April Gardner

April Gardner – Editor

I'm an award-winning author and experienced editor certified through UCSD.

Overview

Veteran line and copyeditor with six years experience consistently delivering highly accurate and
error-free work. Reliable fiction editor, specializing in historical, contemporary, and Christian genres.
Award-winning independent author of seven full-length novels.

SKILLS
Experience in all aspects of publishing industry
Swift, clear communicator
Fluent in Spanish
Strong work ethic
Meets deadlines
Sensitive to client emotions
Creatively solves problem
Delicate delivery of editorial comments
Social media management
Encourager
Dogged after the perfect sentence
Specializes in period voice
Meticulous
Highly imaginative
Dependable
Strongly spiritual
Services
Fiction
Christian Fiction Historical Fiction Paranormal Romance Romance
Non-Fiction
Christian Non-Fiction Inspirational
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Grace Award, historical fiction, 2011
  • Selah Award, middle grade fiction, 2012
Certifications
  • Copyediting Certification, UCSD

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2012 — Present

I'm the award-winning author of seven novels, the wife of a lovable 20-year airman, and the mother of two very special teenagers. My identity, however, is in Jesus, the lover and savior of my soul. My aim is to glorify Him in all things, which includes giving the best of myself to each client. A firm believer in excellence, I strive for stellar work on every project.

My editor-client relationship strengths include quick communication, dependability with deadlines, and open and friendly dialogue. A certified copyeditor, I'm well-versed in Chicago Manual of Style, and I have seven years experience editing fiction.

WHAT DO I OFFER?

While I understand the ins and outs of the humble comma and all its buddies, crafting the perfect sentence is my great passion. During a line edit, my primary focus is language and its most effective use to communicate mood and story. Fluidity, clarity, and efficiency are my cuppa, and I pour tirelessly over every word to achieve each of those. My secondary goal is to educate and encourage and to provide my clients with confidence and know-how they can use in their future projects.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN EDIT?

In a line edit, I draw attention to the following:

Extraneous or overused words
Comma splices and fused sentences
Redundancies and wordiness
Poor transitions and disrupted flow
Confusing or ill-timed action
Showing versus telling
Tonal slips and any element that taints intended mood
Awkward phrasing
Bland or cliche words and idioms
Pacing
Convoluted or slow narrative
Weak organization
Deviation from POV
Strong scene endings

DO I CHECK FOR GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION?

A copyedit includes corrections in grammar, punctuation, syntax, consistency in spelling, numerals, fonts, and capitalization. Correcting those is not my objective. Some editors chose to copyedit in conjunction with a line edit, but in the manuscript's best interest, I believe they should be done separately. Line edits are messy business, and until the red ink from a line edit has been cleared away, the document is often too cluttered to make for an effective copyedit.

DO I OFFER COPYEDITING SERVICES?

Unfortunately, at this time, I do not. That said, when you hire me, you are getting both a line editor and a copyeditor who will never intentionally pass up a misspelled word or missing hyphen. I do not, however, let myself become distracted by them. The sentence takes priority.

Portfolio

FORBIDDEN LOVEPaul Fischer's a plain man with big dreams and an even bigger problem—gaining his uncle's approval. He's just settled on how to accomplish that while maintaining loyalty to his family and heritage, when a beautiful Englischer shows up threatening... read more
When World War II breaks out, Miriam’s fiancé, Henry, is drafted and sent to a conscientious objector camp. But when Henry feels called to fight on the front lines, he goes against the Amish church to follow God’s will—forcing Miriam to choose between the rule... read more
Never tamper with a magic mirror...When prim and proper enchantress Lady Alexandria attempts to bewitch a magic mirror, she ends up cursed—powerless, penniless, dumped in a strange land, and stuck in the body of an old hag.As if that weren’t bad enough, the mi... read more
A prodigal, a sinner, and a saint… Three people. One God of grace.John Douglas thought he knew the future God had for him--raise a family and grow old with his bride, Hannah. But then a deadly house fire incinerates his faith, destroying the man he’d been. Wor... read more
Dr. Steven Moore is known nationally for saving lives. If only he could save his own. Unable to deal with his prognosis, he retreats to a happier time in his past--to the woman who once stole his heart.Four years after the death of her beloved husband, booksto... read more
He will fight for her at any cost...Elizabeth Roberts can't remember her past, and the present is too painful. She turns to nightclubs and drinking to forget her infant daughter's death, her husband's affair.When his wife's coma wiped out the memory of their m... read more
Falsify

Kerri Nelson

After one too many tangles with trouble, fifteen-year-old Tina Tolliver has been sentenced to spend the summer in Truth, Texas with her grandmother. Being an only child from Los Angeles, Tina finds life in a small town intolerable. But when she meets sexy, bad... read more
Darien Oceina is the youngest son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Water. For years he's loved and cherished Tai Dawson from afar. Tai is a simple, ordinary girl who doesn't even know Darien exists. On his eighteenth birthday, he chooses her as his wife. But th... read more
Emma has been busy organizing her older brother’s lovelife but now Noah plans to turn the tables on his meddlesome match-making sister. But is Ian the best man for this very particular bridesmaid?
Kienna loves dressing up her clients in beautiful gowns at the bridal shop where she works but she doesn't believe in fairytale weddings or happily ever afters. After all, her prince turned out to be a frog, and her divorce broke her heart. So when she realize... read more

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