The best historical romance book developmental editing services

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Lara 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

A consummate professional with over 20 years experience in the publishing industry, specializing in genre fiction and pop culture.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Entertainment, Non-Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Time Travel Romance, and Historical Romance.

Work experience:

  • The Lotts Agency
  • Trident Media Group
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Various

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

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

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

Fran 5 star rating

New York, United States

Results driven editor, formerWriters House Bridgerton agent, edited major award winners, working from slush pile to success in publishing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • youbloom music festival

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

Lyndsey 5 star rating

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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Susan 5 star rating

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

Megan 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Former Kensington editor with 17 years' experience, specializing in romance, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, & YA. Let's make your project shine!

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

Work experience:

  • Kensington Publishing
  • Harlequin
  • Kaplan
  • Self-employed

Christy 5 star rating

Warminster, PA, USA

Editor specializing in Christian contemporary, historical, suspense, and romantic fiction, and Christian living and devotionals

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Writing & Publishing, Inspirational, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • M*Modal
  • BroadStreet Publishing Group
  • Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
  • Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Caroline 5 star rating

Cleveland, OH, USA

Developmental editor specializing in romance, thrillers, and mysteries. My clients have been published by Kensington, Skyhorse, and more.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Humor & Comedy, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Romantic Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Cleveland State University

Mackenzie 5 star rating

Loveland, OH, USA

Providing developmental edits, editorial assessments, and proofreading for all romance subgenres/heat levels, with 15+ years of experience.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Samhain Publishing
  • Ellora's Cave
  • Harris Publications

Emily 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Experienced editor of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical romance, women's fiction. 18 years at HarperCollins / Harlequin.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery & Crime, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Christian Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books

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

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

Nicole 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

Developmental Editor & Coach | 10+ years of experience editing romance at HarperCollins, including a #1 NYT bestseller & Lambda Award winner

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Dark Romance.

Work experience:

  • The D. E. Shaw Group
  • HarperCollins/Avon Books
  • Self-employed

Claire 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

17+ years building USA Today/NYT/Bestselling/Award-Winning careers in sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I'm thorough and kind, with short waits.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Wordfire Press
  • The Wild Rose Press
  • Entangled Publishing

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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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