Elisabeth Drumm – Editor

As your indexer, I will write a professional index (back-of-the book, scripture, or index locorum) to enhance your book and serve your readers for years to come. --- see a sample index in the Gallery below ---

My qualifications/background:

- Bachelor and Master's Degrees in English

- Indexing (Toronto Metropolitan University)

- Eight years experience working with independent authors helping them publish their books (editing, proofreading, formatting, and indexing)

- English teaching experience at the university level: I taught Grammar, Composition, and American Literature

*** A bit about me and (further below) why your book needs an index:

I have loved to read ever since my Dad took me to our local library at age 6. Working as a freelance editor and indexer allows me to read books for a living. How much fun is that?? I am good at all the tasks listed above, but my true passion is indexing. As an indexer I REALLY read a book (maybe the only person beside the author who looks at every word) because indexing involves defining concepts and ideas that go beyond simple key words. I really enjoy this, especially when I work on spiritual, self-help, religious, political, or historical books. I also know a lot about knitting and (Scottish country) dancing since I do both when I am not reading/working.

*** Why do you need an index?

A back-of-the book index serves two main audiences: readers who have read the book and those who have not; it lists ideas, concepts (explicitly stated or implied) along with names, places, and other key terms. In other words, it anticipates how a reader might approach the book and provides multiple access points to that information.

Very simple example: Tobacco might be listed as tobacco, smoking, cigarettes, vaping, etc. All of these terms would lead the reader to the pages where tobacco is discussed.

See a sample index I have written in the Gallery below.