Bob Holtzman

Bob Holtzman – Editor

Careful, insightful editing for your how-to, outdoor sports, boating or other nonfiction work. From editorial assessment to copyedits.

Overview

Award-winning (really) editor with >25 years’ experience editing for consumer, professional, technical and juvenile audiences. I'll edit your nonfiction project at any stage and for any need, from a big-picture editorial assessment to content- and copy-editing. I work primarily in how-to, outdoor sports, boating, adventure/historical narrative and many technical subjects, and I've "translated" several titles from British English to American English. No fiction, spiritual/religious or self-help, but feel free to query for other genres and topics.

As the editor of more than sixty books and the author of seven, I can help make your manuscript correct, readable, enjoyable, and marketable to publishers and the public.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs DIY & Crafts History Nature Sports & Outdoors Technology Transportation Travel Writing & Publishing
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • National Outdoor Book Award, "How To" category
  • Children's Africana Book Award
  • Storytelling World Honor

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2008 — Present

• Provide content-, line- and copy-editing services for publishers, including Wild Fibers magazine, Quid Publishing, Down East Books, Sellers Publishing, individual authors.
• Write books, feature articles, websites, social media content, collateral materials.
• Three complete book manuscripts written, delivered on-time for international publication: The Field Guide to Knots (2015), The Camping Bible (2013), Wilderness Survival Skills (2012).
• Offer full marketing services to authors, including: websites, social media page setup and campaign management, proposal review.

McGraw-Hill Companies

Nov, 2004 — Mar, 2008 (over 3 years)

• Acquire and edit 20 titles annually for International Marine (boating) and Ragged Mountain Press (outdoor sports) imprints.
• Review book proposals for project viability, considering following criteria: market demand; sales of related and competing titles; author's expertise, platform and writing ability; art program; subsidiary rights; profit/loss analysis; publisher's strategic objectives.
• Negotiate publishing agreements with authors, literary agents, and foreign publishers.
• Edit manuscripts as needed: developmental, content, and line editing.
• Signed 52 publishing agreements, totaling $4.9 million in projected 3-year sales.

Moon Mountain Publishing

Jan, 1999 — Oct, 2004 (over 5 years)

• Created editorial program for new children’s book publisher; established guidelines, acquired manuscripts.
• Developmental, line, and copy editing, proofreading.
• Produced sales collateral, trade show exhibits, special events; managed publicity through outside suppliers and direct media contact.

