Erin McClary

Erin McClary – Editor

Developmental and line-level editor of adult fiction and nonfiction for 5+ years. Former acquiring editor at Sourcebooks.

Overview

*Please note: I am consistently booked out two-three months in advance*

I am a former professional acquiring editor for Sourcebooks, now the sixth largest publisher in the U.S. My focus is on adult fiction and nonfiction. In my previous life, I worked in brand and digital marketing, so I bring a wealth of knowledge when it comes to figuring out how to position a book and what edits are needed to make it shine. I am particularly adept at evaluating characters, plot, pacing, and dialogue to help your book be commercially viable and appeal to a broad readership. I live for books and reading and love helping writers achieve their dreams!

Books I've worked on have been chosen for Target Book Club and Target Author of the Year, Book of the Month, LibraryReads, Hoopla Book Club, Reader's Digest Editor's Picks, and Amazon Editor's Best of the Month; earned starred reviews from trade publications; nominated/shortlisted for awards, including the Goodreads Choice Awards; and were Indie Bestsellers.

Here's what some of my authors have said about working with me:

"With compassion and a keen eye, Erin walked me through her notes which identified some plot and timeline inconsistencies. Not once did I question her abilities nor did her suggestions stifle my voice." —Terah Shelton Harris, author of One Summer in Savannah and Long After We Are Gone

“I worked with Erin on three manuscripts—all of which were immeasurably improved by her contributions. Not only did my work benefit, but my confidence as a writer matured. She is kind while thorough, encouraging while discerning, professional while personal, and perhaps most importantly she is organized and responsive. I am a better writer for having worked with her.” —Lo Patrick, author of The Floating Girls and The Night the River Wept

“I’ve worked with Erin on three books. She immediately saw my vision and pinpointed what I might do to enhance the story and my telling of it. She’s spotted where the narrative lags, highlighted detail that might be extraneous, and identified inconsistencies in my plot and characters. Erin is an excellent editor and a delight to work with." —Penny Haw, author of The Invincible Miss Cust, The Woman at the Wheel, and Follow Me to Africa

"Erin brought clarity to my organization, my structure, my language, and, most of all, my vision. Without Erin, I don’t think this book would have been as complete, as focused, and successful as it has been!” —Mari K. Eder, author of The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line

"Erin is professional, responsive and thorough. She made my book stronger through her developmental editing process. If you’re looking for a strong editor, Erin is the smart and compassionate editor every writer wishes to have on their team.” —Megy Karydes, author of 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Humanities & Social Sciences
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Fantasy Historical Fiction Romance Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2024 — Present
Independent book editor offering developmental and line-level editing along with nonfiction book proposal assessments and more.

Sourcebooks

Apr, 2022 — Apr, 2024 (about 2 years)
I was hired as an associate acquisitions editor in December 2019 and promoted to editor in April 2022. I acquire and edit about 15-20 books a year across adult fiction and nonfiction.

Sourcebooks

Dec, 2019 — Apr, 2022 (over 2 years)

Portfolio

One Summer in Savannah: A Novel

Shelton Harris, Terah

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Refuge

VanPatten, Bill

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
In Every Mirror She's Black: A Novel

Ákínmádé Åkerström, Lolá

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Norma and the Blue Hour

Delyani, Chris

Solid Oaktown Books

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
The Swamps: A Thriller

Glass, Seraphina Nova

Podium Publishing

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Follow Me to Africa: A Novel

Haw, Penny

Sourcebooks Landmark

Developmental Editing
Fast Boys and Pretty Girls: A Novel

Patrick, Lo

Sourcebooks Landmark

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Nobody Knows You're Here: A Thriller

Greenwood, Bryn

Podium Publishing

Developmental Editing
A Showgirl's Rules for Falling in Love

Murphy, Alice

Union Square & Co.

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
#GIRLFIGHT

McKenna Link, Suzanne

Suzanne McKenna Link

Proofreading
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Long After We Are Gone: A Novel

Shelton Harris, Terah

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
When a Child Dies

Aagaard, Claire

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
The Secret Next Door

Taylor, Rebecca

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing

Erin has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Laura C.

Laura C.

Mar, 2025

Erin was great to work with, and offered great advice! After revision, I’ll be coming back to her to collaborate some more.
Erin M.
Thank you, Laura! It was a pleasure to work with you as well, and I would welcome further collaboration when you are ready.
Laura J.

Laura J.

Jan, 2024

I appreciated Erin's promptness and respect for my time, her willingness to chat with me prior to making an agreement, and her attention to my areas of concern. She clearly understood the story I wished to tell and focused her suggestions on furthering that goal. She worked with the "words on the...
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Erin M.
Thank you so much for this kind review, Laura. I enjoyed working with you immensely on your beautiful and timely novel and would love to work with you on your next book. Wishing you all the best!
Ron T.

Ron T.

Jan, 2024

Erin is a pro. She has an eagle eye that catches even the smallest mistakes, including ones missed by my first editor. My only regret is not hiring her in the first place. I won't make that mistake again. If you're looking for a meticulous, professional editor who knows what they're doing and wha...
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Erin M.
What a lovely review, Ron! I truly enjoyed working with you and would welcome the opportunity to do so again on your next book. Looking forward to picking up a copy of this one once it's out in the...
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Chris D.

Chris D.

Jan, 2024

I had previously hired Erin to copy edit my manuscript. For that project, Erin had more than demonstrated her investment in my project, so much so that I couldn't resist hiring her again to review my query letter. Thanks to her advice, my letter is strong enough for me to make my pitch to agents ...
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Chris D.

Chris D.

Dec, 2023

The best I can ever say about any editor is when I can say, "That editor saved me from myself." That was my experience with Erin. She gave me a thoughtful and comprehensive review (a week ahead of time to boot), leaving me that much more confident about my manuscript. Price was eminently reasonab...
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Erin M.
Thank you for this wonderful review, Chris! It was a pleasure working with you and getting to read your beautiful novel.

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