Allister Thompson

Allister Thompson – Editor

An editor of award-winning fiction and nonfiction with 27 years of devoted experience helping authors bring their projects to fruition.

Overview

I have worked in the publishing industry for twenty-seven years. I have worked in-house on award-winning children's and adult fiction and nonfiction and now also assist authors with self-publishing. My service is attentive, knowledgeable, and known to be friendly and responsive. My career began in 1998 with a small children's press. We later branched out into literary and crime fiction. Our crime fiction 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 a larger one, I continued in my senior editor role before starting to work freelance in 2013. My knowledge extends to every aspect of the publishing process. I am also a long-time fantasy and sci-fi reader, fan, writer, and editor.


Services
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

Self-employed

Jun, 2013 — Present
I run my own editorial services business, of which my happy participation with Reedsy is one important facet.

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.

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

Made with Reedsy
Code Pink

Rachel O'Day

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 notic... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Learn Your Guitar Chords: Chord Charts, Symbols & Shapes Explained (Book + Online Bonus)

Luke Zecchin

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... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
A Warrior's Sacrifice

Ross Winkler

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 orpha... read more
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Alone At War

A. M. Brussel

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 ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Rise: A Blood Inheritance Novel

M. Ainihi

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 impris... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Shaman Express

Beretta Rousseau

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. The... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Mother of Mars (Mars Ascendant Book 2)

D.M. Pruden

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 origi... read more
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Greater Fool: A Novel

Joseph Hannay

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 ... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Strange Way to Live: A Story of Rock 'n' Roll Resurrection

Carl Dixon

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. Tho... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden: The Night Flyer's Handbook

Philippa Dowding

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 Go... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Prisoners of Hope: An Amanda Doucette Mystery

Barbara Fradkin

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 weal... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Azrael (Detective Allira Rose Series Book 1)

M.T. Ellis

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 ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Great White Fleet: Celebrating Canada Steamship Lines Passenger Ships

John Henry

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 operat... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI (Stories of Canada)

John Wilson

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 cl... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Cold Girl: A B.C. Blues Crime Novel

R.M. Greenaway

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 t... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Metal on Ice: Tales from Canada's Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Heroes

Sean Kelly

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, explod... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Red Wolf

Jennifer Dance

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 an... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Night Has Teeth (The Magdeburg Trilogy) (Volume 1)

Kat Kruger

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... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Trumpets Sound No More: An Inspector Endersby Mystery

Jon Redfern

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, bludg... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading

Allister has 213 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Sophie S.

Sophie S.

Mar, 2024

Pinned
This is the third time I've worked with Allister - and it won't be the last! Allister's feedback is an important part of my editing process. His ability to provide insight on problem areas - ones that I've identified myself and ones I haven't! - is unparalleled. I can't recommend Allister enough.
Elizabeth R.

Elizabeth R.

Jul, 2023

Pinned
Allister provides excellent insights and an analytical eye. He brought experienced and professional commentary to my novel and identified matters for consideration that prompted tremendously impactful and helpful revisions. I will absolutely seek to engage Allister to collaborate on my next novel...
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Dianne S.

Dianne S.

Jun, 2023

Pinned
This is the second time that I hired Allister to proofread my mystery books. He is detailed and meticulous in his edits, tightening the writing so it is smooth-flowing and accessible. Furthermore, his anecdotal comments are targeted and concise and improve the quality of the story. I will definit...
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Chee Keen L.

Chee Keen L.

Mar, 2025

This is my 2nd project with Allister and as always he was great to work with. You can freely state your requirements and discuss anything with him, he is very accomodating and friendly. He also meets the deadlines well in advance.
Eugene P.

Eugene P.

Mar, 2025

Allister was responsive, professional, and we were very pleased with the completed product.

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