Cynthia Shepp

Cynthia Shepp – Editor

Professional copy editor with a BA in English, 8+ years of experience, and a multitude of Amazon, NYT, and USA Today bestselling clients.

Overview


Favorite comment from a client:
"𝐼'π‘š π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘π‘‘π‘¦ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’'π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘™π‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž 𝐾𝑒𝑛𝑔-𝐹𝑒 π‘€π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘Žπ‘”π‘’. π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑠 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘”π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘§π‘–π‘›π‘”!" (Joshua Killingsworth, author of The Three Realms series)

First and foremost, I’m a single mother to two hardheaded boys (15 and 9) and a beautiful daughter (14) who love to roll their eyes at me every time I correct their grammar, but it is because of them that nothing can divert my dedication to being the best at what I do. Hard work and determination are what I try to instill in my children, so I attempt to make sure to be that role model in all aspects of life, especially work.

In addition, I love everything word and book related, which makes editing my dream job. Give a girl a book, she can read for a day, give a girl a library, she can read for lifeβ€”well, as fast as I read, maybe not lifeβ€”but give a girl an editing career, and she can not only read for life, but also have a hand in shaping the books others will continue to read long after she’s gone. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

I’m also a freelance copy/line editor and proofreader with 8+ years of experience, stellar client references, a spotless reliability record, and a BA in English/Lit who specializes in young adult, new adult, and adult romance in all subgenres―including LGBTQ. Dystopian and apocalyptic genres are also particular favorites.

However, I'm open to most other fiction genres as well. MM/Gay Romance is my absolute favorite to pleasure read, and I would love to add authors who write in the genre to my client list. #EditingGoals

Major projects include copy editing and proofreading for New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon best-selling authors such as Sawyer Bennett, Melissa McClone, Marquita Valentine, Juliette Poe, Jennifer Anne Davis, LB Gilbert, Jasmine Walt, Toni Aleo, Shelly Crane, Kay Bratt, and many others. Other projects include numerous Amazon best-selling and award-winning authors through Clean Teen Publishing, Crimson Tree Publishing, and Tule Publishing―many independent authors, too.

Independently Published Authors comprise most of my client list. It's a joy to work with authors who put so much dedication into making sure their books succeed.

I love to work with authors to polish their hard work into a finished product they are proud to see on bookshelves everywhere. My belief is the relationship between authors and editors must be open, trusting, and completely honest, and I strive to keep it that way. A comprehensive overview of my editing services, terms and conditions, and references can be sent to clients on request. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Testimonials:

Sawyer Bennett:
Cynthia just finished a manuscript for me, and I cannot even begin to describe how thrilled I am by her work. It was thorough and professionally executed. Her insight into my work was invaluable. I will be using Cynthia for all of my future editing work. I cannot sing her praises loud enough. (New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author)

Clean Teen and Crimson Tree Publishing:
We have worked with numerous other editors in the past. There hasn’t been one who has stood out from the crowd for us like Cynthia Shepp has. Cynthia’s edits are not only thorough and accurate, but she also offers a personal touch by adding simplified grammar lessons along with her edits to help our authors grow. Her professionalism and desire to go the extra mile make her a notch above the rest. We will continue to use Cynthia for our editing services for many years to come!

Marquita Valentine:
I highly recommend working with Cynthia for all of your editing needs. She always goes the extra mile and catches things that most others wouldn’t in a manuscript. I find her prices reasonable and her work exceptional. I plan to continue to work with Cynthia on future projects. (New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author)





Services
Fiction
Dystopian LGBTQ Fiction Mystery & Crime Paranormal Romance Romance Science Fiction Urban Fantasy Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Bachelor Degree in English/Literature

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2012 β€” Present

β—Ύ Editing Services by Cynthia Shepp
β—Ύ BA from Grand Canyon University in English/Literature.
β—Ύ Graduated with Honors: Cum Laude.
β—Ύ Stellar client references.
β—Ύ A multitude of USA Today, NYT, and Amazon bestselling clients.
β—Ύ Professional editor since 2012

Tule Publishing

Jul, 2016 β€” Present

Clean Teen Publishing

May, 2013 β€” Present

Crimson Tree Publishing

May, 2013 β€” Present

Self-employed

Jan, 2012 β€” Jan, 2020 (about 8 years)

Portfolio

***** 2017 Kindle Book Awards WINNER - Literary Fiction *****New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth ... read more
Carly Bishop loved Christmas…until tragedy struck.Distraught and grief-stricken over the deaths of her fiancΓ© and brother, she left Hood Hamlet and her Christmas spirit behind, to start over somewhere new. But now, six years later, her family needs her. Carly ... read more
A sheltered princess goes wildβ€”and makes the best mistake of her lifeβ€”when she falls for a roguish reporter in this fun, sexy romance from the bestselling author of Royal Scandal. Online muckraker Brooks Walker has a reputation for exposing the political elite... read more
A heart-pumping futuristic thrill-ride set in a frightening dystopian society. 2016 Once Upon A Book Award Winner. It is the year 4006, and nuclear war has come to the United States. With tens of thousands killed and countless more injured or terminally ill fr... read more
2017 IPPY Book Awards Winner! A β€œremarkable” (Booklist Magazine) reimagining of Peter Pan. After World War II, orphaned Kettle faces prejudice as a Japanese American but manages to scrape by and care for his makeshift family of homeless children. When he cross... read more
***The first book in a new fantasy series from best-selling author Jennifer Anne Davis.***Reid has spent her whole life pretending to be a man so she can inherit her father’s estate, but when a chance encounter threatens to expose her lie, she is forced to ris... read more
** A USA Today Bestselling Novel **Years ago, we were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and I was the security professional hired to keep her safe. We fell hard and fast, no matter how much we tried to resist one another. But not everyone around us w... read more
A fresh twist on the classic story of Beauty and the Beast, Bellamy and the Brute proves true love really is blind.When Bellamy McGuire is offered a summer job babysitting for the wealthy Baldwin family, she's reluctant to accept. After all, everyone in town k... read more
Save money when you order the complete boxed set of The Stolen Empire series by Sherry D. Ficklin. This complete set includes Queen of Someday, Queen of Tomorrow, and Queen of Always. No cliffhangers, no waiting, read the whole story together! Don’t miss the s... read more

Cynthia has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mike S.

Mike S.

Dec, 2020

I have to express my personal gratitude to Cynthia. I spent ten months writing a story I enjoyed only to find out it was even better than I thought. Granted, Cynthia made thousands of edits and dozens of recommendations. She tightened the story, gave me great advice on continuity issues, and raised questions I hadn't considered. I would definitely ask Cynthia to take on another project from me....
Read more
Cynthia S.
Thank you so much, Michael. I enjoyed working with you as well!
Anca M.

Anca M.

Sep, 2020

Cynthia provided an extensive edit of my story, cleaning up not only the language but also some very glaring POV errors. I ended up using most of her suggestions, and I think the final product is stronger overall because of it.
Cynthia S.
Thank you so much for your review! I enjoyed working with you!

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