17+ Best Dark Fantasy Developmental Editors for Hire in the United States

Ross

Baltimore, MD, United States

Helping writers make BAD things happen to imaginary people for 20+ years. Thriller, crime, horror, historical, mystery, sci-fi & fantasy.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Legal Thriller, and Horror.

Work experience:

University of Maryland, College Park
Towson Univeristy
Gotham Writing Workshop, New York City
Self-employed
University of Maryland College Park

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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

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Briana

Los Angeles, CA, USA

A developmental and copy editor with a decade of editorial experience. I have a keen eye for what makes a good fiction story flow well.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Romance.

Work experience:

Cedar Fort Publishing and Media
Booz Allen Hamilton
Employee Solutions Group

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Adrienne

Boston, MA, USA

Fast, friendly editor who is alarmingly fond of Dystopian novels. Also: Sci-fi, all Fantasy, Women’s Fiction, YA, Christian-yes, absolutely.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Technothriller, Thriller & Suspense, Contemporary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

SNHU
Wheelock College
Self-employed

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Sam

New York, NY, USA

I am a New York City-based literary agent with a leading agency, specializing in children's and adult fiction across genres.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Futurescapes
Jill Grinberg LIterary Management
Penguin Young Readers

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Lyndsey

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, USA

Professional editor of horror/fantasy with over five years' experience helping authors and traditional publishers elevate their novels.

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical Romance, Romance, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Eerie River Publishing (Indie Publishing House)
Turner Publishing (Established Traditional Publishing House)

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Marco

New York, NY, USA

Dev editor with 30 years of professional experience. Honest, direct, easygoing, upbeat, encouraging.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Espionage, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Action & Adventure, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, and Epic Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Realm
Tor Publishing Group (Macmillan)
Simon & Schuster

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Molli

Warren, NJ, USA

Critically acclaimed author. I specialize in picture books and YA/Adult romance/fantasy. I love making books shine!

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Short Story, New Adult, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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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

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Lindsay

New York, NY, USA

Freelance editor specializing in YA, SFF, and query packages. Former literary agent with 20 years of experience in NYC publishing.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Middle Grade, Children's, Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

Sanford J. Greenburger Associates

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Shannon

Asheville, NC, USA

Speculative fiction editor with 19 years of experience helping writers polish and revise their manuscript to its fullest potential.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and Time Travel.

Work experience:

Self-employed
several companies

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Joshua

Strong, ME, USA

Editor/Writer WIP: 5-book series on the most-common issues I see writers struggling with as a full-time editor with over a decade of XP.

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

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Chersti

Provo, United States

20 yrs editing with NYT/international/indie bestsellers such as Brandon Sanderson and Demi Winters. Adult Fantasy/SF/Suspense + all YA.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Space Opera, and Post-Apocalyptic.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Cedar Fort
Leading Edge

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Jason

Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

NYTimes Bestselling Editor with 15+ years experience. Worked with George R.R. Martin, Kristin Hannah, Scott Lynch, Diana Gabaldon!

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Mystery & Crime, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience: