Jill French

Jill French - Editor

Over 16 years of editorial experience I copyedit and proofread for authors of fiction and creative non-fiction.

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Overview

As an author you have put in the time and effort to produce your story and your manuscript. Get a boost with help from a trained pair of eyes to search out any issues which have become harder for you to spot and which may trip up the next reader. Try my friendly, supportive, good value editorial services.

If you are looking for a copyedit or proofread I am keen to help move your manuscript forward.
Specialising in fiction particularly adventure, crime and mystery, suspense, thriller, magical realism and creative nonfiction including memoirs. Preserving your author's voice while catching inconsistencies and errors so that the next reader's experience is as good as it can be.

Do get in touch to discuss your manuscript.

My professional affiliations include:
● Advanced Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
● Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
Languages
English (AUS)
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Fantasy
LGBTQ Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery & Crime
Romance
Thriller & Suspense
Young Adult

Certifications

  • Publishing Training Centre: Proofreading
  • SfEP Copy-editing Headway
  • Developmental editing
  • Fiction editing

Awards

  • SfEP Proofreading Progress

Work experience

Copyeditor and proofreader

Self-employed
May, 2006 – Present (almost 17 years)

Portfolio (18 selected works)

Blind Witness (The Charters' Mysteries)

Vicki Goldie

In 1922 a blind WWI veteran and former intelligence officer attends a weekend with his aristocratic wife and her family at a country house in the New Forest, Hampshire. Fourteen people sit down to dinner on the Friday night; by the end of the weekend there are two murders, an attempted murder and a suicide. This is book one in a series of humorous murder mysteries and introduces young sleuths ... read more

In 1922 a blind WWI veteran and former intelligence officer attends a weekend with his aristocratic wife and her family at a country house in the New Forest, Hampshire. Fourteen people sit down to dinner on the Friday night; by the end of the weekend there are two murders, an attempted murder and a suicide. This is book one in a series of humorous murder mysteries and introduces young sleuths ... read more

Candle-lit Quest

John Chudley

Disturbing visions since childhood of a red headed woman holding up a brass candlestick bearing a flaring candle motivated Jamie Sinclair in 1959 to journey to England from New Zealand on a quest to discover the origins of these early visions.On the passage by sea to Southampton, subsequent employment in Kent culminating in an epic visit to Scotland's Western Isles, with the inevitable relatio... read more

Disturbing visions since childhood of a red headed woman holding up a brass candlestick bearing a flaring candle motivated Jamie Sinclair in 1959 to journey to England from New Zealand on a quest to discover the origins of these early visions.On the passage by sea to Southampton, subsequent employment in Kent culminating in an epic visit to Scotland's Western Isles, with the inevitable relatio... read more

The Kiss of Two Worlds

Geddes-Ward, Alicen

Five Years on Pelion, Ten Years at Troy

Will Roberts

Minor Greek heroes, Epistrophus and Schedius, are left behind by their father when he goes with Jason and the Argonauts who are setting sail in search of the Golden Fleece. The two young heroes are left in a beautiful part of Greece called Pelion. They are under the guidance of Cheiron, who teaches them about many of the legendary Greek heroes. He tells stories of their bravery, their triumphs... read more

Minor Greek heroes, Epistrophus and Schedius, are left behind by their father when he goes with Jason and the Argonauts who are setting sail in search of the Golden Fleece. The two young heroes are left in a beautiful part of Greece called Pelion. They are under the guidance of Cheiron, who teaches them about many of the legendary Greek heroes. He tells stories of their bravery, their triumphs... read more

Falling Plaster: A Novel

Jenski, Laura J

Foster Care and Me

Denton, Judith A.M.

