Angela Capovani Bochenek – Editor

ABOUT ME:

Hi! I’m Angela—a freelance editor specializing in horror, thrillers, and dark fiction.

My editing has helped bring books to readers that have earned real recognition: Goodreads' staff-curated 'Most Anticipated' selections, features in CrimeReads, Scream Magazine, and Horror DNA, a Chicago Literary Hall of Fame selection, and two starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. Getting to see books I've edited succeed in national distribution affirms both my purpose in the field and the approach I bring to my work.

I approach every book with a philosophy of creative partnership. My method centers on preserving the author's unique natural voice while sharpening clarity, rhythm, readability, and consistency. As a voracious reader, I approach each project with deep engagement, tracking the subtler challenges of editing, such as plot continuity. Whether line editing or copy editing, I’m meticulous about the book’s mechanics.

Throughout the process, I'm thoughtful about how I deliver feedback, explaining the "why" behind my suggestions to cheer the author along the way. My goal is always to help the author put their best foot forward and highlight qualities they may not even recognize.

WHAT SETS ME APART:

With an academic and clinical background in medicine, I'm able to identify and correct anatomical and medical inaccuracies. This skill has proven especially valuable in horror and psychological thrillers, as well as any book involving injury, postmortem details, or any aspect of anatomy and physiology. I’m a research nerd and fact-checker who is always happy to deepen the process and get things right.

This willingness to lean into darker, stranger territory gives me an edge in the current market boom of body horror, experimental narratives, the rising niche of "weird girl lit," and feminist horror. I love books that ask uncomfortable questions or feature complex, flawed, or deliberately unlikeable characters. I believe this is oftentimes where the most powerful stories live.

In all my work, I prioritize the author’s comfort and the reader's experience. I look forward to collaborating with you.

AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

“Thank you to Angela for the skilled copyediting and running a scalpel through some of the more gruesome scenes with a medical professional eye."

–Michael J. Seidlinger, Author of ANYBODY HOME? and ON SUBMISSION

"I've had a blast working with Angela a few times in the last year, both as an author and a fellow editor. She is a prodigy of syntax and morphology with a wide knowledge of traditional style guides and stylistic flexibility. Her medical background and dark sense of humor bring a unique (and cutthroat) flair to horror."

–Caroline Macon Fleischer, Author of THE ROOMMATE and A PLAY ABOUT A CURSE

"Angela has not only worked on many CLASH Books offering content, line, and copy editing, but also worked on my own book because I value her skillset so much. A true professional with thought and care for every line in every book."

–Christoph Paul, Editor in Chief of CLASH Books