Overview
I have nearly 20 years' experience as a publishing industry veteran.
My journey started in the lowly newsroom of a local newspaper company in the Washington, DC metro area, before heading back up north. I simultaneously began my graduate program at NYU and working at John Wiley & Sons. From the publishing house I jumped over to the agenting side where I could have deeper relationships with authors and their work. It seemed to me, and still does, that acquisitions editors in particular are being pulled too far in the direction of meeting quotas and away from the craft of writing and editing. While I was at the Doris S. Michaels (DSM) Literary Agency, I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with amazing authors. I relished discovering new talent, helping refine ideas, synthesizing those ideas into the perfect pitch, shaping book proposals, and getting great books into the world. I got to work on such notable books as New York Times Bestsellers THE MELT METHOD, THE BAKER'S DAUGHTER, and THE HOUSE OF DIMON, Wall Street Journal Bestsellers THE ADVERSITY PARADOX and THE ANGEL INSIDE, and Audie Award winner RAIN.
Hallmark Cards, Inc. came calling as they were looking for someone with both general publishing industry expertise and editorial craft mastery to help guide and expand their gift book division. As the senior editorial strategist and associate publisher, I had the joy of working with some of the most talented creative writers on the planet. I'm a strong believer in letting the writer's voice be heard and preserving their distinct style, while still shaping their copy into the strongest possible package. I embrace collaboration in its truest form. I have a deep respect for the writer and the craft of writing while also considering the needs of the market and current publishing business trends.
Now I work for myself and my clients.
Offering the unique perspective of having been a writer, agent, and publisher, I specialize in pitches, query letters, book proposals, manuscript consultations and developmental editing, copywriting and ghost writing.
My journey started in the lowly newsroom of a local newspaper company in the Washington, DC metro area, before heading back up north. I simultaneously began my graduate program at NYU and working at John Wiley & Sons. From the publishing house I jumped over to the agenting side where I could have deeper relationships with authors and their work. It seemed to me, and still does, that acquisitions editors in particular are being pulled too far in the direction of meeting quotas and away from the craft of writing and editing. While I was at the Doris S. Michaels (DSM) Literary Agency, I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with amazing authors. I relished discovering new talent, helping refine ideas, synthesizing those ideas into the perfect pitch, shaping book proposals, and getting great books into the world. I got to work on such notable books as New York Times Bestsellers THE MELT METHOD, THE BAKER'S DAUGHTER, and THE HOUSE OF DIMON, Wall Street Journal Bestsellers THE ADVERSITY PARADOX and THE ANGEL INSIDE, and Audie Award winner RAIN.
Hallmark Cards, Inc. came calling as they were looking for someone with both general publishing industry expertise and editorial craft mastery to help guide and expand their gift book division. As the senior editorial strategist and associate publisher, I had the joy of working with some of the most talented creative writers on the planet. I'm a strong believer in letting the writer's voice be heard and preserving their distinct style, while still shaping their copy into the strongest possible package. I embrace collaboration in its truest form. I have a deep respect for the writer and the craft of writing while also considering the needs of the market and current publishing business trends.
Now I work for myself and my clients.
Offering the unique perspective of having been a writer, agent, and publisher, I specialize in pitches, query letters, book proposals, manuscript consultations and developmental editing, copywriting and ghost writing.
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Delia is a highly experienced editor with a keen sense of today’s literary marketplace. She’s a real “writer’s editor,” with a deep understanding of character development, plot pacing, and more—in both fiction and nonfiction.
—Patricia Crisafulli, M.F.A.
Delia has obvious respect for writers and writing. She also has broad and deep knowledge of the craft, as well as a nuanced understanding of markets and consumers across genres. Most importantly, she is a master of collaborative vision building. She helped bring my ideas into clearer focus and made sure that my own voice and vision grew stronger as the work developed.
—Melvina Young, Sr. Writer/Creative, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Delia offered valuable feedback and insights on the book proposal for THE MELT METHOD. She was professional, easy to work with, and an enthusiastic advocate for the project. Delia really understands the business and craft of writing.
