17+ Best dark fantasy copy editors for hire in the United States

Conor

San Francisco, CA, USA

A transplant from Hollywood, I love working w/ writers of all formats to take stories to the next level, particularly in speculative fiction

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

Fox Broadcasting Company
Original Film
Eleven11 Productions
Self-employed

Robin

Savannah, GA, USA

A born wordsmith and veteran Penguin copy editor and proofreader. Specialties: fantasy, dystopian, spiritual fiction, magical realism, & YA.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, New Age, Inspirational, Religion & Spirituality, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Anchor QEA
Penguin Group USA
Rolling Stone
Reedsy

Elizabeth

Los Angeles, CA, USA

20+ year proofreader and copyeditor, incl. Disney Publishing and Hallmark Books. Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, horror (Adult, MG, YA).

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Epic Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Horror, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Disney Publishing Worldwide
Freelance
Renaissance Literary & Talent
Luna Station Quarterly
NBCUniversal, Inc.
Dreamspinner Press
eLance
Alpha Pictures
Hallmark Books
Self-employed

Christine

Hanover, NH, USA

Academic, SFF, and RPG copyeditor and proofreader. I've edited works published by Cambridge and Harvard U. presses and Fantasy Flight Games.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Computers & Internet, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality, Epic Fantasy, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

Dartmouth College
Self-employed

Katie

Vancouver, WA, USA

Book coach/developmental editor passionate about partnering with authors to shape compelling, character-driven stories. Honest yet kind.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Gaming & LitRPG, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Baker Academic and Brazos Press
Self-employed
WinePress Publishers
Azusa Pacific University
Revell and Baker Books

Sarah

Rochester, NY, USA

Editing sci-fi and fantasy since 2012. Previous work includes Marvel Untold and School of X titles. A sucker for folklore and mythology.

Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Space Opera, Military Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Parasite Publications
Pikko's House
The Wild Rose Press
Penguin Young Readers
Podium Publishing
Relay Publishing

Jen

Kansas City, MO, USA

Thorough and encouraging editor of fantasy, romance, and mystery. 10+ years editing for indie authors. 3+ years at Hallmark Publishing.

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

Hallmark Publishing
Self-employed

Peter

Valley Center, CA, USA

Seasoned editor / award-winning author / college teacher / pastor. I specialize in making writing flow like water–from sentence to book.

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Inspirational, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

Self-employed
EA Books Publishing

Scott

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Developmental and copy editor specializing in speculative fiction. I love helping writers bring their imaginative worlds to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space Opera, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Outland Entertainment

Karen

Grand Prairie, United States

Experienced copy editor of fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, and speculative fiction. Specializes in working with indie authors.

Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, and Time Travel.

Work experience:

INDIE Books Gone Wild
Self-employed
Ivy Tech Community College, Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University
Texas A&M University
AgIT Department, Purdue University
Blinn College
Cancer Information Group
Arthur Andersen
Texas A&M University Press
Arthuriana (academic journal)
PLY Magazine
UC San Diego Extended Studies

Lynsey

Missoula, United States

(She/they.) Over a decade of in-house and freelance editorial work for Big 5 publishers & private clients across genres.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Penguin Random House
Fordham University Press
City College of New York
Skadden-Arps Legal Studies Program at City College of New York
WHACK! Magazine
Penguin Group (USA)
Self-employed

Steven

Tacoma, WA, USA

Qualified English teacher Steven is an editor specializing in thriller, fantasy and Sci-Fi novels. Also, an Amazon bestselling author.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Lisa

Wyandotte, MI, USA

Fiction editor and proofreader with experience in mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, YA, thriller, and more.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, and Post-Apocalyptic.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Kensington Publishing
Pikko's House Editing Services
Booktrope Publishing
Pegasus Books (NY)
Enchanted Ink Publishing
Podium Entertainment
Severn River Publishing

Kim

Seattle, WA, USA

I'm an experienced editor in all stages of text development, and I'm just as socially awkward as you are. Let's chat.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

Simon & Schuster
Lyrical Press
University of Washington

Ian

New York, NY, USA

I'm a Brooklyn-based editor with 900+ books to my name, including THE NIGHT MANAGER and DUNE.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Career Guides, Literary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Time Out New York
The New York Times Magazine
Simon & Schuster
Rolling Stone
HarperCollins
Penguin Random House
Macmillan
Hachette

Shannon

Seattle, WA, USA

Experienced, encouraging developmental + copy editor to help you get one step closer to publishing. I love romance, fantasy, and mystery!

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience: