Hannah VanVels Ausbury

Hannah VanVels Ausbury – Editor

Former HarperCollins editor with 10 years' experience, specializing in YA, MG, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and thrillers. Let's work together!

Overview

WHO AM I?
I am an award-winning editor with 10+ years' experience. Most recently, I worked as the acquiring editor at a YA imprint at HarperCollins where I worked on everything from fantasy to historical, science fiction to romantic comedy, and much more. These days, in addition to editing, I'm also a literary agent and represent everything from picture books to select adult genres.

One of my big drivers is making literature more accessible, and I'd love to work with you to make your story the best it can be! I enjoy working on fantasy, science fiction, romantic comedies, and coming of age books. I love to see magical realism, fantasy, action adventure, and humor. I work on genre fiction for all audiences and ages at any stage of manuscript development.

MY STYLE
My editorial style is very collaborative, personal, and coach-like. These stories have lived inside your head a long time, and every writer pours a little bit of themselves into their characters. That's a scary thing, and I'm always sure to be respectful of that. I value collaboration, open communication, and transparency. It’s always my goal to preserve your voice as an author, honor your artistic vision, and make you come away feeling confident by providing specific, actionable feedback and resources for you to take beyond this manuscript alone.

WHO ARE YOU?
I’ve worked with award-winning and bestselling writers who are well-established, and I’ve worked with authors just starting out writing their first novel. I work with authors pursuing traditional publishing and those pursuing self-publishing. Writing is a journey, and I’ve collaborated with authors in a variety of places on their individual writing or publishing journey. Whether it’s your hundredth book or your very first, this is YOUR story and I am here to help you make it great.
Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Inspirational
Fiction
Fantasy Middle Grade Romance Science Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

HarperCollins

Nov, 2016 — Nov, 2019 (about 3 years)

Belcastro Agency

May, 2020 — Present

Per the AALA Canon of Ethics, please note that rendering any editorial service does not indicate or imply that I will represent the work as a literary agent.

Self-employed

Aug, 2012 — Present

Portfolio

Jade Fire Gold

Tan, June CL

A Broken Blade

Blair, Melissa

Carved From Wood (Crafting Humanity)

O'Meara, Brendan

Brendan O'Meara

The Sins on Their Bones (The Cursed Crown series)

Samotin, Laura R.

Random House Canada

Provoking The Lost

S. A. Claremont

I’ve never been great at dating, my best friend August would attest to that, so how I ended up entangled with three men makes your guess as good as mine. I don’t think encountering a mysterious man in the Colorado woods, poaching in a button down and cap-toe-b... read more
The Shattered Lands

Nation, Brenna

Being Fiction

Sparrow, T. G.

Where is Home?

Blazic, Natasha

Our Divine Mischief

Howard , Hanna

Twin Daggers

Connolly, MarcyKate

Devastation Class

Zipper, Glen

Wardens of Eternity

Courtney Allison Moulton

Magic and magical creatures. Immortal gods and goddesses. History and mythology. Strap in for this action-packed YA novel that that takes place over the days leading up to World War II, when Ziva must rely on her wit and magic to outmaneuver Nazis and ancient ... read more
Every Stolen Breath

Kimberly Gabriel

The Swarm is unrecognizable, untraceable, and unpredictable—random attacks on the streets of Chicago by a mob of crazed teens that leaves death in its wake. It’s been two years since the last attack, but Lia Finch has found clues that reveal the Swarm is ready... read more
In his debut book, The IF in Life: How to Get Off Life’s Sidelines and Become Your Best Self, former NFL running back and Dancing with the Stars champion Rashad Jennings shares his inspiring story and experiences that will encourage readers to follow their dre... read more
Packed with devotions on overcoming loneliness and worries, embracing confidence, and letting go of fears and doubts, these 31 devotions will inspire you to let the ups and downs of life give you unwavering strength and confidence while bringing you closer to ... read more
Grab your parka and compass and get ready for a thrilling trek through God’s Word! This 365-day devotional is filled with exciting daily devotions that will inspire you to read about, write about, and, most importantly, live out your faith.Recommended by more ... read more
Grab your parka and compass and get ready for adventure! The all-new, illustrated NIV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions: Polar Exploration Edition takes kids on a thrilling, enriching quest. This 365-day devotional is filled with exciting daily devotions and i... read more
“The Silence Between Us is eminently un-put-down-able.” (NPR)“This is a great YA contemporary (clean) romance that follows Maya as she navigates a new school and plans for her future. The addition of representation by a Deaf character was really beautifully do... read more
A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped … especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are ... read more
We Were Beautiful

Heather Hepler

The trace amount of alcohol in her bloodstream. The tremendous amount of guilt on her shoulders. A severely scarred face that is a daily reminder of the car crash that killed her sister. But when Mia finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel die... read more
Between Before and After (Blink)

Maureen Doyle McQuerry

A mother being dragged ever deeper into the icy waters of depression. A daughter who finds a devastating secret about a shadowy past buried in her mom’s dresser. And the key to unlocking a long-hidden family mystery that could save or destroy much more than th... read more
Within These Lines

Stephanie Morrill

“Within These Lines is a moving story of love, hope, and family set against the dark history of Japanese internment in America. This book had me captivated!” —Maureen McQuerry, YALSA award-winning author of The PeculiarsEvalina Cassano’s life in an Italian-Ame... read more
Freaky in Fresno

Laurie Boyle Crompton

Wallflowers. Beauty queens. Film buffs. Drama queens. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a day in her shoes? Two estranged cousins—geeky horror movie fanatic Ricki and makeup guru Lana—accidentally switch bodies for a fateful summer road tri... read more
Gold is wealth. Wealth is power. Power is a curse. This captivating fantasy adventure—the untold story of the daughter King Midas turned to gold—will dazzle you with the kind of action, adventure, twists, turns, and a bit of romance to make any fan of magic an... read more
Tiger Queen

Annie Sullivan

“TIGER QUEEN is a gorgeous, lush YA fiction…Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautifully crafted stand-alone book.” (YA and Kids Book Central)Two doors.Two choices.Life or death.Kateri, an arrogant warrior princess, has to fight in the arena against h... read more
The Memory Thief

Lauren Mansy

It’s always a risk to play with memories, when you can’t help but sink into a sea of others’ wishes, hopes, and dreams … but if losing myself means saving my mother, isn’t it worth it?In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the cit... read more

Hannah has 167 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Dru B.

Dru B.

Sep, 2024

Hannah is the best. Her feedback was thorough, thoughtful, and precise. She identified gaps that I overlooked and opportunities to improve that I never even considered. I look forward to incorporating her recommendations and elevating the work to reach its highest potential.
Sandy H.

Sandy H.

Sep, 2024

I am so happy to have worked with Hannah for a fourth time! Her feedback was again invaluable and helped me fix orphaned story lines and strengthen my main plots. She has a strong attention to detail while also keeping my story-big-picture in mind. I really appreciate her help!! :)
Joe H.

Joe H.

Sep, 2024

Hannah line edited my 100,000 word science fiction/fantasy manuscript. I have just begun looking through her changes, and I am already struck by her thorough work, including citations of the Chicago Manual of Style to back up her assertions. Since this is my first novel, I am as concerned with learning the craft as I am with perfecting this manuscript. Hannah has earned her pay as an editor and...
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Renee J.

Renee J.

Sep, 2024

Hannah gave me a great insider perspective, which made my manuscript shine even brighter and take it to the next level.
Morgan H.

Morgan H.

Sep, 2024

I have been working on my novel for quite some time and needed to get it out of my hands to help me move it forward. This was by far the most useful feedback, extremely detailed and straightforward without being discouraging. I highly recommend it was absolutely worth it.

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