Anna Bierhaus - Editor
Experienced editor specializing in commercial fiction, romance, women's fiction, thrillers, and literary fiction
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Overview
While working at the literary agency Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (SJGA), I screened thousands of nonfiction proposals, fiction synopses, and manuscripts. So I know how to make a project stand out in the slush pile. After SJGA, I was an Assistant Editor at Oxford University Press specializing in Brain Sciences. I read, organized, and readied the material for our production team. I also scouted writers for Marvel Comics as a Writer-Recruiter. I looked for writers in different mediums and helped them transition into comic writing.
Throughout my time in publishing, I helped authors develop characters, improve pacing and conflict, work through blocks, tackle tricky scenes, punch up dialogue, and make their manuscripts shine. I want to do the same for you. Much of my work experience revolves around reading on behalf of New York publishers and agencies. I know what they look for, and if publishing is your goal, I can help you get there.
Throughout my time in publishing, I helped authors develop characters, improve pacing and conflict, work through blocks, tackle tricky scenes, punch up dialogue, and make their manuscripts shine. I want to do the same for you. Much of my work experience revolves around reading on behalf of New York publishers and agencies. I know what they look for, and if publishing is your goal, I can help you get there.
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Fiction
Action & Adventure
Contemporary Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Mystery & Crime
Romance
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Work experience
Freelance Editor
Self-employed
August, 2013
–
Present
(over 7 years)
Adjunct Professor
New York University
May, 2013
–
August, 2013
(3 months)
Taught Intro to Fiction and Poetry to awesome undergraduates
Grad student earning an MFA in fiction
New York University
September, 2011
–
May, 2013
(over 1 year)
Hertog Fellow
Hunter College
May, 2009
–
May, 2010
(about 1 year)
Writer-Recruiter
Marvel Comics
April, 2008
–
May, 2009
(about 1 year)
Worked part-time at Marvel while I worked full-time at Oxford University Press
*Scouted writers from different mediums—book publishing, television, theater, film—and guided their transitions into writing comic books often through suggesting edits
*Reorganized Marvel’s writing submission process
Assistant Editor
Oxford University Press
April, 2008
–
May, 2009
(about 1 year)
*Assessed potential projects
*Worked with authors on structure
*Transmitted manuscripts to the production team
Assistant / Junior Agent
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates Literary Agency
September, 2003
–
April, 2008
(over 4 years)
*Edited manuscripts and proposals
*Pitched projects
*Negotiated contracts with editors
Portfolio (5 selected works)
In Tune
JN Welsh
A tour manager determined to revitalize her career.The client she can’t stop thinking about.Workplace romance hits the road in this enemies-to-lovers romance from JN Welsh.Luke Anderson needs a manager—fast. His last one quit, leaving his tour and his future in jeopardy. Now instead of focusing on his career, he’s forced to concentrate on damage control. Powerhouse manager Leona Sable is the f... read more
The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
Philip Carlo
Philip Carlo's The Ice Man spent over six weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Top Mob Hitman. Devoted Family Man. Doting Father. For thirty years, Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in American history while happily hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Richard Kuklinski was Sammy the Bull Grava... read more
Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist
Sunil Yapa
A Finalist for the PEN/ Faulkner Awardn Amazon Best Book of the Year A Washington Post Notable Book A Barnes & Noble Discover Pick One of Bustle's "Most Important Books of 2016" Named Most Anticipated Book of the Year in Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, Huffington Post, The Chicago Tribune, BuzzFeed, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Orlando Sentinel, Ploughshares, Bu... read more
NINE KINDS OF NAKED
Tony Vigorito
"As fanciful and inventive in its form... as it is in its observations. It fed tasty crackers to all the hungry parrots in my mental aviary." --TOM ROBBINSJoin cult favorite Tony Vigorito in his acclaimed, surreal whirlwind of a novel exploring chaos theory. A prisoner spins a playing card into a somersault, stirring a whirlwind that becomes a tornado that takes the roof of a church in nearby ... read more
Reign of the Rat
Gil Smolin
A farmer in Nepal notices a sudden rotting of his fingers, rapidly followed by pneumonia... then a horrific death. As a virulent, drug-resistant form of leprosy spreads in a worldwide epidemic, a warring couple sets off on a danger-filled quest for a cure. Their only protection is the mysterious amulet of the Order of St. Lazarus. Their sole hope: to unearth the frozen remains of a medieval co... read more
Anna has 18 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Anna was fantastic! I'm so thrilled with all of her feedback. Especially in catching a character flaw and the surrounding issues that were not picked up by anyone else including myself and which turned out to be a valuable component that could make/break my story. She was also very thorough in all of the necessary elements - characterization, dialogue, plot, pacing, tone, voice, structure, etc...
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Jo-Anne Borlase, April 2021
As first time writers, my husband and I were nervous about choosing the right person to work with on developmental editing, but Anna is spectacular! She provided thorough feedback, pointing out both strengths and challenges, but she also and made insightful recommendations to help us take our writing to the next level while respecting our overall creative vision. It is obvious from her approa...
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Sherry Shimshock, March 2021
Excellent! Perceptive and insightful editorial review and commentary.
Very helpful to improving the final draft of my fourth novel.
Thank you, Anna!
Del Chatterson, March 2021
Anna continues to be my guiding light. As a very new author, I am so grateful to have her insights, ideas and suggestions for improving my work. And she does these things very professionally but also very kindly, recognizing I guess, the fragile ego of the first time author.
I hope someday to have a second novel for her to help me with.
Nancy Keeton, February 2021
I am delighted that I chose Anna Bierhaus to provide an editorial assessment of my 400 page novel. She exceeded my expectations in the detailed analysis of the story plus the in-manuscript edits and comments.
Anna is quick and friendly in responding to questions and delivers her work right on the agreed upon time. She wrote an extensive, thorough letter that honestly examined my manuscript’s ...
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James Parsons, February 2021
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