Dan Larsen - Editor
Fiction editor for 20+ years. Top NYC publishers. Hundreds of titles. Developmental editing, copyediting. Endorsed by bestselling authors.
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Overview
I have been a freelance editor for about 25 years, focusing exclusively on fiction. Over that time I have edited well over a thousand titles, most of them for top New York publishers, including three of the Big Five, and many of them (at a guess, a few hundred anyway) ending up on bestseller lists.
My past publishing clients have included Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster), St. Martin's Press, Houghton Mifflin, Time Warner, Disney, and Kensington. From 2005 until 2018 I worked only with Penguin and Harlequin. I did copyediting for Penguin and line editing for Harlequin. For the past couple of years I have been working directly with authors by way of referrals from a professional editing group. As of this year I am semiretired and am limiting my editing work to helping authors look their best in print. With my experience, I have an insider's view on what publishers want. Most especially, on what works and what doesn't work in fiction.
I'm loving my freedom from the publishing production grind (for many, many years I was backlogged with titles)! And I've found that I really enjoy working directly with authors. This is my new love, and the next leg of my career journey.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I'm an author myself. I have 10 titles in print, some of which go back to 1990, in a popular juvenile series, with several million copies sold. Mentioning this is almost anticlimactic for me, though. My first love was, and will always be, editing.
A few testimonials:
“Working with Dan was a great experience that I look forward to repeating with my next book. His editing was thorough, and when the reason for recommended changes wasn’t patently obvious, he thoroughly commented with clear explanations. He responded quickly to my queries and offered authoritative references for topics in question. The experience not only made Two a better book; it made me a better writer.” –Steve Swaringen, new author
“Dan Larsen gave me a good initial edit and caught things I didn’t see. His insights also prevented some critical errors on my part. I appreciated his attention to detail.” –Davalynn Spencer, bestselling romance author
“Copy editors can easily make or break a good book, can turn a good book into a great book, an interesting book into a gripping book. I’ve had some dreadful copy editors and some good ones. Dan is the best!” –Faith Hunter, the New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock series
“Dan Larsen was the copyeditor for my Tango Key books when I was at Kensington. He’s terrific! And he remains my favorite copyeditor!” –TJ MacGregor, the bestselling Tango Key series
“A good copyeditor is an essential component to any novel, and with his keen eye, diligence and attention to detail Dan Larsen's has proved invaluable time and again.” –Tom Wood, the international bestselling Victor Assassin series
“Dan Larsen has a very good grasp of grammar and punctuation, and is proficient in observing appropriate style guidelines. He is also knowledgeable about many topics that come up in various novels. I’ve worked with Dan for more than a decade and always found him to be a reliable and conscientious professional.” –Daniel Walsh, assistant director, Production Editorial, Berkley (Penguin Random House)
My past publishing clients have included Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster), St. Martin's Press, Houghton Mifflin, Time Warner, Disney, and Kensington. From 2005 until 2018 I worked only with Penguin and Harlequin. I did copyediting for Penguin and line editing for Harlequin. For the past couple of years I have been working directly with authors by way of referrals from a professional editing group. As of this year I am semiretired and am limiting my editing work to helping authors look their best in print. With my experience, I have an insider's view on what publishers want. Most especially, on what works and what doesn't work in fiction.
I'm loving my freedom from the publishing production grind (for many, many years I was backlogged with titles)! And I've found that I really enjoy working directly with authors. This is my new love, and the next leg of my career journey.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I'm an author myself. I have 10 titles in print, some of which go back to 1990, in a popular juvenile series, with several million copies sold. Mentioning this is almost anticlimactic for me, though. My first love was, and will always be, editing.
