Elise Smith

Elise Smith – Editor

2 Editing Wives🏳️‍🌈 Edited a NYT Bestselling Author (3M copies) + Book-to-Film (1.3M views). Free Step-by-Step Calls on Publishing 101.

Overview

Publishing Bootcamp Co-Founder. 355+ authors mentored.

There’s no feeling like seeing your own book on the shelf.

I loved getting three emails from clients who have that amazing feeling. One author quit her corporate job to become a speaker and travel the country. The second started with no following and one of her books became a feature-length film, and the last author’s email made me cry: "This book is a wonderful legacy to leave my children, the proof of a dream that came true."

None of them were famous. None had published before. But they all have proof of a dream that came true.

I want that dream for you.

I have built a tiny house, sailed the SOC, and cycled across the USA, but my favorite journeys are the ones I have taken with my authors.

In teaching at my publishing bootcamp, co-founding a book editing agency with my wife, and consulting as an academic writing coach, I can see beyond the current manuscript to the driving vision underneath. We’ve worked with the largest online HR encyclopedia in the world and a book that was turned into a feature-length film with over 1,300,000 views.

Editing goes far beyond grammar. It’s about telling stories that are smooth, crisp, and compelling.

Recent projects:

⸺Led a publishing accelerator intro for 315 entrepreneurs and founders.

⸺Simon & Schuster book by Chip Heath whose books have been NYTimes bestsellers, sold 3,000,000 copies, and been translated into 35 languages.

⸺Co-produced National Endowment for the Arts BR memoir workshop.

It’s NOT just 1-on-1 coaching and editing. I’m a publishing mentor, supporting authors as they go from manuscript to publication. I provide:

⦿ Monthly group coaching calls to meet other authors.

⦿ Open office hours to get ideas off your chest.

Your First Step: a complimentary 15-minute phone call. Here's to dreams that come true!

⸺⸺⸺

“Being a first-time author feels overwhelming. I needed a path to efficiency. To cut through the weeds. Elise walked me through the essence of what I needed to know, including mindset, actionable steps, and real examples in order to get the ball rolling. Her coaching made the process not just smooth but enjoyable.”

- Alessandra Veronesi, A New Banana

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Health & Wellbeing Inspirational Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Publishing Cohort and Seminar

Nov, 2022 — Present
My wife and I work with authors on all publishing paths from Simon and Schuster to Amazon KDP. We started this course to teach PUBLISHING 101: how to launch your book without breaking the bank (or, more importantly, your soul).

Editing Agency For NYTimes Bestselling Authors

Sep, 2020 — Present
From NYTimes bestselling authors to Amazon #1 bestsellers, my wife and I have helped over 355 authors turn their dream book into a reality, including NYTimes bestselling author Chip Heath whose books have sold over 3 million copies and our workshop students at the National Endowment for the Arts Big Reads program.

How To Disappoint Your Mom

Feb, 2022 — Dec, 2023 (almost 2 years)
Hint: it’s not about your mom. It’s about not disappointing yourself. What happens when we transition from making someone else proud to making ourselves proud? This mini series interview podcast features conversations with culture catalysts and risk takers who gave up on fitting in. This is an honest and practical guide for living a life that is genuine, undaunted, and, most importantly, yours.

WxD

Jan, 2020 — Apr, 2021 (over 1 year)
Second-in-line to CEO and founder, led hiring and onboarding. Co-managed branding builds: project stages included creating a cohesive marketing strategy and completing competitor research.

Northern Illinois University

Nov, 2015 — Nov, 2017 (about 2 years)
Coached writers and authors on developing consistent and concise content. Onboarding lead for new tutor interviewing and training process.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers

Heath, Chip

Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Fortune Cookies For Law Students

Parikh-Chopra, Kashish

Independently published

Book Coaching
Book Coaching

Elise has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Martha N.

Martha N.

Jul, 2026

When I started my search for a developmental editor for my first book, the process seemed daunting. I needed to cut my memoir manuscript down by 25%, and I knew that I couldn’t do it myself. I was just too close to it. After visiting nearly every qualifying profile on Reedsy and interviewing ten...
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Elise S.
Thank you so much, Martha. I loved working on your book and I'm hoping you'll write another! :)
Dana N.

Dana N.

Jul, 2026

Elise is patient, knowledgeable and takes the time to understand the goals of your personal project. She is a remarkable partner on the journey to tell your story. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone!
Elise S.
Thanks, Dana. Working with you was wonderful! <3
Robert H.

Robert H.

Feb, 2026

Elise excelled in her work on my project. Her editorial comments were detailed and thoughtful. They raised questions and, importantly, offered potential solutions. She introduced me to new tools, including a way to map the overall arc of the story in relation to interwoven "mini-arcs" that create...
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Elise S.
Thank you, Rob. I really enjoyed working together. Can't wait to read the finished piece!
Amanda K.

Amanda K.

Feb, 2026

I literally cannot say enough good things about Elise. Elise went well above my expectations. Her editorial notes were clear, helpful, and actionable. She provided additional calls to talk through more complex questions and feedback. I feel I learned more from her than I did in a four-year underg...
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Elise S.
I'm so glad our paths crossed, Amanda. Comma Day is important, and something everything should know about. I'm honored I got to be a part of this book being birthed into the world!
Heather H.

Heather H.

Jan, 2026

Working with Elise was one of the best investments I’ve made as a writer. From our very first conversation, she was thoughtful, insightful, and deeply engaged with both me and my work. Her feedback was consistently clear and actionable, and she delivered it on time. What truly set her apart was ...
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Elise S.
I have LOVED working together, Heather! And I'm lucky to be able to continue doing so. Can't wait to see what this book becomes!! You've put so much hard work and enthusiasm into it already, and it...
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