Hilari Cohen

Hilari Cohen – Editor

I am a detail loving, award winning editor with a long history in the romance industry. I'll help you tell your story and find your readers!

Overview

I love a good HEA, don't you? If you have a love story to tell, let me help you make it shine!


I am an experienced and enthusiastic editor with an eye for detail and easy solutions for your storytelling snags. Tell me your trope and together we can craft it into a book that has your readers begging for more. I know how hard it is to get from that first blank page to "the end" -- I've successfully edited countless novels. It can be a hard fought battle at times, one that I fully understand. It takes a great team to make this kind of magic happen and I'm here for you from your initial pages until you're ready to publish.


Romance novels are my specialty. They are not about just the steamy require two interesting protagonists and a great conflict. You need to make the audience connect with your characters emotionally and I have a heathy respect for the genre as a reader, a writer and as an editor. I take this very subject very seriously! Together, we can see your next novel all the way to the finish line. By the way -- I love working with first time authors. I have lots of valuable information to share and make myself available for all of your burning questions. Believe me, I've heard them all and I'm there for you!


I've taken unknown authors from unsolicited submission to the NYTimes bestseller list and have won the Golden Heart Award for editing from the RWA. I'd love to guide you on your publishing journey and help you celebrate your success!

Services
Fiction
Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Romance Historical Fiction Historical Romance Romantic Comedy Romantic Suspense Time Travel Romance
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • RWA Golden Heart Award for Editing

Work experience

Self-employed

Jul, 2022 — Present

I'm currently having a blast working with authors from all over the world on the Reedsy platform. I love to collaborate with these enthusiastic writers and help them make their stories come to life!

Zebra Books

Feb, 1985 — Mar, 1987 (about 2 years)

At Zebra, it was all about historical romance. I worked with Janelle Taylor and Johanna Hailey along with a long list of other talented writers to tell stories that transported readers out of their present day to the past. Pirates, Scottish princes, the American revolution... all backdrops for stories about two people and the obstacles that stood in their way to finding one another. What do I love about a good historical? The chance to learn something about a time before mine!

Harlequin

Oct, 1982 — Feb, 1985 (over 2 years)

I had the unique privilege of working with Vivian Stephens, the co-founder of the RWA in the early 1980's when we successfully launched two lines of contemporary romance novels. Under her tutelage I learned how to put the necessary components together to make a good story work. It takes more than a few steamy paragraphs to hook a reader -- at the end of the day it's all about the protagonists, who they are and what attracts them to one another. What makes your book stand out from all the other manuscripts on an editor's desk? At Harlequin, I learned how to pick the winners...

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Out of Seconds

Bassett, Shannah

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
A Nightingale Without Wings

Greer, Kayleigh

Developmental Editing
Perfectly Polite

Cohen, Hilari T

The Lyric of Memory

Cohen, Hilari T

The Wick and The Flame

Cohen, Hilari T

The Rogue in Her Bed

Marsh, Ellen Tanner

Hilari has 17 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Candy V.

Candy V.

Apr, 2024

Hilari was easy to work with and completed her editing in a very timely manner. I appreciated her feedback. I think it made the story and the characters stronger. I look forward to working with her in the future.
Hilari C.
Candy is a pro and I look forward to collaborating on more projects together in the future!
William M. C.

William M. C.

Dec, 2023

Hilari's experience and ability to explain the finer details of the publishing industry proved to be valuable to me during my self-publishing process. I intend to work with Hilari on books yet to come.
Hilari C.
Thanks so much! I look forward to our next collaboration!
Kenneth K.

Kenneth K.

Dec, 2023

I haven’t even completed the project I am working on with Hilari but couldn’t wait any longer to post a review. I will follow up with another once we are completed. Hilari is fantastic. She got my story from the first word. Her expertise led me to change the entire direction of my novel from the midpoint on. Thank God, she did. The first ending was dead and with her direction, it is so much be...
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Hilari C.
Ken -- You're a delight to work with and I look forward to our next collaboration. Your future is bright and your readers await!
Danielle B.

Danielle B.

Nov, 2023

Hilari is so thorough, so helpful, and so supportive. When Hilari worked on both of my books during our collaboration, she approached each flaw with sensitivity, and offered helpful solutions that fit with the story. She gave me ongoing valuable advice, and helped me polish each book until they were ready to be seen on a shelf. Her comments are clear, concise and to the point, and she makes her...
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Denny M.

Denny M.

Sep, 2023

As a novice writer, Hilari's encouragement and support were invaluable. She patiently guided me through the intricacies of the editing process, and her rapid responses to my inquiries left me thoroughly grateful for her guidance and expertise. Mahalo Hilari!

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