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

Karen

New York, NY, USA

Former agent/editor with extensive experience in the publishing industry. Reader of genre fiction. Dedicated to improving your manuscript.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, and New Adult.

Work experience:

JABberwocky Literary Agency Inc.
Delacorte/Macmillan/Picador/Workman

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

Emily

Boston, MA, USA

Editor specializing in romance, fantasy, and YA, with experience editing NYT bestsellers. Author with Simon and Schuster + HarperCollins.

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Women's Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Romantic Fantasy, and Contemporary Romance.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Simon & Schuster
Orlans PC

Elayne

Chicago, IL, USA

Fantasy author, former Tor Books editor, and speculative fiction specialist with 9+ years' experience editing SFF across age categories.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Tor Teen, Macmillan Publishers
Tor Books, Macmillan Publishers
Alyssa Matesic Editing

Susan

Chicago, IL, USA

Trad and indie fiction editor of SF/F, horror, and romance. Lover of all things nerdy, steamy, and everything in between.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Epic Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Josiah

Louisville, KY, USA

Progression Fantasy/LitRPG-focused editor with 8 years' experience and 500 novels under my belt. Do you want to grow? Let's talk.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Gaming & LitRPG, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Stacey

Nampa, ID, USA

Developmental, copy editor, and publishing coach, who works with hundreds of motivated authors to produce professional and polished books.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Children's, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Deeba

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Senior editor with 10 years experience in publishing (Simon and Schuster, Disney). Specializes in picture books/MG/YA/graphic novels.

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Comics & Graphic Novels, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Simon & Schuster
Disney Publishing Group
The Bent Agency
Glasstown Entertainment

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

George

Boston, MA, USA

Highly experienced editor specializing in sci-fi and fantasy across all ages. Published author with HarperCollins. Let's level up your book!

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, New Adult, and Middle Grade.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Angelella Editorial
HarperCollins

Paula

Akron, Ohio, USA

I'm an experienced, award-winning editor of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. I'd like to help you make your novel the best it can be.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Prime Books
Juno Books / Simon & Schuester

James

Fort Collins, CO, USA

Developmental editor/writing coach specializing in genre fiction; trad. and self-published author; enjoys collaborating with new writers.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Middle Grade, Children's, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Jeppesen/Boeing

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

Fleetwood

Seattle, WA, USA

Experienced developmental editor with expertise in science fiction and fantasy, working with publishers and independent authors.

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Opera, and Steampunk.

Work experience:

Waxman Leavell Literary Agency
Self-employed
Wizards of the Coast
Random House Publishing Group

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

Shire

Berkeley, CA, USA

A fiction/non-fiction editor with wide-ranging interests, I specialize in refining the elements of good writing: voice, style, and grammar.

Genres: Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

Inkshares
Lost Roads Press
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
New Directions

Shannon

Asheville, NC, USA

Developmental editor with sixteen years of experience in fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience: