Anne-Marie Rutella – Editor

I am a copy editor with over twenty years of experience in publishing. I have copy edited for Harlequin, HarperCollins, Avon, Carina Press, Ravenous Romance, The Reading List, and Kirkus Editorial as well as directly with writers. Some authors I've edited are Mike Chen, Christine Rimmer, Susan Mallery, Marie Force, and Adam Carpenter.

When working on your manuscript I follow the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. I am reliable, thorough, and precise in English usage. I understand and am sensitive to the issues faced by copy editors working within the context of an author's style. I do my best to preserve and enhance your voice. I work with Track Changes activated - it is your manuscript and you have the final say always. I make great use of the comments feature and will always query or flag anything questionable. I love working directly with authors to polish their work to industry standards before submitting to agents and publishers or self-publishing.

In the romance area, I can't get enough of a paranormal romance, especially a good shifter or vampire story! Contemporary, romantasy, dark romance, romantic suspense, historical, and rom-coms are most definitely in my wheelhouse. Sports romance is one of my specialties as well. And I never shy away from a good erotica story. I also adore a good holiday story - any holiday!!

In the historical fiction arena, I just love a good Regency, Celtic / Irish story, or Viking-era England settings and feel these in my blood. I find Neolithic, Paleolithic, Ice Age, or any prehistoric setting in any area of the world highly interesting, especially if it combines modern times and prehistory via archeology, time travel, or some other unique way.

Some of the science fiction / fantasy subgenres I enjoy working on are space opera, space Western, dirty space, and UFO/conspiracy. Dystopian and postapocalyptic stories, while not the escapism they once were (!), are still fun and thrilling. Urban, paranormal, steampunk, and epic fantasies are favorites to work on. I also love a good horror story. In my free time I play Dungeons & Dragons (roll for initiative!) so any sword & sorcery medieval adventures are going to get my attention, as well.

I hope to work with you soon. Stay well.