Overview
I am a multi-award-winning horror/fantasy/science fiction editor with 26+ years experience at major publishers, small publishers, and freelancing. Career highlights include starting out at Harcourt Canada as a Developmental Editor, moving to Scholastic Canada to become a Senior Editor, running a small spec-fic press for over a decade, then going freelance for several small publishers over many years and many, many books. Winner of the World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, and British Fantasy Award—all for fiction editing. Several novels and short fiction I’ve edited have won or been nominated for the Nebula, Scotiabank Giller, Amazon Canada First Novel, Sunburst, Toronto Book, Shirley Jackson, Theodore Sturgeon, Bram Stoker, and Million Writers Awards.
Recent jobs include copy editing/proofreading Barbara Radecki's MESSENGER 93 for Cormorant books, and Craig Davidson's CASCADE for Knopf Canada. Specialties are horror, science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers, but mystery, crime, and contemporary fiction are also genres in which I have many years of experience. I am also skilled at editorial assessment, having appraised thousands of book submissions in my career.
I believe communication is the most important thing between an author and an editor, so I make myself available for my clients' needs in an extremely timely manner.
TESTIMONIALS:
"My experience working with Brett has exceeded all my expectations of an editor. His changes are many and well described through the comments. As you implement them, you can feel your product turn from a passion project to a professional manuscript. I will definitely ask Brett to edit any and all future manuscripts."
—Anders Lassen
"As long as Brett is working as an editor, he's going to be my guy. He polished and tuned up the grammar and flow in my novel to absolute perfection. I also adapted every single stylistic suggestion that he made. His responses to anything I sent his way in the message board were essentially immediate. My self-serving side feels a bit off giving him such a glowing but honest review because I know it'll take longer until he's available for our next collaboration. There's a reason he's booked so far in advance. His work is that excellent."
—Pat Meehan
"If you think a 'copy edit' can't drastically improve your story, as well as your prose, you have not worked with Brett! I'm a TV writer and showrunner who has worked on some of the most successful network and streaming shows of the last decade and working with Brett on my first novel was an absolute joy. In addition to drastically elevating what I THOUGHT was top-notch writing into actually BEING top-notch writing, he was incredibly supportive and encouraging. Someone you could tell loved writing, loved what he did, and loved helping other writers. There is a very good reason why he is booked for months in advance. . . ."
—Robert Hull
Services
Fiction
Languages
Awards
- World Fantasy Award (2015)
- British Fantasy Award (2013)
- Bram Stoker Award (2000)
Certifications
- Book and Magazine Publishing Certificate (Centennial College)
- CS50 Computer Science Certificate (Harvard University)
Work experience
Self-employed
Created and managed publishing companies, including the acquiring, editing, and proofreading of hundreds of manuscripts • In 2000, received the Bram Stoker Award for superior achievement in editing; a British Fantasy Award came in 2013, with a World Fantasy Award following in 2015 • Several pieces of short fiction I’ve edited have won or been nominated for the Nebula, Theodore Sturgeon, Bram Stoker, and Million Writers Awards • In 2008 and 2020, did proofreading and editing work for Fitzhenry and Whiteside • From 2010 till 2012, wrote book reviews for THE GLOBE AND MAIL, THE NATIONAL POST, and THE TORONTO STAR • Occasional contributor to QUILL AND QUIRE, Canada’s foremost magazine of book news and reviews • Have published three novels, over 50 short stories, two novelettes, and two novellas, including appearances in mass-market anthologies from Penguin and Warner Books
Scholastic Canada
Responsible for editing K–6 fiction and non-fiction early literacy manuscripts and graphic novels, as well as liaising with production department and authors from a project’s start to its finish • Wrote content, copy edited, and proofread all stages of manuscript, ensuring consistent high quality of material • Oversaw contracts and rights • Produced clear and concise art and photo manuscripts • Consistently transmitted material to publishing services on or before deadline • Worked closely with authors to retain solid and beneficial relationships
Harcourt Canada
Responsible for editing K–12 science, social studies, mathematics, and English manuscripts, as well as liaising with production department and authors from a project’s start to its finish • Wrote, content edited, copy edited, and proofread all stages of manuscript, ensuring consistent high quality of material • Produced clear and concise art and photo manuscripts • Consistently transmitted material to publishing services on or before deadline • Produced highly organized curriculum correlation documents • Worked closely with authors to retain solid and beneficial relationships
Portfolio
Brett has 83 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Austin R.
Apr, 2024
Derek R.
Mar, 2024
Matt R.
Mar, 2024
Anders L.
Mar, 2024
Oscar C.
Feb, 2024
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