Cindy Elavsky

Cindy Elavsky – Editor

Editor/proofreader of twenty-five years; I've worked at Hearst and Penguin, specializing in memoirs, paranormal/fantasy, and cozy mysteries.

Overview

"I've worked with Cindy for well over a decade, and her sharp-eyed copy editing professionalism, ability to deliver on time, and thorough vetting of every manuscript I submit her way truly sets her apart. She's a rung above — definitely next-level — and it's my sincerest pleasure to recommend her to anyone needing a copy editing/proofreading partner." —NYT bestselling author Victoria Laurie

"As a traditionally published author (St. Martin’s Press — MacMillan, NY), I was extremely impressed by Cindy’s professionalism, accuracy, and timeliness as an editor. Her editorial skills compare to and may even exceed the skills of top-flight editors I’ve worked with at the major New York publishing houses. She has my highest recommendation. —J. Joaquin Fraxedas

I have been in love with language for as long as I can remember. My 25-year career has always been in publishing — as a copy editor/proofreader and as a supervisor of editors. I love to work one-on-one with authors to help bring their words to life, ensuring that their work is as clean and understandable as possible, which allows them to concentrate on story and creativity. I am an author's ultimate safety net, yet I am also flexible and accommodating of the author's voice.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Travel
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mysteries Epic Fantasy Middle Grade Fantasy Paranormal Romance Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2010 — Present
Freelance book copy editor and proofreader for Penguin Publishing and independent authors, including Victoria Laurie, J. Joaquin Fraxedas, Guy Harvey, Stephen Baxter, Livia J. Washburn, H.B. Bolton, and Barbara Brooke, among many others.

Bonnier Corp. / Firecrown Media

Mar, 2008 — Jul, 2025 (over 17 years)
Sole copy editor for four Bonnier Corp. monthly publications, using AP Style, Chicago Style, InCopy/InDesign, Microsoft Office and the Adobe suite, as well as creating and maintaining companywide stylebook. Managed a team of up to five copy editors, publishing up to 35 magazine titles, including Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Popular Science, Saveur, Salt Water Fisherman, Boating, Garden Design, Scuba Diving, Cruising World and Yachting, among many others.

Portfolio

A Spell to Unbind: Spellbound Book One

Laurie, Victoria

Independently published

Copy Editing Proofreading
Proofreading
A Ghoul's Gotta Do: A Ghost Hunter Mystery

Laurie, Victoria

LAURIE PRESS

Copy Editing Proofreading
Guy Harvey's Underwater World

Harvey, Guy

Stackpole Books

Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Girl Who Kept Breathing

Nesbitt, Misty

Palmetto Publishing

Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
A Firefly in the Dark

Gilliam, Matt

Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Menagerie of Lost Things: Stories

Muzar, Chelsea

Ophelia Drowning Books

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Pale Privileges, Dark Roast

Thayer, Gregory

18th Hemlock Press

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Way Beyond: A Birth Mother's Journey Through Teenage Pregnancy, Adoption, and Faith

Lee, Linda Ruth

Independently published

Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Ultima (Proxima Book 2)

Baxter, Stephen

Ace

Copy Editing
War of the Wildlands

Axe, Lana

AxeLord Publications

Copy Editing Proofreading
Glimmers

Brooke, Barbara

Copy Editing Proofreading
The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus Book 1)

Bolton, H.B.

Amazon Digital Services

Copy Editing Proofreading

Cindy has 33 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Nancy M.

Nancy M.

Jul, 2026

Pinned
Cindy copyedited the first book in my cozy mystery series, and I am hiring her for the rest of it. What sets her apart is her ability to distinguish between an error and a choice. Where my phrasing was simply wrong, she fixed it. Where it was voice, she asked — and she asked in a way that made c...
Read more
Cindy E.
Wow, Nancy, I thought I would have to attend my own funeral to hear someone talk about me this way!! It was such a pleasure to work on this with you, and I can’t wait to tackle the rest of the series.
Dr. Reuben F.

Dr. Reuben F.

Apr, 2026

Pinned
Cindy is the consummate professional. She singlehandedly elevated the quality of my memoir while meticulously preserving the integrity of my voice. Her mastery of the English language and CMOS guidelines is matched only by her collaborative spirit; I felt supported at every step and became a bett...
Read more
Cindy E.
Thank you, Doc! It was a pleasure to work on your memoir, and I feel privileged that you trusted me with your story. I hope for only great things for this book!
Kim M.

Kim M.

Feb, 2026

Pinned
I have been a professional freelance writer for more than 30 years, so I have high expectations. I understand how to win business and deliver results. Cindy provided A++ service. She was professional and responsive, met the deadlines (delivering early in one instance) and I valued her input and c...
Read more
Cindy E.
Thank you for the kind words, Kim. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you on this important story, so thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility.
Nancy M.

Nancy M.

Aug, 2026

Cindy has been fantastic to work with. I made a couple of plot changes after the first copy edit, and she was extremely understanding and willing to do a second pass before starting on my 2nd book in the series. She is my go-to for the entire series!
Ron H.

Ron H.

Aug, 2026

Cindy, Thank you for your incredible support on the "The Ghosts Are Laughing". This book is a personal and special project to me. Your knowledge and vast career experience in proofreading, developmental editing and industry knowledge is exceptional. I truly appreciate your attention to deadl...
Read more
Cindy E.
Thanks so much, Ron. It was a privilege to work on this memoir with you, and I can’t wait to dig into our next project!

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Cindy and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Cindy

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Jeff H.

Author, editor, consultant. Fifteen years in publishing. Specializing in fantasy, sci-fi, horror, YA, and the genre-defying.

Clifton Park, NY, USA

80% reply rate

View profile

Erin Y.

Experienced writer, editor and agent with an MFA in Creative Writing. I have edited NYT bestsellers, including The Maze Runner. 15+ years

Los Angeles, United States

100% reply rate

View profile

Rita R.

As a seasoned copyeditor with experience helping writers reach their audience, I look forward to chatting with you about your manuscript! 📚

Toledo, OH, USA

95% reply rate

View profile