Jenny Bowman

Jenny Bowman – Editor

12+ years experience editing children's books in all genres with a keen eye, a knack for story telling, and a love of adventure

Overview

I am a professional full time independent children's book editor and creative writer with extensive training from Hollins University at the graduate level in Creative Writing for Children. I specialize in editing Children’s Books although my experience and skills extend beyond the genre. My time at Hollins and years in the industry have taught me how to craft language in creative ways in order to produce well rounded, thorough and engaging content. I love concept based writing and I thrive on deadlines. In addition to editing and writing, I also thoroughly enjoy training and teaching others how to identify the key processes needed in order to produce their own creative works.

My goal with each project is to help my clients and authors reach their dreams of publishing their book. I have edited over 100 books for children to young adults, and have worked on titles found on the New York Times best selling children's book list and series list. I am well versed in all genres of children’s literature, but additionally enjoy editing self-help and any books that have to do with seed to table living and eating. When it comes to children's books, I particularly enjoy reading and editing chapter books and middle grade novels plus stories that employ fantasy elements, humor, or tales that represent my home state of North Carolina.

I look forward to reading your story!

Testimonials

Jenny is a fantastic editor! She gave my books the structural edits they needed, which helped lead to my first publishing deal. On top of her great service, she is a joy to work with. She is a wonderful communicator, be it through email or Skype. Highly recommended!
– Tim Harris – Author Exploding Endings Series­ – Penguin Random House Australia

Jenny is an excellent editor. She’s been a critical part of my success as a #1 New York Times Best Selling author. She worked closely with me on my middle grade novel Serafina and the Black Cloak, and the additional two books in the Serafina Series published by Disney-Hyperion. When I started working on my fourth book, Willa of the Wood, I drew upon her expertise and feedback once again. She provides highly detailed feedback, which I use to revise and improve my manuscripts. I find her suggestions to be insightful and very useful. Jenny is one of my go-to editors for improving and refining my work. I highly recommend her.
– Robert Beatty – Author Serafina and the Black Cloak – Disney-Hyperion

Jenny was very efficient, professional, and helped the flow and language of our children’s book.
– Casey Kemp – Shambhala Publications

Jenny provides high quality editing services and is a pleasure to work with. She has a clear understanding of what is needed to bring a project full circle and works with the author to deliver work timely, professionally and in line with author expectations. I have used Jenny for two books thus far and plan to use her again!
– Mary Ann Drummond – Author Grandma and Me – Morgan James Publishing
Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Children's Literature Association
  • Editorial Freelancers Association
  • Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2012 — Present

I am a full time editor with a primary focus on editing books for children.

Self-employed

Jan, 2012 — Present

Content writing, creative and article writing, copy editing for various in print and online publications.

Five Star Properties
Intercoastal Net Designs
North Bruswick Magazine
South Brunswick Magazine
Southport Magazine
St. James Plantation
Tiny Buddha
Value Colleges

Portfolio

It's not easy being a teenage witch. Seventh grader Abby Shepherd is just getting the hang of it when weird stuff starts happening all around her hometown of Willow Cove. Green slime bubbling to life in science class. Giant snakes slithering around the middle ... read more
From Robert Beatty, the author of the award-winning Serafina books, comes a thrilling new #1 New York Times bestselling series for adults and young readers (8+). Set in 1900 in the Great Smoky Mountains, it's the story of an orphaned girl--gentle of heart, but... read more
In the highly-anticipated next installment of the Serafina series, Serafina must confront the darkest threat she's ever encountered at Biltmore Estate. She knows she can face anything with her best friend and closest ally, Braeden Vanderbilt, by her side. But ... read more
Serafina's defeat of the Man in the Black Cloak has brought her out of the shadows and into the daylight realm of her home, Biltmore Estate. Every night she visits her mother in the forest, eager to learn the ways of the cat¬amount. But Serafina finds herself ... read more
This is the story a brave and unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate amidst the splendor of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serafina and her friend Braeden Vanderbilt must work together to... read more
A heartfelt story about communicating personal space needs for family members to heal...or just to be. When Lily does not get her usual warm hug from her Mimi, she is sad and confused. Mimi reveals the reason why, and they learn to show their love in new ways.
Set in the faraway (and terrible-smelling) land of Rancidia, where it’s good to smell bad and bad to smell good, this uproarious send-up of Snow White follows the adventures of the profoundly stinky Hobgoblin as he flees the jealous wrath of a monstrous, democ... read more
"A crazy, wonderful story of the American South like you've never quite seen it before. Piercingly funny and unexpectedly moving, STUBBORN PINES is filled with characters so much larger than life, you'll forget you might have bumped into them at the gas statio... read more
After months apart, seventeen-year-old Emily Hoffmann is thrilled to be reunited with Ben, her American crush, whom she met during her time in Ennis, Montana. Ben cannot believe his luck; when he and his classmates arrive in Feldbruck, Austria, for their study... read more
Seventeen-year-old Austrian, Emily Hoffman, has been a shy, exemplary, does-nothing-wrong A-student all her life. The upcoming senior trip, a two-week exchange program with the high school in the quaint little town of Ennis, Montana, might be just what Emily n... read more
Have you ever eaten pink spider web? What are the 79 zaniest things to bring to show and tell? Is it possible to earn three thousand dollars without anybody else finding out? And how do you stop random people texting you? Find out in this hilarious collection ... read more
The third book in the best-selling Exploding Endings series by Tim Harris. Featuring: How do you protect yourself from a stalking mother? What are the 79 cheekiest excuses for not doing your homework? Why is your pencil case holding dangerous secrets? And what... read more
What are the 79 wackiest excuses for being late to school? How do you stop a maniac dentist from terrorising children? Why is the new smartphone so ridiculously dumb? And what does it take to get every single student at Milford Junior School put on detention? ... read more

Jenny has 31 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

James H.

James H.

Jun, 2023

Jenny was very nice to work with and she is a great editor. James
David H.

David H.

Mar, 2023

Jenny gave me very helpful line notes, and caught some details that other editors missed.
Stephanie B.

Stephanie B.

Feb, 2023

Jenny provided her edits in a timely manner in several different formats for accessibility. She communicated with me throughout the process and had great advice on the industry and the next steps of my project. I would highly recommend Jenny.
Gary G.

Gary G.

Dec, 2022

Jenny was very thorough in her written analysis of my middle grade manuscript. With her recommendations and suggestions, I will rewrite parts of my manuscript and make it a work worthy of publication. Thank you, Jenny! You make me a better writer.
Frances S.

Frances S.

Nov, 2022

Jenny's feedback was exactly what I needed to get some clarity on my children's book story. Her recommendations helped me to rethink how to push it forward. She gave thorough feedback and identified specific areas I needed to focus on. Would highly recommend her, it's evident that she is an expertise in this field.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Jenny and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Jenny

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Margaret Milan Wright

Margaret M.

Developmental Editor specializing in Y/A and middle grade with experience at Penguin and Simon and Schuster

Hopewell Junction, NY, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Lara Kennedy

Lara K.

Highly skilled copy editor specializing in middle grade and YA. Experience with bestsellers, celebrity authors, and popular series.

Brigham City, UT, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Megan Gendell

Megan G.

YA expert, passionate about LGBTQ+ stories, freelancer for Big Five publishers. I've copyedited 400+ books. Let's polish yours next!

Brattleboro, VT, USA

95% reply rate

View profile