Courtney Vincento

Courtney Vincento – Editor

Experienced and passionate copyeditor and proofreader specializing in women's fiction, romance, cozy mysteries, and young adult fiction.

Overview

I am a former production editor at Penguin Random House and currently a full-time freelance copyeditor and proofreader. I have copyedited and proofread more than 300 books and have worked for major publishing houses including Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Hachette, and HarperCollins, as well as independent authors. I've edited works by many New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors including Nora Roberts, Clare Mackintosh, Liane Moriarty, Christine Feehan, Kate Furnivall, Mark Greaney, and Alyson Richman.

I have experience in nearly all fiction genres, and specialize in women's fiction, contemporary romance, cozy mysteries, thrillers, young adult fiction, and middle-grade novels.

My approach to copyediting is to allow the author to tell his or her story. I won't try to rewrite your work simply because I think it sounds better. This is your story and you should be trusted to tell it! I will edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation, rhythm and flow, character and plot consistency, character voice and development, and factual accuracy. I will also suggest changes when I think a reader may experience confusion or where a meaning is unclear.

I create detailed style guides for each book for the author and future proofreaders.

I'm a firm believer in the importance and integrity of meeting deadlines, and I believe that the copyeditor/author relationship should be a partnership that results in your story being told in the best way possible.
Services
Fiction
Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Romance Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-Employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

Work remotely to copyedit and proofread fiction and non-fiction books and articles for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and accuracy, as well as author voice, character development, and plot and character consistency • Create and maintain detailed style guides for authors, proofreaders, and editors • Follow strict deadline schedules, often with turnaround times of less than a week • Proficient in knowledge and utilization of Chicago Manual of Style, 15th, 16th, and 17th editions

I have copyedited and proofread more than 300 books including works by bestselling authors Clare Mackintosh, Nora Roberts, J. D. Robb, Liane Moriarty, Christine Feehan, Maya Banks, Kate Furnivall, Kay Hooper, Alyson Richman, and Mark Greaney.

Clients include:
Penguin Random House (Berkley, Riverhead, G. P. Putnam's Sons, Ace, Jove, Avery, Berkley Sensation, Berkley Prime Crime); Scholastic; Hachette; independent authors

Penguin Random House

Jul, 2011 — Jan, 2015 (over 3 years)

Oversaw production of approximately thirty fiction and non-fiction trade, hardcover, and mass-market titles per year from initial text transmittal to final release to printers • Copyedited and proofread all cover materials, front matter, and text materials • Managed the cover process from copyediting cover copy to final publication • Hired and supervised work of freelancers • Created and maintained schedules for editors and freelancers • Acted as main liaison between Production, Art, and Editorial departments • Handled text corrections for eBooks and backlist reprints and repackages

Portfolio

When We Left Cuba

Chanel Cleeton

In 1960s Florida, a young Cuban exile will risk her life--and heart--to take back her country in this exhilarating historical novel from the author of Next Year in Havana, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.Beautiful. Daring. Deadly. The Cuban Revolution took ... read more
#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan cuts straight to the heart of a man who stalks the shadows in an intoxicating Leopard novel. Though he was born into a leopard’s lair in the bayou, Joshua Tregre’s fighting skills were honed in the rain for... read more
Down the rabbit hole . . .I'm spending the day with my best friends, Frankie and Robin, and -- UGH -- snobby Penny. I'm not expecting anything magical to happen, until Frankie falls into a mysterious hole behind Penny's house . . . and we all wind up in the st... read more
Unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents, Rukhsana Ali keeps that part of her identity hidden. And that means keeping her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret from them too. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life at hom... read more
Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

The #1 New York Times bestseller that Entertainment Weekly called “a surefire hit.”NOW A GOLDEN GLOBE AND EMMY-WINNING HBO LIMITED SERIES STARRING REESE WITHERSPOON, NICOLE KIDMAN, SHAILENE WOODLEY, ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD, LAURA DERN, ADAM SCOTT, AND ZOË KRAVITZ ... read more
The final Guardians Trilogy novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bay of Sighs and Stars of Fortune.As the hunt for the Star of Ice leads the six guardians to Ireland, Doyle, the immortal, must face his tragic past. Three centuries ago, he clo... read more
From the author of the “lyrical and compelling” (USA Today) novel A Good American comes a powerful story of two friends and the unintended consequences of friendship, loss, and hope. For Robert Carter, life in his coastal Maine hometown is comfortably predicta... read more
From Mark Greaney, the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels, comes the fifth explosive thriller featuring the lethal assassin known as the Gray Man… Five years ago, Court Gentry was the CIA’s best covert asset. Then, without ... read more
For the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew, wedding bells turn to death knells in this latest mystery in the New York Times bestselling series.With Angie and Tate's wedding just around the corner, it's a happy time for Melanie Cooper and the bakery crew. Not only are the... read more
Next Year in Havana

Chanel Cleeton

THE JULY PICK FOR REESE WITHERSPOON'S HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB"A beautiful novel that's full of forbidden passions, family secrets and a lot of courage and sacrifice."--Reese WitherspoonAfter the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels... read more
I See You

Clare Mackintosh

“[A] well-told suspense story...refreshingly realistic.”—The New York Times Book Review “Danger feels real in the brilliant I See You…Mackintosh seems destined to do important work for many years to come.”—The Washington Post “Mackintosh allots her characters ... read more
I Let You Go

Clare Mackintosh

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Crime Novels of 2016! The blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train and The Widow…“[A] finely crafted novel with a killer twist.”—#1 New York Times bestselling a... read more

Courtney has 4 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Kevin S.

Kevin S.

Apr, 2020

Courtney was very professional and clearly stated her role and expectations. She responded to my questions promptly and she was very helpful and patient working with a first-time author. I would definitely work with her again and recommend her to anyone looking for a copyeditor.
alisa S.

alisa S.

Jun, 2019

Courtney was diligent, enthusiastic and paid great attention to detail. She gave my manuscript a comprehensive and professional copy edit leaving it much cleaner and clearer. When there was an issue where we didn't completely communicate, Courtney went out of her way to take a second look. She was a pleasure to work with. I totally recommend.
Elizabeth L.

Elizabeth L.

Jan, 2019

I really like the professionalism and honesty of Courtney. She seems to know a lot and be sure when she take a decision to change something. She asked me good questions before we start in order for her to know which direction to take. I am glad I worked with her and I am sure my novel is now ready to pitch to agents. Thanks!
Lucy S.

Lucy S.

Dec, 2018

I'm very pleased with Courtney's editing and how thorough she was with my manuscript. She found errors on grammar and punctuation that I missed along with my early readers and provided suggestions for improvement. As a result, my manuscript looks more polished and it was exactly what I was looking for in the final edit. Courtney is professional, kind, easy to work with and finished the editing ...
Read more

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