Portfolio

A visual reference to the mathematics of sports. Any definition of sport begins with the term "physical". Motion, power, energy and momentum are the driving forces of physics, and numbers govern all sports. People and objects move in lines and curves, geometry... read more
Discover what lies behind these and many more popular legends, urban myths and old wives’ tales: Elephants are afraid of miceIt’s bad luck to change a boat’s nameBaby snakes are more poisonous than adultsMen have one less rib than womenIt can be too cold to sn... read more
Expert advice on staying safe in the outdoors from one of America’s best-known survival writers The best way to survive an extreme situation in the wilderness is to avoid it in the first place, says Rich Johnson in this refreshing new guide to outdoor survival... read more
Ride faster, fitter, smarter, & farther Every road rider has goals. Yours may be to begin racing, to become more competitive, or to win a specific tour. Not interested in racing? Perhaps you want to complete your first century ride, improve your overall fitnes... read more
“A great starting point for the woman who wants to live the cruising life.”--SAIL The cruising life offers adventure, exotic destinations, and expansive opportunities for personal growth. But considering such a life leads to vexing questions: What do I need to... read more
The first comprehensive book on stripbuilding almost any type of small boat Strip-planking is a popular method of amateur boat construction, but until now there has never been a book that showed how to use it for more than one type of boat. Author Nick Schade ... read more
The Secret Alliances Between History's Most Notorious Buccaneers and Colonial America Was classical piracy an earlier version of state-sponsored terrorism? Here's the story of how almost every well-known buccaneer of the “Golden Age of Piracy” enjoyed active s... read more
Weekend trip or extended adventure, traveling by foot, bike, boat, or car, get the basics under your belt with The Camping Bible and enjoy a risk-free excursion, whatever the weather. Covering all aspects of camping for all types of terrain?"mountains or plain... read more
Wilderness Survival Skills is an outdoor survival guide that utilizes the most popular and versatile tool carried by every hiker, camper and hunter: the knife.It provides you with the essential information and life-saving techniques for all survival situations... read more
A Fasten-ating Guide to Knots for Every Adventure! The perfect knot can make any job quicker, easier, and safer—whether you need to build a shelter, tether a horse, rappel down a cliff, or moor a boat. In The Field Guide to Knots, veteran outdoorsman Bob Holtz... read more
An outdoor survival guide that utilizes two of the most popular and versatile tools carried by many hikers, campers, and hunters: knives and axes. Each chapter presents the knife or axe skills and activities essential for wilderness survival, including: using ... read more
The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies recounts the history of a sport that dates back 2,000 years, focusing on milestone flies from the first feathered hook to contemporary patterns using cutting-edge materials. Among the countless fly patterns created ove... read more
Refresh your memory, make new discoveries, and quiz yourself on facts you once learned and may have long forgotten?just pick up this handy reference to have all the answers at your fingertips. Wish you were that person who could answer any question? Can?t find... read more
The insights and wisdom of the late, great boat designer and builder Renowned as one of the last and best of the old-time boatbuilders, Captain R. D.“Pete” Culler provided a guiding light for the wooden boat revival in the 1970s. His designs are classic melds ... read more
The first quick-and-easy composite construction method for canoes and kayaks This book is certain to appeal to any paddler with a DIY bent. Master craftsman Sam Rizzetta presents three attractive innovations: a new building method that makes Kevlar and carbon-... read more
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD FOR INSTRUCTION Have fun and ride safely with advice from this comprehensive biking guide The most comprehensive entry-level guide to mountain biking available, The Complete Mountain Biking Manual covers every aspect o... read more
SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART GUIDE TO THE LATEST, MOST ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES “Ed Sherman is one of America’s great teachers and communicators of marine technology.”--Tim Murphy, Executive Editor, Cruising World Whether ... read more
"The premier guide to modern riding, from one of the sport’s best coaches." --Tim Windell, two-time World Cup co-champion In The Art of Snowboarding, USSA-certified club coach Jim Smith introduces you to the most popular tricks and stunts, including kickers (j... read more
Find Your Way at Sea, No Matter What “Inherently interesting and fun to read . . . provides the clearest understanding of general navigation principles we've seen yet.”--BoatU.S. “Thorough and authoritative.”--Sea Kayaker “A definitive work of instant appeal t... read more
A practical guide to turning your love for boating into money in the bankYou may dream of making your passion for the sport a means for a livelihood. Whether you are looking for new employment possibilities or wanting to remain active in your golden years, Cap... read more
“Mastering these drills will arm your players with one of the biggest intangibles necessary to perform well--confidence.”--Michele Smith Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Fame pitcher Michele Smith throws one right down the middle with this big collec... read more
Make your boat dreams come true with aluminum Aluminum is the ideal boatbuilding material--light, economical, maintenance-free, and easy to work with. This second edition offers you everything you need to know about working with this material, from welding to ... read more
International Marine’s first basic book on marine weather Written by noted meteorologist/sailor Chris Tibbs for the Royal Yachting Association and adapted for the North American market, On-Board Weather Handbook is a full-color, user-friendly introduction to i... read more
More science and less art leads to bigger fish and fewer tales Most anglers rely on advice from fishing buddies or books by well-known but unscientific anglers. Here is a book that distills the science of fish behavior into easy-to-follow advice on how to catc... read more
Here’s Your Guide to Camping Off the Beaten Path Ever feel frustrated by crowded RV parks? Yearn to camp out in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or before a remote panoramic vista? Bill and Jan Moeller have been doing just that for more than thirty ye... read more
Your one-stop guide for saltwater fishing in North America Whether you’re an experienced angler looking to improve your skills or a beginner just discovering the joys of saltwater fishing, this authoritative guide will help you bring in bigger and better fish ... read more
The Diesel Engine Manual for the Rest of Us If you were surprised to learn that your boat’s engine has no spark plugs, you’re not alone. If you’re like the rest of us, you want to know how your engine works and how to keep it working, but you haven’t come acro... read more
Eric Sorensen, a long-time boat tester, is a go-to expert on boat buying J.D. Power & Associates is the number-one authority in customer satisfaction Includes J.D. Powers’ well-known “Power Circle” ratings for dozens of boat brands organized into the six most ... read more
An essential guide to everything you need to stay sheltered, fed, healthy, and safe in the backcountry Organized around the six essentials of survival (shelter, water, food, fire, comfort and health, and navigation), Wilderness Survival Handbook covers 100 ski... read more
Hit the slopes with greater strength, balance, and endurance than ever before Whether you're a weekend warrior or an advanced athlete, Fit to Ski and Snowboard helps you create the ideal conditioning program for your body and your needs. You can do these perso... read more
Dozens of DIY projects to keep your boat looking good and running well This wide-ranging projects book covers maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to improve comfort, utility, appearance, value, safety, and enjoyment of powerboats up to 35 feet long. Projects in... read more
Enjoy gourmet cooking outdoors “Well organized, clearly presented, and highly recommended.”--Field & Stream “Sheila Mills's chicken enchiladas were a tasty crowd pleaser. They required a minimum of ingredients and very little work.”--Cleveland Plain Dealer Wit... read more
Praise for previous titles in the series: Fifty Minerals That Changed the Course of History Interesting, affordable and readable.... Offers the reader an opportunity to delve further into each mineral's historical significance in an accessible way. -- Booklist... read more
All professional touring golfers depend on their caddie to serve as a valuable team member to help them make better decisions and achieve the lowest possible score. This book will provide golfers with insight into competitive preparation and play, course strat... read more
In the Battle of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, the Black Regiment successfully fought off three determined attacks, thus preventing the capture of a large Colonial force. The Black Regiment went on to serve with distinction at Yorktown, establishi... read more
From the acknowledged master of the “instant boat”―tips, techniques, and designs for quick-and-easy plywood boatbuilding Dynamite Payson offers you a new guide to building 15 exciting boats from master designer Phil Bolger. Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite P... read more

Bob has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Tim N.

Tim N.

Oct, 2017

Return customer. Just as professional and perfect as the first time.
Tim N.

Tim N.

Oct, 2017

I can't imagine a better and more professional editor than Bob Hotlzman. I have used many, and he is the best of the bunch. That includes a reasonable price and splendid communication. He flagged a number of things, asked if we wanted him to address them, and offered not just edits but rationale. Consequently, the work was not only done, but done thoughtfully, and we have the highest confidence...
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