A few testimonials:
“Working with Dan was a great experience that I look forward to repeating with my next book. His editing was thorough, and when the reason for recommended changes wasn’t patently obvious, he thoroughly commented with clear explanations. He responded quickly to my queries and offered authoritative references for topics in question. The experience not only made Two a better book; it made me a better writer.” –Steve Swaringen, new author
“Dan Larsen gave me a good initial edit and caught things I didn’t see. His insights also prevented some critical errors on my part. I appreciated his attention to detail.” –Davalynn Spencer, bestselling romance author
“Copy editors can easily make or break a good book, can turn a good book into a great book, an interesting book into a gripping book. I’ve had some dreadful copy editors and some good ones. Dan is the best!” –Faith Hunter, the New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock series
“Dan Larsen was the copyeditor for my Tango Key books when I was at Kensington. He’s terrific! And he remains my favorite copyeditor!” –TJ MacGregor, the bestselling Tango Key series
“A good copyeditor is an essential component to any novel, and with his keen eye, diligence and attention to detail Dan Larsen's has proved invaluable time and again.” –Tom Wood, the international bestselling Victor Assassin series
“Dan Larsen has a very good grasp of grammar and punctuation, and is proficient in observing appropriate style guidelines. He is also knowledgeable about many topics that come up in various novels. I’ve worked with Dan for more than a decade and always found him to be a reliable and conscientious professional.” –Daniel Walsh, assistant director, Production Editorial, Berkley (Penguin Random House)
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Crime & Mystery
Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Romance
Thriller
Urban Fantasy
Women's Fiction
Young Adult & Teen
Certifications
- qualified (through testing) for substantive fiction editing, copyediting, and proofreading with the Christian Editor Connection
Work experience
freelance editor
Self-employed
January, 1989
–
Present
(over 30 years)
Portfolio (30 selected works)
The Final Hour (Victor)
Tom Wood
The enigmatic assassin Victor returns in an explosive thriller from the international bestselling author of A Time to Die and The Darkest Day. SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE... Victor is the ultimate predator. He surfaces to kill, then disappears into thin air. But he’s a disposable commodity for the powerful people he works for—both the good guys and the bad. And no one has his back. Especial... read more
Shadow Rites (Jane Yellowrock)
Faith Hunter
Jane Yellowrock has her hands full in the latest novel in the New York Times bestselling series that captures “the essence of urban fantasy” (SF Site). Slaying vampires is child’s play for skinwalker Jane Yellowrock. But handling the complicated politics of New Orleans’ supernatural players is another story... Jane is keeping the peace between visiting groups of witches and vamps in the city, ... read more
Wired (Buchanan/FBI)
Julie Garwood
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“Once again, Garwood delivers another suspenseful, highly entertaining and romantic story line in Wired.”—The Associated PressA beautiful computer hacker and a bad-boy FBI agent must collaborate—in more ways than one—in the sizzling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.Allison Trent doesn’t look like a hacker. In fact, when she’s not in... read more
The Veil (A Devil's Isle Novel)
Chloe Neill
A brand new series from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill. Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle. Claire Connolly is a good girl with ... read more
Edge of Danger (Deadly Ops Series)
Katie Reus
The new Deadly Ops novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Shattered Duty—in the series that delivers “fast-paced romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat!”* When an assassin tries to kill undercover DEA agent Tucker Pankov the same week his boss is taken out, Tucker has good reason to be paranoid. And when other members of his elite team are not only targeted,... read more
The Doll's House (A Helen Grace Thriller)
M. J. Arlidge
Detective Helen Grace is on the trail of a twisted serial killer in this riveting thriller in the “gripping” (USA Today) international bestselling series.Ruby wakes up in a strange room. Her captor calmly explains that no one is looking for her. No one wants her. Except him.When the body of a woman is found buried on a secluded beach, Detective Helen Grace is called to the scene. She knows rig... read more
Love, Alice
Barbara Davis
A sweeping southern women’s fiction novel about forgiving the past one letter at a time—from the author of When Never Comes.A year ago, Dovie Larkin’s life was shattered when her fiancé committed suicide just weeks before their wedding. Now, plagued by guilt, she has become a fixture at the cemetery where William is buried, visiting his grave daily, waiting for answers she knows will never com... read more
Summer of the Geek (Geek High)
Piper Banks
The third compulsively readable book in the smart and witty series about a high school for gifted students. Miranda Bloom has scored an adorable, lacrosse-playing boyfriend, Dex McConnell, and an awesomely easy summer job looking after a ten year old mini-genius, Amelia. This summer is going to be sweet... Then reality puts the brakes on everything. Though Dex and Miranda are official, she fee... read more
Wedded Bliss (The Wicked Worthington Series)
Celeste Bradley
From the New York Times bestselling author of I Thee Wed comes a Wicked Worthingtons novel of a love that will not be denied.... As a ship’s captain, highborn bastard Morgan Pryce has spent his life sailing away from England. The last thing he needs is a wife. But when he fears that his titled half brother, Neville, is about to be snared by a gold digger, Morgan aims to protect Neville by tric... read more
Witch
Christopher Pike
Julia is a young woman with extraordinary powers, with the ability to heal people. She comes from a tradition of witches, but before Julia's mother died, she warned her never to look in water that had moonlight shining on it. Unfortunately she does - and she sees a vision of the future.
