The best historical romance book developmental editing services

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Hilari 5 star rating

Glen Head, NY, USA

I am a sharp-eyed, award winning editor with over thirty years in the romance industry. I'll help you tell your story and find your readers!

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Time Travel Romance, Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin
  • Zebra Books
  • Self-employed

Lauren 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Peripatetic editor of genre and literary fiction since 2015, with clients, publishers, and imprints under Macmillan, Penguin, and Tor.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Science Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hamilton College

Jackie 5 star rating

Birmingham, MI, USA

Bringing a history PhD's rigor & an expert editor's eye to women-centered hist fic, fantasy & romance. Let's make your unique story shine!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Time Travel Romance, and Contemporary Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Pearson Education
  • various (Emory University, Pitt Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Park University)

Laura 5 star rating

Westfield, NJ, USA

Romance and Mystery/Thriller Editor prev. at Penguin Random House (Berkley), Hachette (James Patterson), and Hooked. Let's perfect a story.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Espionage, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Hachette, James Patterson's BookShots
  • Hooked
  • Self-employed

Copy Editor and Developmental Editor who loves coaching authors to maximize their books. Experience - Xulon Press Christian Publishing.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Parenting & Families, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Ghost Publishing
  • Xulon Press Publishing

Kristen 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

PhD-trained editor helping experienced fiction writers elevate their craft with kind, insightful feedback and strategic guidance

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Coming of Age.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Chronicle Books
  • Columbia University

Samantha is a senior editor with seventeen years of publishing experience, helping authors create compelling books ready for publication.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Middle Grade, Children's, Thriller & Suspense, Inspirational, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Covenant Communications, Inc.
  • Shadow Mountain Publishing
  • Builder Fusion

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heather 5 star rating

Hartford, CT, USA

Bestselling author, editor of 15+ years specializing in hist fic, romance, WF, mystery/suspense, YA. Writing coach and teacher of 25 yrs

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Duncan 5 star rating

Raleigh, NC, USA

Developmental editor, NYT bestsellers by Grand Central, Algonquin, Hachette, contributing editor at Harper's, novelist (HarperCollins, 2027)

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Inspirational, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Algonquin Books
  • CraftBook Editorial
  • Harper's Magazine

Holly 5 star rating

East Rutherford, NJ, USA

NYT-bestselling, award-winning editor with over 17 years of industry experience, specializing in mysteries, thrillers, suspense, WF, romance

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Mysteries.

Work experience:

  • St. Martin's Press
  • Self-employed
  • BookEnds, LLC
  • Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press

Jacquelin 5 star rating

New York, New York, USA

I'm a veteran developmental book editor with 20 years of experience at Penguin Random House committed to helping you make your story sing!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, and Historical Romance.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed
  • GrubStreet

Developmental Editor with 15+ years of Multifaceted Expertise in Romance, Fiction, & More. Let's work together to make your book shine!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy, Time Travel Romance, and Paranormal Romance.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks, Inc.
  • Self-employed
  • Fresh Fiction
  • Anderson's Bookshop

Erin 5 star rating

Hoboken, NJ, USA

Is something missing in your manuscript? I can help you make your characters sizzle, your plot compelling, and your manuscript sparkle!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Entangled Publishing

Nina 5 star rating

Summerville, SC, USA

Fast and supportive! 15+ years editing experience specializing in thrillers, romance, and memoirs. NYTimes and USA Today bestselling author.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Historical Romance, Mystery & Crime, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Entangled Publishing
  • Palmetto Publishing
  • Self-employed
  • Penguin Random House, Berkley Imprint
  • Reedsy

Ann Leslie 5 star rating

New York City, NY, United States

Over 25 years' editorial experience at a Big 5 publisher and a literary agency, specializing in commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Emily 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Polishing prose since 2009, including NYT bestsellers and Edgar Award winners. My film background gives me unique insight as an editor.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Historical Romance, Romance, True Crime, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Penguin Random House
  • The Firm/Firm Films
  • Brooklyn Films

Mireya 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I’m an editorial professional with six years experience, having worked at a top-five publishing company, HarperCollins Publishers.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers (William Morrow/Harper Voyager)
  • HarperCollins Publishers

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Hire the best historical romance developmental editors

Stepping back and viewing your historical romance manuscript after that finished first draft is an unmatched feeling. If your next step is to polish your novel into a diamond, you may want to consider hiring a developmental editor. This type of edit involves looking at the wider picture and identifying problems in your overall structure, pacing, and character building, to then suggest fixes that will take your novel to the next level.

Of course, a historical romance developmental editor’s suggestions can often lead to large scale rewrites, so you need to know that they have the expertise to back up their criticisms. Here at Reedsy, we accept just the top 3% of freelancer applications, so you can trust that your editor has a plethora of experience with historical romance and a passion for their next project. Sign up and start connecting for free today.

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