C. S. Lakin

C. S. Lakin - Editor

Grass Valley, CA, USA

I'm a published author of 30 books and work full-time as a professional copyeditor and writing coach, specializing in manuscript critiques.

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Overview

With nearly thirty years of experience as a novelist and a decade of editing, coaching, and teaching writers the craft of fiction, I've developed a team of excellent editors—all novelists—who have the needed experience and wisdom to help authors of any genre write and polish and publish their novels. Many are traditionally published as well as self-published.

I provide not just full and complete editing services—from developmental editing to proofreading—I also have an established reputation for critiquing manuscripts for authors. I average more than 200 partial and complete manuscript critiques a year, and have expanded my critique services to include a number of highly experienced editor/authors who specialize in writing and critiquing novels in specific genres. I match authors with the best editors—for either a critique or a content edit—overseeing the work done and fielding questions.

Many of my clients have seen their novels top the best-seller lists, win prestigious awards, and be made into feature films, and their testimonials can be read on her website Live Write Thrive. My rates are affordable, well within industry averages. My writing craft books in The Writer's Toolbox Series help writers become proficient, successful authors.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Christian Non-Fiction
Psychology
Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Picture Books
Romance
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Young Adult

Awards

  • Award-winning blog for writers (many sources)
  • Award-winning novelist - Someone to Blame, winner of the Zondervan First Novel Contest

Work experience

Freelance Copyeditor and Writing Coach

Self-employed
October, 2010 – Present (over 12 years)

With nearly thirty years of experience as a novelist and a decade of editing, coaching, and teaching writers the craft of fiction, I've developed a team of excellent editors—all novelists—who have the needed experience and wisdom to help authors of any genre write and polish and publish their novels. Many are traditionally published as well as self-published.

I specialize in manuscript critiques, doing more than two hundred a year. I also edit, critique, and proofread for literary agents and publishers.

Portfolio (10 selected works)

The Viagra Diaries

Barbara Rose Brooker

THE NOVEL THAT PROVES THERE’S PLENTY OF LIFE— AND HOT SEX—AFTER SIXTY! Just because Anny Applebaum qualifies for a senior discount doesn’t mean she’s ready for retirement. But if she wants to keep her job at the San Francisco Times, she’ll have to find a way to spice up her lifestyle column. Even if it means posting her profile as an eligible single on JDate .com. Sure, Anny’s a little out of ... read more

THE NOVEL THAT PROVES THERE’S PLENTY OF LIFE— AND HOT SEX—AFTER SIXTY! Just because Anny Applebaum qualifies for a senior discount doesn’t mean she’s ready for retirement. But if she wants to keep her job at the San Francisco Times, she’ll have to find a way to spice up her lifestyle column. Even if it means posting her profile as an eligible single on JDate .com. Sure, Anny’s a little out of ... read more

Breathe

Elena Dillon

Reviews of Breathe:" think this is the first YA, thriller, suspense that I’ve ever read and let me say, Dillon has hit a homerun with it. She nailed the voices of the teens and I loved the interaction of Jasmine and her younger siblings. This was a book that I stayed up way too late to finish and boy was I glad I did. Can’t wait to read the sequel Shimmer.""Great quick read that really gets yo... read more

Reviews of Breathe:" think this is the first YA, thriller, suspense that I’ve ever read and let me say, Dillon has hit a homerun with it. She nailed the voices of the teens and I loved the interaction of Jasmine and her younger siblings. This was a book that I stayed up way too late to finish and boy was I glad I did. Can’t wait to read the sequel Shimmer.""Great quick read that really gets yo... read more

Syncing Forward

W. Lawrence

1st Place for 2015 Feathered Quill Award, Science Fiction/FantasyBest Narrator, Fiction, for 2016 Voice Arts Awards, audiobook versionFinalist in the 2014 Book Pipeline Contest---Travel to the future - it will only cost you everyone you love.--Attacked and injected with a drug which slows his metabolism to a fraction of normal, Martin James becomes an unwilling time traveler who hurtles throug... read more

1st Place for 2015 Feathered Quill Award, Science Fiction/FantasyBest Narrator, Fiction, for 2016 Voice Arts Awards, audiobook versionFinalist in the 2014 Book Pipeline Contest---Travel to the future - it will only cost you everyone you love.--Attacked and injected with a drug which slows his metabolism to a fraction of normal, Martin James becomes an unwilling time traveler who hurtles throug... read more

Abducted to Kill: Terror Regime: The rewritten, revised CSP Fiction Book of the Year.

