Overview

I offer exceptional project management, editing, proofreading, and manuscript development services. I'm a former managing editor of Random House and Prima Publishing. I have a strong working knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style and am highly proficient with Microsoft Word (including tracking changes, commenting, styles, and working with templates), Adobe Acrobat (PDF markup, commenting, and querying authors), FTP clients, and more. And my wife, Danielle F. (also on Reedsy), does professional book design and layout! We've worked on many hundreds of non-fiction books for clients such as Random House, Microsoft Press, Adobe Inc., Apple, Inc., Blackmagic Design, Thomson Learning, Cengage, Pearson, Peachpit Press, Callisto Media, Prima Publishing, Rosenthal Media, and more. We offer complete book packaging services including project management, copyediting, developmental editing, design and layout (composition), proofreading, indexing, cover design, and more. As the editor, I often edit books on computers and technology, from consumer instructional books to high-level programming books. I have also edited numerous books on music production and technique, as well as film production, sound, and editing, in addition to numerous other genres.

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Proofreading

Indexing

Non-Fiction

Computers & Internet Education & Reference Entertainment Home & Garden Music Sports & Outdoors Technology Writing & Publishing

Languages

English (US)

Work experience

Freelance Editor & Book Packager

Self-employed

Dec, 2002 — Present

Work with numerous authors and editors and oversee content development from raw manuscript to printer-ready files while adhering to demanding book production deadlines. Manage book production processes and schedules; direct authors, editors, compositors, and indexers; edit, rewrite, and proofread non-fiction books for multiple prominent book publishers.

Managing Editor

Random House

Dec, 2001 — Dec, 2002 (12 months)

House of Collectibles, The Crown Publishing Group, Random House Managed all editorial and production processes for a well-known book imprint devoted to antiques and collectibles • Oversaw production and ensured timeliness and quality of all books • Assumed principal role for building strong editorial and production personnel, resources, and services • Established and negotiated pricing for all editorial services • Created budgets and cost estimates for PL statements • Reduced plant costs by more than 30% while improving book quality and timeliness • Developed and approved new book designs • Worked with numerous authors, editors, and freelancers to develop, copyedit, and proof manuscripts • Examined and approved all digital printer proofs

Managing Editor

Prima Publishing

May, 1997 — Jan, 2002 (over 4 years)

In the computer book division of a fast-paced, rapidly growing publishing company, lead and supervised the editorial department and oversaw its workflow to ensure the timeliness, quality, and cost-effectiveness of the production of more than 100 academic and instructional books on computers and technology. • Hired and supervised all editorial staff • Planned project timelines and allocated resources for the division • Developed author guidelines and established quality standards for editing, design, and composition • Wrote and edited cover copy, catalog copy, sales tip sheets, and other promotional materials • Established and negotiated pricing for all editorial services • Resolved author and editor concerns

Senior Project Editor

Prima Publishing

Apr, 1995 — May, 1997 (about 2 years)

In the computer book and non-fiction trade book divisions, oversaw the production of more than 100 titles from manuscripts to bound books • Trained new editors and took on multiple roles, including developmental editor, copy editor, technical reviewer, project manager, and more • Copyedited, proofread, and prepared manuscripts for print in a wide variety of subjects, including computers and technology, biography, current events, cooking, health, self-help, and other non-fiction

Project Editor

Prima Publishing

Sep, 1993 — Apr, 1995 (over 1 year)

Coordinated the efforts of authors and editors during developmental editing, technical review, copyediting, indexing, page layout, and proofreading of numerous non-fiction books • Edited and corrected manuscripts, page proofs, and bluelines, and critically evaluated all elements to ensure accuracy, consistency, attractiveness, and functionality • Conducted printer press checks when necessary

Production Editor

Academic Press, Inc., A Division of Harcourt Brace & Company

Jan, 1992 — Aug, 1993 (over 1 year)

In the editorial department of a publisher of scholarly scientific and technical books, coordinated all stages of book production from hard copy manuscripts to bound books • Prepared manuscripts for typesetting, including copyediting, instructing freelance copy editors and reference editors, and monitoring art preparation • Checked page proofs to ensure adherence to specifications, incorporated editorial and author corrections, and assigned cost responsibility for alterations • Corresponded with numerous authors and volume editors • Obtained copyright permissions for reproduced material • Initiated and developed production-tracking schedule forms that were instituted company-wide

Portfolio

Microsoft Copilot Pro Step by Step

Crosbie, Lisa

Microsoft Press

Beneath the Boom Pole: The Art & Science of Boom Operating for Movies & TV

Mierzwa, Patrushkha

Made with Reedsy

The Cooking Doc's Kidney-Healthy Cooking: A Modern 10-Step Guide to Preventing and Managing Kidney Disease

Shusterman, Dr. Blake

Made with Reedsy

Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar's Greatest Films

Movshovitz, Dean

Made with Reedsy

Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran's Guide to Sound on the Set

Mierzwa, Patrushkha

Exam Ref MS-102 Microsoft 365 Administrator

Thomas, Orin

Microsoft Excel Step by Step (Office 2021 and Microsoft 365)

Lambert, Joan

The Fairlight Audio Guide to DaVinci Resolve 18

Plummer, Mary

The Beginner's Guide to DaVinci Resolve 18

Roberts, Chris

Programming Large Language Models with Azure Open AI: Conversational programming and prompt engineering with LLMs (Developer Reference)

Esposito, Francesco

Microsoft Press

Data at Work: Best practices for creating effective charts and information graphics in Microsoft Excel (Voices That Matter)

