Overview
I've worked as an editor for multiple publishing houses as well as indie authors. I have a BA in English Language and Literature and have edited over 400 titles, many of which have hit The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
I offer developmental and content edits, where I focus on issues like plot/structure, character development, world building, dialogue, pacing, redundancy, continuity and consistency, and point of view. If needed, I can also help authors brainstorm possible solutions. I offer copy edits, where I look at grammar, punctuation, and spelling. I check there are no inconsistencies, repetition, or ambiguity. I look out for overused words, phrases, patterns, autonomous body parts, dangling modifiers, and all the grammar and style issues that can clog up your story or jolt the reader’s eye. I also provide manuscript and query evaluations, and I’m experienced writing blurbs/back cover copy.
I specialize in romance (all heat levels and all subgenres), but I’ve also edited other genres. There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting to work with an author to bring a great story into the world!
I am currently accepting new clients.
Acknowledgments:
“I've worked with Heidi on the edits for two dozen published titles, and I can say with confidence she has made me a better writer.” ~ Cat Johnson, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
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“Once Heidi has done her magic, I feel completely confident sending my story out into the world. She makes every book better!” ~ Erin Nicholas, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
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“If you’re looking for a professional, reliable, efficient editor with a great eye for detail, look no further. Heidi’s one of the best. Working with her has made me a better writer. I highly recommend Heidi.” ~ N.J. Walters, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
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"Heidi Shoham is an extremely talented editor! We've worked together on many of my books, and she makes every one of them better. I highly recommend her!" ~ Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author
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"I've worked with Heidi on multiple projects and her edits are quick, comprehensive and always make the book better!" ~ Sarah M. Anderson, RITA award winning author
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“I trust Heidi beyond question, have faith that she is helping me craft and write the best book I can, and willingly put my career in her hands. She has this amazing ability to see to the heart of my characters. I can’t fathom what I would do without her.” ~ Lexxie Couper
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“Heidi is fast, sharp, and straightforward. She is thorough and meticulous, yet knows how to balance writing technicalities with author voice. She has the ability to look at the story as a whole, as well as sentence by sentence. Her suggestions make my work better.” ~ Jenna Bayley-Burke
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“Heidi has a total grasp of my writing and knows how to take my words and make them sing. She is always very careful not to change my voice and her edits continue to make my books winners. I highly recommend her to everyone.” ~ Desiree Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author
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“From working with Heidi over multiple books, I’ve found her to be prompt, professional, and thorough. I've learned more about pacing and sentence structure from Heidi than any craft book or writing course. I gladly recommended her to other authors.” ~ Laura Trentham
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"I love working with Heidi. She's easy to work with. Is able to pinpoint what needs work and throws in smiles and praise when she likes something, too. She definitely helped make my writing better. I highly recommend her." ~ Natasha Moore
Services
Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Humor & Comedy
LGBTQ Fiction
Paranormal Romance
Romance
Science Fiction
Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS)
English (SA)
English (UK)
English (US)
Certifications
- BA English Language and Literature
Work experience
Self-employed
Sep, 2006 —
Present
I provide comprehensive developmental, content, and copy edits to authors who self-publish. I focus on the story as a whole, as well as look at it line by line, to make sure it all works.
I work with authors to get the very best version of their stories ready for readers, all while keeping the author's voice intact.
I also work with some authors developing ideas and outlines and write back-cover copy/blurbs.
Harlequin, a division of HarperCollins
Apr, 2020 —
Present
* Provide substantive/line edits, checking for consistency from scene to scene (GMCs, actions, descriptions, etc.).
* Edit to improve paragraph structure, scene structure, and transitions.
* Revise repetitive words/phrases/structures.
* Check dialogue is authentic, believable, and flows.
* Tighten wordy sentences.
* Check for readability, pacing, clarity, and consistency.
Entangled Publishing
Apr, 2016 —
Aug, 2018
(over 2 years)
* Reviewed submissions, prepared and presented acquisition proposals to the acquisition board, provided developmental, content/line edits.
* Developed and maintained the vision and quality of the imprints through controlled acquisitions and QA of every book published on the line.
* Collaborated with the authors, marketing, art, and administrative departments. taking manuscript from acquisition to publication.
* Wrote back cover copy and worked with various departments to design the best marketing tools and metadata.
* Managed the imprint’s production editor and publicist as well the day-to-day editorial operations, including writing outlines for spec projects and approving all acquisition proposals for the imprint before they were brought to the acquisitions board.
Samhain Publishing
Jun, 2006 —
Mar, 2016
(over 9 years)
* Reviewed submissions, acquired manuscripts, provided content/line edits, reviewed copy edits and galleys, took the manuscript from acquisition to publication.
* Wrote back cover copy and tip sheets, coordinated between the author and the marketing and art departments to develop a comprehensive marketing package.
* Developed anthologies, including recruiting specific authors, promoting interest within the writing community, considering submissions, acquisition and editing the anthology.
Portfolio
Life is not going well for archaeologist Sam Bellamy. She’s stuck in the middle of the ocean on a salvage boat with people who want her dead. It wasn’t her gift for being able to sense objects of power that got her here, rather her need to make a secret societ... read more
When CEO David Strong is strong-armed into demonstrating Kama Sutra yoga poses for a couples class—which is as awkward as it sounds—he’s put in one compromising position after another. On top of that, the co-instructor gets him all worked up, and she’s totally... read more
"I was hooked from the first page. It sizzles with sexy tension, and Cole is HOT!" - Jennifer Blackwood, USA Today bestselling authorI have my hands full taking care of my little sister and covering for my uncle as ranch foreman. The last thing I need is a Tex... read more
Darius Varkas is a drakon. He's neither human nor dragon.He's both.He's also the target of an ancient order who want to capture all drakons for their blood. When fresh, a drakon's blood can cure any illness and prolong a human's life, and the Knights will stop... read more
Sick of the spy game, former CIA operative Vic Walker takes time off from his security firm to figure out just what he wants out of life. But peace and quiet isn’t in the cards with a former business partner and ex-lover like MacKenzie Donovan. Mac doesn’t lik... read more
Jaime Cruz has a to-do list a mile long. She needs to get back to her hometown, find a new teaching position and a place to live, and ensure all the preparations for her sister’s big wedding go off perfectly. Good thing she’s organized and has a strict itinera... read more
Venture capitalist Cameron Price is a workaholic and great at his job, but his boss is convinced Cam needs a more balanced life. A wife on his arm would prove Cam’s the right man to take over the company. When a gorgeous caterer cooks up the perfect event and ... read more
Megan Carlton’s secret affair with financier Brandon Knight ended when he pulled off a hostile takeover of her family’s hotel empire and then kissed another woman. Broke and alone, Megan starts a new life and learns to stand on her own, then Brandon finds her ... read more
Robyn Tindall’s new boss has a penchant for running off new personal assistants before lunch, but she’s not about to let herself be fired by the billionaire with a bad attitude, no matter how good he looks. She’s determined to be indispensable and unflappable,... read more
After her father’s untimely death, the only things Lily Harris is left with are debt and scandal—and her late father’s business partner, Jake Tolliver, looking over her shoulder. Lily isn’t interested in being another one of Jake’s many conquests, no matter ho... read more
Hannah Daniels reads steamy romance novels to forget her last trip on the love roller coaster shredded her heart and tossed it like confetti. Her instincts about men stink, but at work they’re on point. Only her busy schedule means she reads whenever she can m... read more
Trent McNeil was a classic trust-fund kid until he watched a team of firefighters save his family home. From that moment on, he rebelled against the path his parents were determined to keep him on. Now a San Diego firefighter, he knows he'll eventually be expe... read more
After an accident in the line of duty, firefighter Roberto DeRosa’s life is turned upside down. His career fighting fires is over, and he’s left with an uncertain future and an injury that makes communicating difficult for him. The only time words flow easily ... read more
Over-forty, single mom Tess Howland's life is all about caring for other people. Indulging in a one night stand is just what she needs. She doesn't expect to meet anyone she would introduce to her kids, especially not some rich playboy who acts like a big kid ... read more
For Alexa McIntyre, the answer to everything comes down to numbers. Three sons. One divorce. One great life...except her boys are getting older and they really need a man around. Enter the number twenty, as in after twenty minutes with someone she knows whethe... read more
Art professor Anita Delgado spends eleven months of the year working. July is her month to cut loose, paint, and pick a guy to make the summer memorable. But this year she isn’t in a tropical location with an exotic man like she'd planned. She’s stuck in small... read more
When quiet, bookish Izzy Simon accepts a two-week assignment as an assistant for an author of children’s books, it seems like the perfect way for her to make some much-needed extra money, but the grumpy author claims he doesn’t want or need her services. He mi... read more
Zane Andrews has returned to Pine Point after eight long years. He’s not the bad boy he was when he left all those years ago. He’s reformed. Nowadays, he works security in a gated community and spends his time turning away the bored housewives who flirt shamel... read more
Sienna Cruz is writing a dissertation about small towns and their secrets and scandals. Luckily, she has just the town to do her research in. She left Pine Point at age fifteen, after her mother’s untimely death. She’s come back to Pine Point now to take a job... read more
Bartender Nate Hunter enjoys the single life in his small-town, but i and easy goes out the window when a dying ex-girlfriend tracks him down to tell him he has a daughter he never knew existed. Nate doesn't know the first thing about being a father, but one l... read more
These cowboys all have a little experience under their belt buckles and they’re gonna to put their hearts on the line one more time. In Donna Alward’s Nothing like a Cowboy, Brett isn't interested in another run at love, but when he's matched with Melly by an ... read more
In Donna Alward’s Seducing the Sheriff, Cassidy’s first foray into online dating is an unqualified disaster. Witness to a bank robbery, she’s now in danger. Sexy sheriff Joe Lawson is willing do whatever it takes to protect her, even if that means hiding her a... read more
Dylan Hunter has always loved the girl next door. Part of loving her meant making sure she left their small town to study to become a veterinarian. He just never expected it to take this long for her to come home. His hands are full raising his younger brother... read more
Hawke Vance will do whatever it takes to protect the family business, even if it means protecting it from his own father, a man who’s just gotten hitched in Vegas to wife number nine. Growing up seeing how much chaos wedded bliss creates, Hawke’s sworn never t... read more
Victoria Marshall is living a lie. She works for a member of the Knights of the Dragon, a secret society that traps and uses dragons for their own gain. As a child, she made an unlikely friend—a drakon. He went missing, and she’s spent the past twenty years se... read more
Constance Owens has a gift for finding unique items in the most unlikely places, which comes in handy since she buys and sells artifacts and antiques for a living. When she purchases a set of four dragon statues, she has no idea just how unique they are, or th... read more
Valeriya Azarov turned her back on the family business to write and illustrate children’s books. But with a sister who leads the Knights of the Dragons, it’s impossible to get away from the secret society whose mission is to destroy and enslave dragons. When i... read more
I’m going to ruin Sienna Roberts.Ruthless? Maybe. But it’s what’s put me on top. And it’s what’s going to help me get revenge on the woman who put my family through hell.My plan has been in play for months. She has no idea I’m the mysterious benefactor commiss... read more
Dragon Shapeshifter Sci Fi Paranormal RomanceThe original Dragon Lords series by NYT Bestselling Author, Michelle M. Pillow.An unlucky bride... Riona Grey lives life on her own terms, traveling wherever the next spaceship is flying and doing what she must to g... read more
When two country boys meet a city girl, everyone is in for a wild ride...Slade and Mustang are living the high life on the professional bull-riding circuit. The prize money is big, the bulls are rank and the women are willing. But something is missing. Romance... read more
Genius scientist Mason Riley can cure world hunger, impress the media and piss off the Vice President of the United States all before breakfast. But he’s not sure he can get through his high school class reunion.Until he meets the new girl in town.Mason sure d... read more
From the bestselling author of the Stolen Bride Series comes a brand new and exciting family saga! For fans of Scottish historical romance, the Sutherland Legacy propels you into the Highlands with tales of daring adventure, irresistible heroes and passion!Lad... read more