Winter Halo (An Outcast Novel)
Keri Arthur
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Souls of Fire novels comes the second in the futuristic fantasy series that will make you want to keep the lights on... When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between worlds, they allowed entry to the Others. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the da... read more
New Leaf (Mystic Creek)
Catherine Anderson
The New York Times bestselling author of Silver Thaw returns to Mystic Creek in a novel about a love that inspires the courage to start over…and the strength to reclaim a dream. When Taffeta Brown was viciously betrayed by her wealthy husband, she lost everything—including custody of their daughter, Sarah. Now that Taffy has moved to Mystic Creek, Oregon, to start over, she unexpectedly meets ... read more
The Demonists (A Demonists Novel)
Thomas E. Sniegoski
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series and the Remy Chandler series, a new dark fantasy series filled with demons, exorcisms, and the fight against the worst that hell has to offer... There is more to our world than meets the eye—darker things, crueler things. Exorcist John Fogg and his wife, psychic medium Theodora Knight, know what lurks in the shadows. But even they... read more
Permanently Booked (The Ladies Smythe & Westin)
Lisa Q. Mathews
The Final ChapterSemi-reformed party girl Summer Smythe is finally feeling at home at the Hibiscus Pointe retirement community. All that’s left to do is replace her late grandma’s massive book collection with a TV. Donating them to the community library is the perfect solution—until she finds the librarian buried in books. Literally.Summer and her sleuthing partner, longtime resident Dorothy W... read more
The Bridesmaid Wore Sneakers (The Daughters of Dancing Falls)
Cynthia Thomason
It takes courage to fall in love To everyone in her rural Ohio community, Jude Foster O'Leary's dead husband is a war hero. Yet how can she forgive him for choosing the military over his family when they needed him most? And now the charitable foundation she established in his name is in danger of going belly-up, until Liam Manning comes to the single mother's rescue. But the financial adviser... read more
DEAD OF WINTER (Louis Kincaid Book 2)
P.J. Parrish
Available for the first time in eBook! Read the thriller that launched the award-winning New York Times bestselling Louis Kincaid series.In the quaint tourist town of Loon Lake, Mich., a killer is taking his vengeance. One by one, the bodies of cops are found, brutally executed, with mysteriously coded death cards placed with each corpse – the gruesome signature of a psychopath. And the only s... read more
Black Water (Book Club Edition)
T.J. MacGregor
Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Fans of the Twilight Zone should relish MacGregor's newest offering (after Out of Sight); reading this spine-tingling suspense novel is like spiraling headfirst into the most disturbing episode ever aired. As Mira Morales and her teenage daughter, Annie, prepare to return via motorboat to their home in the Florida Keys, Mira is knocked unconscious and A... read more
Ride the Storm (Cassie Palmer)
Karen Chance
Cassie Palmer can see the future, talk to ghosts, and travel through time—but nothing’s prepared her for this. Ever since being stuck with the job of pythia, the chief seer of the supernatural world, Cassie Palmer has been playing catch up. Catch up to the lifetime's worth of training she missed being raised by a psychotic vampire instead of at the fabled pythian court. Catch up to the powerfu... read more
The Lost Plot (The Invisible Library Novel)
Genevieve Cogman
After being commissioned to find a rare book, Librarian Irene and her assistant, Kai, head to Prohibition-era New York and are thrust into the middle of a political fight with dragons, mobsters, and Fae.In a 1920s-esque New York, Prohibition is in force; fedoras, flapper dresses, and tommy guns are in fashion: and intrigue is afoot. Intrepid Librarians Irene and Kai find themselves caught in t... read more
Summers' Horses (Ralph Cotton Western Series)
Ralph Cotton
Will Summers is a horse trader with a reputation that intimidates the most lawless of men. When the coldblooded Bendigo Brothers make off with his horses, they don't know what they're in for. Summers has a history of tracking down animals, and when he finds them he'll be sure to give them his own special brand, and let them live long enough to feel the burn...