—Sue Hitzmann, "The MELT Method"
Services
Non-Fiction
Business & Management
Children’s Non-Fiction
Christian Non-Fiction
Inspirational
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Picture Books
Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Work experience
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Jul, 2015 —
Oct, 2019
(over 4 years)
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Jan, 2012 —
Jul, 2015
(over 3 years)
DSM Agency
May, 2011 —
Dec, 2011
(7 months)
DSM Agency
May, 2008 —
May, 2011
(about 3 years)
DSM Agency
May, 2007 —
May, 2008
(about 1 year)
DSM Agency
May, 2005 —
May, 2007
(about 2 years)
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Jun, 2004 —
May, 2005
(11 months)
Connection Newspapers
Jul, 2003 —
Sep, 2003
(2 months)
Portfolio
Join Rainbow Brite and her friends on an adventure to save the day. As Rainbow Land is threatened by evil, lessons of friendship and bravery are taught at every turn, making this character a true classic.Hardcover; 32 pages.Written by Melvina YoungIllustrated ... read more
Share a sweet rhyming story of a nana's forever love for her grandchildren. When they turn the pages, they'll hear grandma's voice and know you're close at heart.
Art of the Event: Complete Guide to Special Event Design and Décor is the tenth title in the Wiley Event Management Series. It provides event planners with professional-level information that explains how to decorate a location for a special event. From assess... read more
It is 1961 and Puerto Rico is trapped in a tug-of-war between those who want to stay connected to the United States and those who are fighting for independence. For eleven-year-old Verdita Ortiz-Santiago, the struggle for independence is a battle fought much c... read more
RAIN is the first business parable written by bestselling business book author Jeffrey J. Fox. The parable follows a young New England paperboy, named Rain, as he learns the business of being in business and quickly becomes the best paperboy in town. Through a... read more
Harvey Mackay, Doris Christopher, Pete Dawkins, Clay Jones and John Pappajohn know that the answer to how you recover from career toppling adversity, and then go on to achieve pinnacles of success lies in firsthand knowledge of "the adversity paradox". They al... read more
There will come a time when you must decide to lead the life someone else has chosen for you…or the life you want.According to legend, when a young boy asked the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo why he was working so hard hitting the block of marble that ... read more
Master the art of entertaining and cement lasting business relationships in the process You're at a fancy downtown restaurant for dinner with a million-dollar business deal on the table. The waiter hands you the wine list. Now what? So much for that shiny M.B.... read more
Nearly two decades after Rwanda's horrific genocide, the country has been transformed. High rises are going up in the capital city of Kigali; a newly established stock exchange is attracting investors; and the economy is transitioning from subsistence agricult... read more
Remind a friend or family member living with cancer of the well of strength they possess within themselves. This caring book contains supportive words of encouragement, hope and healing to help them get through this difficult time.
Join Rainbow Brite and her friends on an adventure to save the day. As Rainbow Land is threatened by evil, lessons of friendship and bravery are taught at every turn, making this character a true classic.Hardcover; 32 pages.Written by Melvina YoungIllustrated ... read more
It's hard when life doesn't turn out like we'd hoped, or throws us unexpected curve balls. Sometimes we need to be reminded that these challenges don't make us any less of a person, or any less loved. Remind someone (or yourself) of that important affirmation ... read more
In this New York Times bestseller, two women in different eras face similar life-altering decisions, the politics of exclusion, the terrible choices we face in wartime, and the redemptive power of love.In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for h... read more
Jamie Dimon is Wall Street's biggest player. Following the 11th-hour rescue of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan, his profile has reached stratospheric levels. And while the deals and decisions he's made have usually turned out to be the right ones, his journey to the ... read more
In The MELT Method, therapist Sue Hitzmann offers a breakthrough self-treatment system to combat chronic pain and erase the effects of aging and active living—in as little as ten minutes a day.With a focus on the body's connective tissues and the role they pla... read more
Delia has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Meghan S.
Nov, 2020
Priscilla B.
Jul, 2020
Mary W.
May, 2020
