Chelsey Emmelhainz – Editor

Hi there! I’ve been editing books for over 15 years. I got my start in editorial at HarperCollins with William Morrow and Avon Books before eventually moving to other NYC independent presses. For the last several years, I worked as a literary agent, helping authors prepare projects and sell them to publishers. Currently, I'm a faculty member of Manuscript Academy, an online platform providing writers with expert instruction, personalized feedback, and community.

As an editor, I’ve worked on projects that crossed the literary landscape: from Amish romance to upmarket thrillers and everything in between. Yet my true passion lies in helping authors refine their narratives to create compelling stories. I’m devoted to working alongside authors to polish their work into commercial projects aimed at catching the eye of editors and publishers.

Client Testimonials

Damien Angelica Walters, author of THE DEAD GIRLS CLUB

“Chelsey has a gift for not only finding ways to make the existing text of a manuscript better, but she also spots what’s not there and should be. She helped me take the bones of a story and add flesh, turning it from a dog-eared concept to a proper novel. I learned so much while working with her.”

USA Today bestselling author LS Hawker

“Chelsey is like a skilled archaeologist. She dives into that digging and then carefully, painstakingly brushes away the dirt and debris and pulls forth the heart of your manuscript. I credit her editing as the rocket that propelled my debut novel onto the USA Today bestseller list. Do yourself and your manuscript a favor. Hire this woman.”

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray

“I found Chelsey to not only be an insightful editor, but a positive and professional advocate. Every author needs an editor like Chelsey. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work on ten books with her.”

Andy Davidson, author of IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN

“Editing is an art, and Chelsey Emmelhainz is an artist. It was a pleasure and an education to work with her on In the Valley of the Sun. Her feedback and guidance challenged me to be a better writer. She’ll always be the standard to which I hold professional editors.”