Carolyn Haley

Carolyn Haley – Editor

Fiction editor across genres, working with indie and traditional authors and publishers. Special interest in aviation and equestrian novels.

Overview

Fiction is my passion—as editor, writer, reader, reviewer, contest judge—and helping authors with their novels, novellas, and short stories is the best job in the world.


I came to it unconventionally, via two converging pathways: document production for corporate publishers, and personal art/writing/reading. Both channels exposed me to weirdly wide knowledge and experience. They met in the middle in 2006, when I hung out my freelance shingle. Since then I have edited novels for major traditional publishers, such as Penguin/Berkley/NAL, HarperCollins, and Little, Brown; and indie authors seeking either traditional publishing or self-publishing their books. I work with seasoned pros and first-timers, and all skill levels in between.


The range and diversity of my two-channel experience—subjects from equines to aircraft, genres from romance to steampunk—let me help authors in any fictional realm transform their ideas into stories aimed at the readership they desire.


All stories share the need for mechanical “housekeeping” after the developmental work has been done. I specialize in preserving each author’s unique voice and vision while attending to the four C’s: clarity, consistency, choreography, and comprehension. These translate into content and copy editing. Their purpose is to hone writing craft and story craft to avoid readers going “huh?” and stumbling out of the story.


Through direct experience publishing my own novels, coupled with indirect experience sharing the publishing journey with clients, I’ve learned the ropes from dream and first draft to prize-winning success. I look forward to joining you on your own publishing journey!


In addition to the categories shown elsewhere in my listing, I have a special interest in novels involving:

* Aviation

* Autosports

* Animals, especially horses

* Westerns (historical and modern)


Currently booking projects for 4Q 2023 and onward.

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Coming of Age Fantasy Historical Fiction Mystery & Crime New Adult Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Grand Prize Winner, Chanticleer Book Reviews 2015 Paranormal Fiction Award
  • 2nd Place, West Houston RWA 2019 Emily Award
  • 3rd Place, Feathered Quill Book Awards, 2022 Animal-Adult Category
Certifications
  • Copyediting & Proofreading (Fairfield University)
  • BA equivalent in English/Communications, from work experience and independent study (ongoing)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2006 — Present

Full-service editorial company helping authors and publishers in fiction and select nonfiction. Clients range from new indie authors to large publishing houses and university presses; also special-interest and university alumni magazines.

Vermont Country Store

Jan, 2000 — Dec, 2005 (almost 6 years)

Copyediting and proofreading, copywriting, page production, and scheduling for the Creative Department of a catalog retailer.

New England Business Journals

Jan, 1998 — Dec, 2000 (almost 3 years)

Copyediting and proofreading, copywriting, and typesetting for a B2B regional newspaper:

Self-employed

Jun, 1993 — Dec, 1997 (over 4 years)

Editing and desktop publishing support for large and small companies and publishers, and independent authors. This was the birth of what would later become my company, DocuMania.

Consultech Communications

Jan, 1989 — May, 1993 (over 4 years)

Copyeditor and compositor for a marketing and direct mail start-up firm serving high-tech companies and publishers.

General Electric

Feb, 1987 — Jan, 1989 (almost 2 years)

Edited, proofread, typeset, and converted all materials in the in the publishing division at GE headquarters.

Portfolio

Trails of Smoke

Liimatainen

The Linkage

Stebbins

Darkness stirs in a world that is ill-equipped to confront it. A prophesied king is born, but not all will benefit from his foretold conquests. In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure, a mere slave, draws the attention of much mor... read more
Vol. l contains seventeen adventure filled short tales about pioneers traveling across the American West in the nineteenth-century to settle the vast continent and the dangers and issues they confronted and overcame. The stories are as varied as the pioneer’s ... read more
Nearly a decade after his service in the Civil War, Francis Hakey is drawn into a world of darkness he can scarcely imagine unfolding in the peaceful landscape of northwestern Vermont. Still troubled by his memories of the war, he confronts a far greater evil ... read more
The Strawberry Field, the story of two sisters: Beth, projecting warmth and caring, a luminous smile; and Alyssa, wickedly mean, rumored to practice sadomasochism. Beth’s husband, Raymond, sees himself as the suave, ultimate, sexually desired specimen. Alyssa ... read more
"Gorgeous, fiercely intelligent, deeply honest, and incredibly entertaining." ---Anne LamottAnna has always been a risk-taker and a free spirit, but now she is raising a young daughter on her own and she has to play it safe. Her twenty-something neighbor with ... read more
Julia spends her days with the dead. This makes sense because she is the first female death investigator for the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office. She has worked hard to become a forensic artist, recreating faces from only bones. Julia faces new challenges n... read more
Get a taste of justice in the first mystery in national bestselling author Kylie Logan’s Chili Cook-Off series! Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships—well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest ... read more
Tucked away in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York is the charming town of Gracious Grove, where time moves slowly, gossip spreads quickly, and the scones are to die for… When her fashionable Manhattan restaurant goes under, Sophie Taylor retreats to h... read more
The Girl of Fire and Thorns meets The Queen of the Tearling in this thrilling fantasy standalone about one girl’s unexpected rise to power.Freya was never meant to be queen. Twenty-third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and wou... read more
Alvin Baylor's life is not turning out as expected.He was tasting glory as a cyber-athlete, until scandal ended his career. Now he spends his days at a dead-end job in a constant hangover haze. And with the North America of 2117 fractured into corporate territ... read more
This new fantasy-adventure series from N. D. Wilson, bestselling author of 100 Cupboards, pits a misfit twelve-year-old against a maniacal villain with a deadly vendetta. This one-of-a kind story is must read for fans of Brandon Mull and Soman Chainani, and th... read more

Carolyn has 28 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Frank T.

Frank T.

Aug, 2023

A throughly professional editor. Painstakingly worked her way through the novel, providing insight above what is expected. My second novel working with Carolyn, I highly recommend her you will not be disappointed.
Carolyn H.
Thanks for the kind words. It takes two to make a successful project, and working with Frank has shown the value of a good fit between author and editor.
Layne F.

Layne F.

Aug, 2023

My father, a pilot, wrote a book detailing his experiences during the Vietnam era. While I had taken it as far as my abilities allowed, I recognized its potential for significant improvement. This realization prompted me to explore the possibility of hiring an editor to finalize it. My intention was to enhance the grammar, spelling, and overall presentation of the manuscript. Having an account ...
Read more
Steve W.

Steve W.

Apr, 2023

Carolyn has been a positive influence and has offered not only technical and editorial assistance but also encouragement. I don’t recall seeing that in the Reedsy job description and it was a welcome aspect to a rookie author. I had to rate her at five stars because there was no six star option.
Steve W.

Steve W.

Mar, 2023

Carolyn has been punctual, informative and pleasant at each phase of my project. She has helped me turn my manuscript into something I will be proud to publish.
Brandon L.

Brandon L.

Feb, 2023

Carolyn was great. She read my manuscript with care and provided helpful feedback on ways to improve it.

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