Emily Ohanjanians

Emily Ohanjanians – Editor

I've acquired and edited for Big 5 publishers for 15 years. Specializing in romance, thrillers, historical, women's fiction and more!

Overview

Hi, I’m Emily! I’ve been a publishing professional for over fifteen years. Most recently I worked as a senior editor at MIRA Books, a commercial fiction imprint at Harlequin/HarperCollins, where I acquired, edited and published novels ranging from debuts to established bestsellers. My portfolio includes novels in a broad range of genres, including book-club fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, humor fiction, suspense and thrillers, historical and speculative fiction. Please have a look at a selection of books I've edited and published below!


I love stories, and my favorite part of the job has always been working with writers to help them shape their stories to best fit their vision. I’ve spent years studying story theory and honing my ability to draw out the elements of a story—be it pacing, character development, emotional arc, or other features—that can be sharpened to take a story to the next level. I've applied these skills widely over my career, acquiring and publishing novels from debuts to New York Times bestsellers, guiding self-published authors to success, and helping querying authors sign with agents and traditional publishers.


I know what readers and publishing professionals respond most to, and can help guide your writing so that it stands out in this competitive market. I love sharing my knowledge and experience with authors, because without you, we wouldn't have the best thing in the world: books! Get in touch and let's take this journey together.



“Emily is an excellent, insightful editor. She’s knowledgeable, focused and right on the money with her suggestions. She’s also very easy to work with. If you’re looking for an experienced professional editor, you’ve found her. I recommend her highly.”—Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author


“Emily is meticulous, kind, focused and has a keen eye for detail, pointing out where to expand a scene, up the action, and deepen emotion. Her knowledge is unmatched. I highly recommend that should you ever get the chance to work with her, you take the opportunity immediately.”—Noelle Salazar, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Flight Girls and Angels of the Resistance


“I've worked with Emily on most of my books. She is a rarity in the business, for she provides expert, comprehensive guidance that strengthens your story, ensuring you achieve what you were aiming for. She understands the industry and she understands writers. Professional and personable on every level, she is a pleasure to work with.”—Rick Mofina, USA TODAY bestselling and Barry Award-winning author


"Emily is a writer's dream. Brilliant and incisive, she has the uncanny ability to intuit the heart of your story and, with kindness and encouragement, help you realize the fullest potential of your vision. I felt so lucky to be in the hands of someone so talented, dedicated, thorough, and savvy. She is a gift."—Kerry Kletter, author of East Coast Girls

Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy LGBTQ Fiction Romance Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Honours Bachelor's Degree (majors in Literature and Linguistics)
  • Publishing Certificate

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2022 — Present

Professional book editing services for fiction writers, offering developmental edits, editorial assessments, line edits, submission package services, and consulting.

Harlequin/HarperCollins

Mar, 2007 — Apr, 2022 (about 15 years)

Professional senior editor of commercial fiction including several New York Times, USA TODAY and Globe and Mail bestselling authors. Sought out and acquired breakout commercial fiction in a variety of genres including book club fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, thrillers and suspense, humor fiction and women's fiction. Project managed books through their publishing life cycle from acquisition through release, including edits, cover art and copy, endorsements, metadata, marketing, publicity and sales. Worked closely with authors on proposals, assessments, developmental and line edits to ensure their stories are in the best possible shape before publication. Helped to guide authors' career growth to ensure commercial success and longevity. Built the careers of bestselling authors such as Brenda Novak, Karen Robards, Gena Showalter, Noelle Salazar, Rick Mofina, Jean Meltzer, Bunmi Laditan and more. Managed other editors and created content for imprint's core assets including website and social media.

Portfolio

Every Second

Mofina, R.

East Coast Girls

Kletter, K.

Last Seen

Mofina, R.

Search for Her

Mofina, R.

Emily has 9 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Scott S.

Scott S.

Feb, 2023

It was great to work with Emily. She had lots of strong feedback and provided a fresh prospective on my manuscript. Her report covered all aspects that needed revisions and great ideas on how to improve it. Thank you Emily!
James R.

James R.

Jan, 2023

Emily provided valuable thought-provoking feedback in her Editorial Assessment, both in her extensive written comments, and during the follow-up phone call. She delivered everything on time and kept me informed with consistent and clear communication. I would without hesitation work with Emily again on a future project.
Kimberly B.

Kimberly B.

Dec, 2022

Emily was an absolute joy to work with! She has an incredible depth of experience, knowledge and insight into how to make your book the best it can be. It was clear from her feedback that she gave each section of my work thoughtful consideration and review, and her suggestions/comments were not only clear and easy to comprehend, but were of the utmost value to my writing experience. This is my ...
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Monika M.

Monika M.

Nov, 2022

Emily is a great developmental editor. She provides plenty of feedback on the manuscript. However, she works her best when the writer provides appropriate details about the intention with the manuscript and details about his or her own life.
Jared M.

Jared M.

Oct, 2022

Working with Emily was both a pleasure and a privilege. While her profile was a recent addition to the Reedsy platform, I was impressed by Emily's extensive experience with editing and publishing, and in particular, the number of authors who work with her on multiple titles - serving as the ultimate review/reference. Her feedback was reasoned, intelligent, considerate, and ultimately, constru...
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