The Ghost of Apache Creek (Ralph Compton)
Ralph Compton, Joseph A. West
A man with nothing left to lose finds a reason to fight in this Ralph Compton western.Requiem, formerly known as Apache Creek, is a town that has seen better days. After a plague of cholera swept through the streets, the only folk left behind are ghosts, including Marshall Sam Pace. Even though he’s still living and breathing, three years of solitude have turned Sam into a phantom—a lonely man... read more
Blood Storm (The Books of Blood and Iron)
Steven Harper
From the author of Iron Axe comes the second Book of Blood and Iron…Ages ago, those who had the ability to change their shape lost it, leading to endless bloody battles for supremacy between the races—until one reluctant hero stepped forth to restore peace to the world.… Even though Danr the half troll ended centuries of fighting, he still is not living the quiet life he longs for. Rumors have... read more
Pouncing on Murder (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery)
Laurie Cass
Curl up with the latest from the national bestselling author of Borrowed Crime...Springtime in Chilson, Michigan, means it's librarian Minnie Hamilton's favorite time of year: maple syrup season! But her excitement fades when her favorite syrup provider, Henry Gill, dies in a sugaring accident. It’s tough news to swallow...even if the old man wasn’t as sweet as his product. On the bookmobile r... read more
Printer in Petticoats (Harlequin Historical)
Lynna Banning
This town's not big enough for both of us… Self-proclaimed spinster Jessamine Lassiter is striving to keep Smoke River's newspaper afloat when Cole Sanders rides into town to start up a rival paper. Emotions run high as Cole's constant, infuriating presence causes sparks to fly both in and out of the office! But does he truly desire Jess, or is he just waiting to put her out of business? Whate... read more
The Witch's Quest (The Decadent Dames)
Michele Hauf
The witch’s redemption…Kelyn Saint-Pierre always had a bit of a thing for Valor Hearst. But after he makes a harrowing sacrifice to save the tomboyish witch from a gruesome death, Kelyn’s certain that any spark between them is gone forever.Valor wishes she’d known about Kelyn’s crush before she ruined everything. There may be a way she can repay her smoking-hot champion…but it won’t be easy. C... read more
Fractured Memory (Love Inspired Suspense)
Jordyn Redwood
Fractured Memory by Jordyn Redwood released on Jul 05, 2016 is available now for purchase.
Necessary Evil
David Dun
When a private jet containing enough infectious toxins to destroy most of humanity crashes into the rugged California high country during a blizzard, an expert mountaineer and a female FBI agent discover the wreakage and its deadly contents, and soon they become the targets of a deadly assasin who will stop at nothing to conceal a conspiracy. Original.
James Becker, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Treasure of the Templars and The Lost Testament, delivers a breakneck thriller continuing the adventures of antiquarian bookseller Robin Jessop and encryption expert David Mallory.While trying to decipher what few clues they have managed to recover about the Templar’s secrets, Jessop and Mallory discover that the legendary “treasure” ... read more
The Christmas Triplets (Cupid's Bow, Texas)
Tanya Michaels
The Christmas Triplets by Tanya Michaels released on Nov 08, 2016 is available now for purchase.
The latest deliciously appealing mystery from the author of Death of a Chocolate Cheater... Anxious to take a break from bustling San Francisco, Darcy and her Aunt Abby pack up the food truck and head for the apple festival at Apple Valley, California. Aunt Abby is sure her almond apple tarts will be a hit and Darcy wants to collect more recipes for her food truck cookbook. But when a fellow g... read more
Dan has 2 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
Dan is professional and very knowledgable. At the same time, he's kind and funny. His style is uplifting, even when he's critiquing something, he does it in a way that it's clear yet still encouraging and remains positive. He takes time to point out strengths, which makes such a difference for a rookie with self doubt. He even goes deeper into the writing itself and gives you a general idea of ...
Read moreKatalin Iso, March 2019
This was my first novel, and first time getting my MS edited. Needless to say Dan was accommodating, friendly and understood my hesitations and was even quite patient. Which I sincerely appreciated. Dan helped me realize all of my errors, mistakes and challenged me to make it better. He was honest, upfront and did not sugarcoat anything. Which is exactly what I needed and wanted to hear. I hi...
Read moreRodney Thompson, October 2018
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Michele Alpern
Copy editor for Penguin Random House for 17 years, experience with bestselling authors of women's fiction, romance, mystery/thrillers.
New York, United States
Holly Ingraham
Former Editor at St. Martin's Press with over 10 years of industry experience, now freelancing with a focus on Romance, WF, YA & Mystery
East Rutherford, NJ, USA