Pola Muzyka

A young man struggles to guard and sustain his love for God, his fiancee, and his family when faced with the brutality of Sharia law.This is the first volume of ABDUCTED TO KILL. Please read the conclusion--Volume II--in order to enjoy the complete story. In this volume--Volume I, Terror Regime--Joseph observes the changes in his family when his father decides to return to his country of birth... read more

A young man struggles to guard and sustain his love for God, his fiancee, and his family when faced with the brutality of Sharia law.This is the first volume of ABDUCTED TO KILL. Please read the conclusion--Volume II--in order to enjoy the complete story. In this volume--Volume I, Terror Regime--Joseph observes the changes in his family when his father decides to return to his country of birth... read more

Twisted Wolf

Perry Perrett

What if the most upright person stumbles? Oh, and what if that person is a decorated war hero and the President of the United States? And, in the process of attempting to conceal his marital mistake, finds himself accused of treason and murder?Josh Davis suffers a devastating tragedy while home on military leave. TrustingGod for strength, he triumphs, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor. ... read more

What if the most upright person stumbles? Oh, and what if that person is a decorated war hero and the President of the United States? And, in the process of attempting to conceal his marital mistake, finds himself accused of treason and murder?Josh Davis suffers a devastating tragedy while home on military leave. TrustingGod for strength, he triumphs, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor. ... read more

Scattered Links

Michelle Weidenbenner

FIRST-PLACE WINNER in the KINDLE BOOK PROMOSGOLD Medal WINNER in the 2014 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AWARDSBRONZE Medal winner in Dan Poytner's Global eBook AwardsCAPTIVATING!SCATTERED LINKS takes you down the street of nearly any Eastern European town, arm-in-arm with the orphaned. Michelle has captured the beauty and horror millions of children live everyday. The attention to detail is ... read more

FIRST-PLACE WINNER in the KINDLE BOOK PROMOSGOLD Medal WINNER in the 2014 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AWARDSBRONZE Medal winner in Dan Poytner's Global eBook AwardsCAPTIVATING!SCATTERED LINKS takes you down the street of nearly any Eastern European town, arm-in-arm with the orphaned. Michelle has captured the beauty and horror millions of children live everyday. The attention to detail is ... read more

Payne & Misery (A Christine Sterling Mystery) (The Christine Sterling Mystery Trilogy)

Catherine Leggitt

All that glitters is not gold for Christine Sterling. The luster of her shiny Golden Years dream fades when Christine's newly retired husband, Jesse, becomes obsessed with a hobby requiring extra time away from her. Christine develops a bad reputation for conjuring wild tales and being chief complainer. Then she meets someone who has true reason to complain, if anyone does. Lila Payne's life i... read more

All that glitters is not gold for Christine Sterling. The luster of her shiny Golden Years dream fades when Christine's newly retired husband, Jesse, becomes obsessed with a hobby requiring extra time away from her. Christine develops a bad reputation for conjuring wild tales and being chief complainer. Then she meets someone who has true reason to complain, if anyone does. Lila Payne's life i... read more

String Bridge (The Bell Collection)

Jessica Bell

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. Ho... read more

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. Ho... read more

I Won't Cry (Book 2) (Jaylen and Jessica)

Shaquanda Dalton

From Best Selling Author of "When Love Hurts" comes part 2 of the dramatic love story.Jessica has survived her abusive relationship with Chris, but now she's pregnant with his child. After being thrown out of his apartment and being left homeless, Jessica is determined to keep her independence from him. Even if it means being temporarily dependent on her two best friends Jaylen and his brother... read more

From Best Selling Author of "When Love Hurts" comes part 2 of the dramatic love story.Jessica has survived her abusive relationship with Chris, but now she's pregnant with his child. After being thrown out of his apartment and being left homeless, Jessica is determined to keep her independence from him. Even if it means being temporarily dependent on her two best friends Jaylen and his brother... read more

H2O the Novel (The Eternal Elements)

Austin W Boyd, Brannon Hollingsworth

H2O is a contemporary crossover women’s novel that tells the story of Kate Pepper, a successful young business woman in Seattle whose life is suddenly—and strangely—turned upside down. Unexplainable visions torment her every time she gets wet. Sinking into despair, frantic to avoid water at any cost, Kate ultimately finds romance and redemption through the advice of simple people who love her ... read more

H2O is a contemporary crossover women’s novel that tells the story of Kate Pepper, a successful young business woman in Seattle whose life is suddenly—and strangely—turned upside down. Unexplainable visions torment her every time she gets wet. Sinking into despair, frantic to avoid water at any cost, Kate ultimately finds romance and redemption through the advice of simple people who love her ... read more

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