Fiona Hallowell

Fiona Hallowell – Editor

I am a veteran trade book editor of fiction and nonfiction, committed to helping writers find their voice and produce their best work.

Overview

I am an experienced trade book editor with expertise in fiction and nonfiction, including New York Times bestsellers. Over a twenty-year career I have worked with a diverse range of publishers, including HarperCollins, Plume, Macmillan, Black Dog & Leventhal, and Reader’s Digest Trade Publishing. I have successfully acquired and shepherded projects from concept to bound book, and am committed to making the editorial process professional, fun, and collaborative. I enjoy working on commercial and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, including memoir and inspirational works, and practical reference. My goal is to walk each author through the editorial process with equal amounts of compassion and constructive criticism in order to elicit each writer’s best work.
Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Literary Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Inspirational Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self Employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

Between 2000 and 2010, and again, currently, I have offered expert freelance editorial services including manuscript evaluation, developmental and line editing and proofreading. I’m always thrilled when I can help a writer bring out their best work, and I give equal consideration to both traditionally published and independently published authors.

Reader's Digest Trade Publishing

Jan, 2013 — Dec, 2014 (almost 2 years)

As a Senior Editor at Reader's Digest I acquired and edited nonfiction titles with the purpose of informing, inspiring, and simplifying. Titles included The Kindness Diaries, Singing to a Bulldog, The Ultimate Book of Vegetables, Easy Fixes for Everyday Things, 1801 Home Remedies, The Dumb Book, Funny Family Jokes, Welcome Home Mama and Boris, 13 Things Rich People Won’t Tell You, Stories in Uniform.

HarperColllins

Jun, 1992 — Jun, 2000 (about 8 years)

As an editor at HarperCollins, I acquired the New York Times bestsellers, Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol and Downsize This! by Michael Moore. Edited Adventures in a TV Nation by Michael Moore and Kathleen Glynn; How to Get Married After 35, by Helena Hacker Rosenberg; Ready, Okay! by Adam Cadre; My First Cousin Once Removed by Sarah Payne Stuart; Towns Without Rivers by Michael Parker and The House of Forgetting by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

Portfolio

Every schoolchild knows that "in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue"―but what they don't teach you in history class is that he wasn't the only one. In The Race to the New World, Douglas Hunter tells for the first time the fascinating tale of how Christopher C... read more
An Incredibly Moving Tale Of One Sister’s Tribute To Her Fallen Brother –And The Everyday Heroes Who Are Still Rescuing The Amazing Animals Who Sustain Our Soldiers’ Spirits.Growing up in the well-heeled Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Carey Neesley... read more
From the author of the highly acclaimed literary novel Carry Me Like Water comes a stunning, dramatic psychological thriller that delivers on every level and reaffirms Luis Arrea's claim that Benjamin Sàenz is "writer with greatness in him." In The House of Fo... read more
Drawing D - Day

Ugo Giannini

On June 6, 1944, Ugo Giannini landed on Omaha Beach at H+70 minutes as one of a platoon of military police assigned to the 29th Division. Ugo's team was to control the incoming traffic. There were thirty-seven men in his platoon; they were decimated in the fir... read more
The art of being truly funny is an undervalued one in these angst-ridden times, but it is an ability that acclaimed novelist Sarah Payne Stuart has in abundance. Her talents have never been on more glorious display than in My First Cousin Once Removed, a memoi... read more
Singing to a Bulldog presents the practical and motivational lessons Anson Williams, an accomplished actor, director, singer and producer gleaned from his life experience and words of wisdom from the head janitor at one of his first jobs. Growing up in 1950s C... read more
In the same spirit of Reader’s Digest magazine’s popular 13 Things They Won’t Tell You series, the editors at America’s Most Trusted Magazine have developed the ultimate roadmap to build your fortune no matter what your salary.Did you read about the janitor wh... read more
Based on an American television show, of the same name, it brims with Michael Moore's special brand of subversive humour that melds outright silliness with poignant realisation. From the oh–so–obvious Serial Killer Next Door who's ignored by his neighbours: to... read more
Towns Without Rivers

Michael Parker

Revisiting Trent, North Carolina -- the town so poignantly rendered in his acclaimed novel, Hello Down There -- Michael Parker picks up the story of Reka Speight, a woman determined to discover a wider world than the rural backwater of her youth.Recently relea... read more
The incredible journey of one man who sets out to circumnavigate the globe on a vintage motorbike fueled by kindness.Follow the inspirational journey of a former stockbroker who leaves his unfulfilling desk job in search of a meaningful life. He sets out from ... read more

Fiona has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

David B.

David B.

Jun, 2023

My 'clean,' post-copy/line-edited manuscript still needed diligent scrutiny to make it suitable for publishing. Thank you, Fiona, for a job well done. Job completed on time. Questions were answered promptly. I would seek Fiona for further edits. David Basinski, author, 'The Vet's Apprentice'
Peg K.

Peg K.

Mar, 2023

This was my first time hiring a copyeditor and I'm so glad that I found Fiona. Her edits were meticulous. Her suggestions were thoughtful and spot on. She took great care to ensure consistency, reduce repetition, and preserve my voice throughout the manuscript. I've learned so much from her!
Kathy I.

Kathy I.

Jul, 2022

Fiona did an incredible job editing my first-ever manuscript and making it much better book. She had wonderful ideas of how to open with a better hook than I had originally written and made the whole story so much stronger. Her exceptional work helped me get a traditional publishing deal--forever grateful!
Sophie C.

Sophie C.

Jan, 2019

It was a pleasure to work with Fiona. She helped point out what was lacking in my work in progress and was crucial in making my manuscript better.
Tom P.

Tom P.

Apr, 2018

Fiona did a nice job editing my manuscript. Was happy with the result.

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