bonus)

Luke Z.

The only chord book you’ll ever need.Why does the world need another guitar chord dictionary? In short, it doesn’t. Chord books are often surprisingly unhelpful in making sense of things. They’re valuable for reference and contain a lot of information, but the... read more

Code Pink

Rachel O.

Flora has finally found the stability she has searched for her entire life: a new career as a nurse, a new condo, and a new boyfriend. Everything seems to be falling into place until she notices a large number of her newborn patients are dying. The only thing ... read more

Azrael (Detective Allira Rose Series Book 1)

M.T. E.

Bronze medal winner - 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards - Suspense/Thriller category.Emily thought her ordeal was over after she escaped a brutal kidnapping. She’s wrong. He’s coming for her again.Azrael has two victims captive on his remote property. To ... read more

Great White Fleet: Celebrating Canada Steamship Lines Passenger Ships

John H.

A richly illustrated story from the glory days of passenger travel on the Great Lakes. For decades Canada Steamship Lines proclaimed itself as the world’s largest transportation company operating on inland waters. Its passenger and freight vessels could be fou... read more

Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI (Stories of Canada)

John W.

Short-listed for the 2009 Red Maple Award for Non-Fiction, OLA Forest of Reading and commended for the 2009 OLA Best Bets This book presents the story and issues of the First World War in a clear, concise and objective manner, accompanied on every page by phot... read more

Cold Girl: A B.C. Blues Crime Novel

R.M. G.

2017 Arthur Ellis Award, Best First Novel — Shortlisted2014 Unhanged Arthur Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel — WinnerIt’s too cold to go missing in northern B.C., as a mismatched team of investigators battle the clock while the disappearances add u... read more

Metal on Ice: Tales from Canada's Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Heroes

Sean K.

A musical genre as tough and hard as the Canadian Shield. Canada has produced many successful proponents of the genre known as heavy metal, which grew out of the hard rock of the 1970s, exploded commercially in the 1980s, and then petered out in the 1990s as g... read more

Red Wolf

Jennifer D.

Life is changing for Canada's Anishnaabek Nation and for the wolf packs that share their territory. In the late 1800s, both Native people and wolves are being forced from the land. Starving and lonely, an orphaned timber wolf is befriended by a boy named Red W... read more

The Night Has Teeth (The Magdeburg Trilogy) (Volume 1)

Kat K.

Best Book for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book CentreWinner, 34th Atlantic Writing Competition****/4, Highly Recommended. "Kruger creates an imaginary but entirely believable world where ordinary citizens and werewolves co-exist." -- CM Magazine"I daresa... read more

Trumpets Sound No More: An Inspector Endersby Mystery

Jon R.

Winner of the 2008 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel In 1840, the theatre world in London is shocked by the brutal killing of one of its youngest and most successful entrepreneurs, bludgeoned in his house. The discovery of a contentious theatre contract,... read more

Allister has 170 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Elaine S.

May, 2023

Working with Allister was a pleasure! His professionalism and kindness are to be praised. He edited my book "The Children of Allura," polishing the narrative without changing my voice as an author. His comments and explanations were quite helpful. Thank you so much for the outstanding collaboration and I am looking forward to working with you in the future!

Edith F.

May, 2023

I was impressed with the in-depth assessment that Allister provided. He focused on everything I'd written, including added research and questioning plausible scenarios. The assessment was more than I'd expected and gave me plenty of direction/suggestions for further expression. I am left feeling encouraged and look forward to continuing my novel.

Mikhail G.

Apr, 2023

Allister is a pleasure to work with. His edit was extremely thorough and clear and took the book to the next level. His professionalism is exceptional, and his communication was always punctual and to the point. I would highly recommend Allister and would gladly hire him again.

Sarah S.

Mar, 2023

Allister has edited multiple books from me. He is extremely knowledgeable, communicative, and always a pleasure to work with!

Murray H.