Elizabeth Thurmond – Editor

I'm a proofreader and copyeditor with twelve years' experience in fantasy, science fiction, mystery and romance for adults, YA and Middle Grade fantasy, sci-fi and thrillers. My experience includes work with private clients, small publishers like Dreamspinner Press, and well-known brands like Hallmark and Disney. I also worked as a corporate proofreader for over a decade before fully transitioning into the publishing world. A great deal of my work on Reedsy has been with YA and fantasy authors, and I would love to receive more inquiries about mystery/suspense and sweet romance!

When working on a project, I first receive instructions and information about special needs or concerns from the client, such as whether the manuscript is being published or is being sent out to agents. I then provide a comprehensive markup with attention to typos, spelling, grammar, syntax, and any continuity errors that might jump out at me (such as whether a character's name changes halfway through the manuscript), using Microsoft Word with tracked changes. If I see anything that I think may need the author's attention -- an erroneous word choice, a confusing paragraph, etc. -- I flag it in a comment at the margins. Any queries I insert are for the author to consider, and I don't require an answer!

I have received some requests that I've had to turn down because the manuscript was not ready for my services. The proofreading and copyediting I provide are most effectively used as the final review before a manuscript is self-published or submitted to agents and editors -- think of me as the last line of defense for putting your best foot forward.

Previous projects include the Kane Chronicles and other books by Rick Riordan, as well as books by other authors in the Rick Riordan Presents line (middle-grade and YA fantasy by multicultural authors); books in the Star Wars High Republic series, Quetzalli's Last Song by Desiree Calderon de Fawaz, The Christmas Company by Alys Murray, Shoot This One and Shoot That One by Javier Grillo-Marxuach.