Brigitte Lee Messenger - Editor
Nottingham, UK
I've worked as a translator and currently work as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader in academic and independent publishing.
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Overview
I'm a freelance copyeditor and proofreader based in Nottingham, UK, with over 25 years' experience working in publishing, both in-house and as an independent. I've co-written travel guides and phrase books for Berlitz and have recently published with Jack Messenger an invaluable guide for new writers, Copyediting for Indie Authors. I've worked on a wide range of humanities and reference titles for major academic publishers including Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons and CUP. I also provide editorial services to independent authors to help refine their ideas and sharpen their presentation. I specialize in general and literary fiction, biographies, art, cinema and reference. I graduated from Oxford University in Classics and Modern Languages and lived and worked in France for many years. I love learning languages, teaching English as a foreign language, reading and films. For a sample list of specific projects, please see my portfolio below.
Services
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Humanities & Social Sciences
Art
History
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Education & Reference
Travel
Fiction
Literary Fiction
Short Story
Young Adult
Certifications
- BA Hons Classics and Modern Languages
- Postgraduate Diploma in Technical Translation (French, Italian, Russian)
Work experience
Editor, translator, proofreader
Self-employed
May, 1992
–
Present
(over 27 years)
Currently working as a freelance editorial project manager, copyeditor and proofreader with experience in academic publishing, translation editing, language teaching and fiction.
Editorial manager
Berlitz
May, 1991
–
May, 1992
(about 1 year)
Editorial manager with responsibility for revising and updating travel guides and phrase books in numerous languages
Editor
Wiley Blackwell
May, 1989
–
May, 1991
(about 2 years)
Editorial project management, editorial assessment, scheduling, language and style editing for major academic publisher Blackwell (now Wiley Blackwell), working on humanities, classics and arts projects.
Editorial manager
Oxprint
May, 1987
–
May, 1989
(about 2 years)
Editorial management, scheduling, proofing and layout in a typesetting and design studio specializing in educational materials.
Portfolio (24 selected works)
Copyediting for Indie Authors: A How-to Guide of Ten Top Tips to Save Time and Money and Make Your Book Look Professionally Copyedited
Jack Messenger, Brigitte Lee Messenger
As a thank you for reading our book, there is a free link to two more top tips!Here’s what these successful authors have said about our Ten Top Tips:‘Indispensable! Oh how I wish I had these ten tips when I was copyediting and formatting my novel. Trust me, I’m going to keep this slender document with my dictionary and thesaurus right next to my computer.’ Ginger Bensman, author of To Swim Ben... read more
Four American Tales
Jack Messenger
Secrets. Money. Love. Death. Sometimes they’re hard to tell apart.Four American Tales describes a world of hopes and fears on the far side of the American Dream, in a quartet of evocative stories about love and loss, struggle and ambition from the 1950s to the present day.‘Wichega’ is an atmospheric tale of childhood’s dreams and nightmares: when Sweet Pea and her family move far away, is it r... read more
Farewell Olympus
Jack Messenger
A long, hot summer in the capital of the world. When a patron of the arts named Serge loans him a luxurious penthouse apartment in central Paris, Howard can’t believe his luck. Now he can live cheaply while he translates articles for shortlived websites and doomed art journals nobody reads. And he’ll have more time to devote to his inscrutable French girlfriend, Delphine, a trainee lawyer.Then... read more
Onions
Cy Young
Onions has just been sent to his 16th foster home, Despondent, he steals the purse of Sandrine, a retired circus performer. Instead of turning him in to the police, Sandrine enlists the boy in her fight against City Hall. In the process, Onions learns the importance of reading, having a worthwhile life-goal, and how to play the trumpet, his ultimate redemption. Sandrine is a strong role-model ... read more
Reading the Modern European Novel since 1900 (Reading the Novel)
Daniel R. Schwarz
Reading the European Novel to 1900 (Reading the Novel)
Daniel R. Schwarz
Literary Biography - An Introduction
Michael Benton
Literary Biography
Berlitz: Berlin Pocket Guide (Berlitz Pocket Guides)
APA Publications Limited
This fully revised and updated Berlitz Pocket Guide is all you need to enjoy Berlin. Major attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Neue Nationalgalerie are explored within colour-coded sections, enabling ease of use and full colour fold-out maps provide instant orientation. Travel tips cover vocabulary, accommodation and much more.
Drawing the Line THE FIRST POPULAR HISTORY OF THE MAKING OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE The Mason-Dixon line-surely the most famous surveyors' line ever drawn-represents one of the greatest and most difficult scientific achievements of its time. But behind this significant triumph is a thrilling story, one that has thus far eluded both historians and surveyors. Full description
A History of American Literature
Richard Gray
The Life of William Wordsworth: A Critical Biography
John Worthen
Great reading copy with no writing or marks present on the inside of the book. No highlighting. No notes. Excellent fresh clean copy.
A History of Greek Art
Mark D. Stansbury-O′Donnell
A History of Roman Art by Steven L. Tuck (2015-01-27)
Steven L. Tuck
Brigitte has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
While I am still new to this work I have had some experience with copy editors and proof readers. Brigitte made the experience easy because she worked to my deadline taking a good deal of pressure off. Direct and honest and the outcome was spot on. I certainly hope to work with her again.
David Tollafield, May 2019
Reply from Brigitte Lee Messenger
A very thorough proofreader, who completed the job swiftly and at a fair price. Would highly recommend!
Matt Browne, May 2019
Brigitte's notes and adjustments turned an average book into a much more professional read. She was very helpful, encouraging and a pleasure to work with.
Nigel Openshaw, March 2019
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