The Hafu Child

Claridge, Ms Maria 慧

Daisy

Veronica Ewen

Daisy was an only child, born – she had been told – on the coldest day of the year, with her mother sitting up in bed wearing a fur coat to keep warm, it was snowing heavily outside, making any travel almost impossible. Daisy’s earliest memories were of the small farm cottage on the edge of the New Forest where she lived, two up and two down, with a rather long old shed, at the bottom of the f... read more

Daisy was an only child, born – she had been told – on the coldest day of the year, with her mother sitting up in bed wearing a fur coat to keep warm, it was snowing heavily outside, making any travel almost impossible. Daisy’s earliest memories were of the small farm cottage on the edge of the New Forest where she lived, two up and two down, with a rather long old shed, at the bottom of the f... read more

Artolan Slime and The Mystery of The Blue Lady

Lee Verity

Artolan Slime is an ordinary eleven-year-old boy growing up in the sleepy village of Dawnberry - a place still traumatised by a mining tragedy nearly forty years ago.Bullied by Lysander Nettle's gang and seemingly invisible to his odious Geography teacher, Mrs Potovens, Artolan is sceptical of the rumours circulating Dawnberry Academy of the Blue Lady - the ghost of a former teacher believed t... read more

Artolan Slime is an ordinary eleven-year-old boy growing up in the sleepy village of Dawnberry - a place still traumatised by a mining tragedy nearly forty years ago.Bullied by Lysander Nettle's gang and seemingly invisible to his odious Geography teacher, Mrs Potovens, Artolan is sceptical of the rumours circulating Dawnberry Academy of the Blue Lady - the ghost of a former teacher believed t... read more

Published: A Craft Guide

Santana, A.E., Olsen, David M, Gonzalez, Leslie, Wang, Chih, Larks, A.M., Duarte, Maria

The Suncatchers

Ross, Leonora

Jill has 23 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

Shatoiya De La Tour
I am so happy I chose Jill as my proofreader/ copy editor. She caught my many grammatical and punctuation mistakes. She copy edited thoughtfully, making changes and additions without altering my voice and style. She did everything in a timely manner. She has helped me with questions regarding the process and has been clear in all her communications with me. I highly recommend her.

Shatoiya De La Tour, March 2023

Jill French
Thank you Shatoiya, so pleased you found our collaboration so helpful and clear.

Reply from Jill French


Michael Forester
Jill produced the agreed result on time and on budget. She went beyond the strict limits of the brief to make some suggestions that would improve the layout of the text and made no secret of the fact that she had enjoyed reading the book. What more could I possibly ask of a proofreader? I have every expectation that I shall be working with Jill again.

Michael Forester, February 2023

Jill French
Thank you Michael, I look forward to seeing this title published, it was a pleasure to work with you.

Reply from Jill French


Herb Hemenway
Jill did a great job on our book. Besides numerous errors that we overlooked (despite three separate reviews of our own), she offered several good suggestions for improving our manuscript. She also provided explanations of her recommended changes. Jill was prompt in her communications, and completed her work right on time. We would certainly recommend Jill as an editor, and we plan to use...
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Herb Hemenway, December 2022

Jill French
Thank you Herb and LindaSue, I enjoyed copyediting 'The Stonehenge Murders'. I look forward to seeing it in print and reading your next manuscript.

Reply from Jill French


Stuart Wakefield
I had a fantastic experience hiring Jill to copywrite my novelette. She used the standard CIEP rate, so I knew I wasn't being overcharged, and her edits were spot on. In addition, Jill provided a style sheet as well as two versions of my manuscript - one with all tracking and comments, and one with all tracking accepted that still had comments. And best of all, Jill came in a week ahead of sche...
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Stuart Wakefield, December 2022

Jill French
Thank you Stuart, I am very pleased that our collaboration worked so well and that your story will be out in print shortly.

Reply from Jill French


Stephanie Ahlen
Jill did an excellent job. Not only did she do the requested proofreading, but​ she also gave me some helpful copyediting tips and checked and smoothed out the local language a bit. And all that within two weeks. I'm very satisfied and happy with the result. My book has already been published.

Stephanie Ahlen, September 2022

Jill French
Thank you, Stephanie. It was a pleasure to proofread your novel.

Reply from Jill French

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