Jorge Camões

Information visualization is a language. Like any language, it can be used for multiple purposes. A poem, a novel, and an essay all share the same language, but each one has its own set of rules. The same is true with information visualization: a product manag... read more

Made with Reedsy

Lead Guitar Breakthrough: Fretboard Navigation, Theory & Technique (Book + Online Bonus Material)

Luke Zecchin

The first step to playing like a pro is thinking like one.Guitar players frequently face the same roadblocks in their playing. Many feel stunted creatively, stuck playing the same old things, and unsure how to move forward. These issues are caused by some comm... read more

Made with Reedsy

The World of Warcraft Diary: A Journal of Computer Game Development

Staats, John

Made with Reedsy

Scholarly Publishing and its Discontents: An economist's perspective on dealing with market power and its consequences

Gans, Joshua S

The Language of SQL (2nd Edition) (Learning)

Larry Rockoff

The Language of SQL, Second Edition Many SQL texts attempt to serve as an encyclopedic reference on SQL syntax -- an approach that is often counterproductive, because that information is readily available in online references published by the major database ve... read more

Windows Internals, Part 2 (Developer Reference)

Allievi, Andrea

Microsoft Visual C# Step by Step (Developer Reference)

Sharp, John

Adobe InDesign CC Classroom in a Book (2018 release)

Anton, Kelly

The Editors Guide to DaVinci Resolve 18

Roberts, Chris

Exam Ref AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

Cheshire, Jim

Microsoft Word 2019 Step by Step

Lambert, Joan

Churchill on Leadership : Executive Success in the Face of Adversity

Steven F. Hayward

Success often depends on the strength of a single quality: leadership. Winston Churchill is universally recognized as one of the 20th century's great political leaders and his words ring just as true in the world of commerce. A wise, witty, and inspiring leade... read more

Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers

Dan O'Sullivan

Physical computing is all around us-from interactive displays at museums to "puff sensors" that aid the physically challenged. With a multiple book buying audience, this book doesn't require a specific background or technical experience. It is designed to help... read more

The Advanced Art of Stop-Motion Animation

Ken A. Priebe

Take an in-depth look at the art and techniques of stop-motion animation. The Advanced Art of Stop-Motion Animation helps experienced stop-motion artists enhance their craft by exploring the professional methods and advanced technology used by top film studios... read more

The Art of Stop-Motion Animation

Ken A. Priebe

Through the magic of stop-motion animation, inanimate objects seem to spring to life. With true artistic passion and finesse, a stop-motion film evokes the nostalgia of childhood when imagination could bring toys to life. Stop-motion retains the art and perfor... read more

Making Beats: Skill Pack

Richy Pitch

MAKING BEATS: SKILL PACK teaches you how to make infectious modern beats from start to finish using popular beat making software such as Native Instruments Battery, Apple Logic Pro, Steinberg Cubase, Propellerhead ReCycle, Audacity, and others. This book expla... read more

Microsoft Excel 2013 for the Business Analyst

Larry Rockoff

As one of the most popular software tools in the world, Microsoft Excel is used by business analysts across the globe to keep track of details, look deeply into the data that drives business, and provide managers with the information and insights they need to ... read more

Robotics: A Project-Based Approach

Lakshmi Prayaga

Have you ever thought of building your own robot? With today's technology, it's easy (and inexpensive!) to get started in this fascinating hobby. With the projects in this book and just a little bit of programming knowledge, you can create fun, functional robo... read more

Creating iOS Apps: Develop and Design (2nd Edition)

Richard Warren

With more than 600 million iOS devices sold, Apple’s booming mobile platform provides a immense and continuously growing app market for developers. And with each update to the iOS SDK, Apple offers the richest set of additional developer tools. iOS 7.0 is no e... read more

Dan has 10 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Dan G.

Oct, 2023

Pinned

I really enjoyed working with Dan. He helped my book immensely. His feedback was also kind, which helped me learn where I was making the same mistakes and how to improve. His responsiveness was also fast, and I never found myself waiting more than one or two days for an update. Highly recommend ...

Pat M.

Feb, 2021

Pinned

This was my first book and I wasn't sure what I was doing. Dan was patient, educational, and supportive. We had a great collaboration and I felt we were on the same wavelength about tone and content; my book is so much better because of him. And it was the #1 Hot New Release on Amazon!

KP K.

Jun, 2017

Pinned

Dan is a true professional, who's work speaks for itself. He's consistently gone above and beyond my expectations to deliver a great product, and improve my book. I'd recommend Dan to anyone, without hesitation. His years of experience and integrity are worth many times the price paid. I look...

Luke Z.

Nov, 2024

Need an excellent editor to give your manuscript the final polish it deserves? Look no further! With Dan, your precious book is in safe hands. I’ve worked with some great editors over the years, and he’s undoubtedly one of the best. Hire him. As in… right now! You can thank me later.

Hans V.

Jul, 2023

Gave me a thorough edit with a remarkably quick turnaround! I was pleasantly surprised, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him 🙂

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Dan Foster

Available for hire

Verified identity

Penn Valley, CA, United States

Professional on Reedsy
since Jan, 2016

Dan Foster – Editor

Overview

Services

Non-Fiction

Languages

Work experience

Portfolio

Dan has 10 reviews

Dan G.

Pat M.

KP K.

Luke Z.

Hans V.

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Professionals similar to Dan

Emma D.

Derek V.

Jonathan T.

Dan Foster – Editor

Overview

Services

Non-Fiction

Languages

Work experience

Portfolio

Dan has 10 reviews

Dan G.

Pat M.

KP K.

Luke Z.

Hans V.

Sign up to read more reviews

Professionals similar to Dan

Emma D.

Derek V.

Jonathan T.

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