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

Sean

Denton, TX, United States

Editor of bestselling, award-winning middle grade, YA, and adult books, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi. Let's make your book stand out!

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

Work experience:

Andrea Hurst and Associates, LLC
Andrea Hurst and Associates
Self-employed
Relay Publishing, LLC
The Editorial Department

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

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

Ann Howard

Knoxville, TN, USA

Traditional-publication-focused editor with 17 yrs of experience specializing in fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and historical fiction.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Dystopian, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed
self-employed

Andrea

Raleigh, NC, USA

25 years editing/agenting debut and bestselling commercial fiction. Penguin/RH, St. Martins, Amazon. Expert eye for story and market.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

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

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

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

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

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

Leslie

Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Passionate editor offering editorial assessment and developmental editing services, also a travel writer and a NYT bestselling author

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Travel, Non-Fiction, Parenting & Families, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Leslie P.

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

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:

Self-employed
Various

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

Erin

Los Angeles, United States

Experienced writer, editor and agent with an MFA in Creative Writing. I have edited New York Times bestselling books and series. 10+ years

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

The Industry
tNY Press
Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC
Self-employed

Becky

Houston, Texas, USA

Award-winning author of four YA novels and editor with 13+ years of experience in traditional publishing.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, and Romance.

Work experience: