Joe Pierson

Joe Pierson – Editor

Fast. Friendly. Experienced. Thorough. I'm here to help you be your best. Sample edits available.

Overview

I'm a professional editor with 30 years of experience in fiction and nonfiction. I was recently named one of the top 20 freelance book editors in the US by 30DayBooks.com.


I can help you with everything from basic grammar and punctuation to developmental edits at a reasonable cost. I have many years of experience with self-published authors, and I can guide you through the tricky details of making your book the best it can be. I've also worked with renowned authors who have multiple successful publications.


I'm comfortable editing a wide range of genres. Whatever your editing needs, you'll find my services prompt, thorough, encouraging, and affordable.


Check out the reviews at the bottom of my profile. More than 300 authors--many of them repeat clients--have expressed their gratitude for our collaboration. You'll see the words "tough but fair" quite a bit. I'm here to help you bring out the best in your writing, because that's what agents, publishers, reviewers, and readers demand. I've been making authors happy since 1994, and I know I can make you happy too.



Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Entertainment Sex & Relationships
Fiction
Fantasy Literary Fiction Science Fiction
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Solution Tree Press

Jan, 2016 — Dec, 2020 (almost 5 years)

Solution Tree is one of the most respected educational publishers in the world, providing professional development for educators and administrators.

Self-employed

Aug, 1995 — Present

I have been freelance editing for traditionally published and self-published authors of all experience levels for almost 30 years.

Portfolio

Philosophy Made Simple: A Novel

Robert Hellenga

Feeling restless after the death of his wife, Rudy Harrington, a father of three grown daughters, leaves his Chicago home to start his life over at an avocado grove in Texas, where he takes up philosophy, presides over his daughter's Hindu wedding, and falls f... read more
The Fall of a Sparrow

Robert Hellenga

Robert Hellenga, bestselling author of The Sixteen Pleasures, once again reveals his profound understanding of the strength and resilience of the human spirit in a compelling and masterful novel. Alan Woodhull ("Woody"), a classics professor at a small Midwest... read more
Frozen

Jay Bonansinga

Fear Never Dies. Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a mummified body is discovered in the ice, the victim of a bizarre ritualistic killing that happened nearly six thousand years ago. For journalist Maura County, this story is her ticket to the big time--if she c... read more
Shattered

Jay Bonansinga

Finalist for ITW's 2008 Thriller Award in Best Paperback Original. FBI profiler Ulysses Grove is sure he's this close to trapping a serial killer . . . but the killer is planning a gruesome surprise that will come far too close to home. . . The Image Of Murder... read more
The Oathbound Wizard (A Wizard in Rhyme Book 2)

Christopher Stasheff

Matt Mandrell, unsuspecting graduate student, never imagined his research would lead him to a strange scrap of parchment that would change his life forever. . . .Crossing the void of time and space, Matt is whisked away to an enchanted world where speaking in ... read more
The Warlock Unlocked (Warlock of Gramarye)

Christopher Stasheff

A scientist from Earth at heart, Rod Gallowglass has come to terms with the “magic” of Gramarye, and is just beginning to understand his own powers.But when his family accidentally goes through a portal to what appears to be an alternate universe, he must foll... read more
It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Serve Your Country: Our Broken Government and the Plight of Veterans

David Shulkin

The former VA secretary describes his fight to save veteran health care from partisan politics and how his efforts were ultimately derailed by a small group of unelected officials appointed by the Trump White House.Known in health care circles for his ability ... read more
It Shined: The Saga of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Granda, Michael Supe Supe

The Fools' Circus: Lost Pup

Rei, Dani

Tronick

Record, Rosie

The All-in-One Complete Meals Cookbook

Max Higgins

I have compiled these recipes to form a complete cookbook as every family, whether small or large, needs an accurate and functional cookbook to provide balanced and nutritional meals. A good cookbook gives detailed instructions to help anyone produce quality m... read more
Stop Kissing Toads

Elizabeth Roebuck-Jones

Do you dream of meeting your handsome prince, a man who will be your lover, friend, soul mate, and partner in crime? Are you looking for a man who will hold your hand through life's journey, someone to laugh, cry, create success, and have fun with? Why is your... read more
Freddie's Magical Adventure

Juliana L Spaulding

Freddie's Magical Adventure is a story about a magical day at the seashore. Freddie daydreams about swimming with dolphins and his ocean friends help his wish come true.
A Foodie's Guide to Juice Fasting

Julianne Dowse

If a juice-based diet is so healthy, why don't more people do it? They may think they cannot go without food-or they're afraid to even try. You can overcome that fear, rejuvenate your body, and rid it of toxins with the tools and strategies offered in this gui... read more
Who Killed Patton

Ferdie Pacheco

"Patton and the Mountain Man" is fiction, make no mistake about it, but it is fiction based on fact. My curiosity had for years been peaked by the unusual circumstances surrounding the General's strange demise, the undecently rapid burial, the absence of inves... read more
A Cross for Irvin: The Evil That Dwells

Henri Delevanta

The town of Lynchburg was not as it seemed. The small municipality of roughly 20,000 people had its share of conflict between the haves and the have-nots, the whites and the blacks, the rural and big city interests. A common thread that united everybody, both ... read more
Simple Italian Cooking My Way

Francis DiCandio

Simple Italian Cooking My Way is a collection of recipes from the streets of Brooklyn.
Women of the Midan: The Untold Stories of Egypt's Revolutionaries (Public Cultures of the Middle East and North Africa)

Sherine Hafez

In Women of the Midan, Sherine Hafez demonstrates how women were a central part of revolutionary process of the Arab Spring. Women not only protested in the streets of Cairo, they demanded democracy, social justice, and renegotiation of a variety of sociocultu... read more
The Kindertransport: Contesting Memory (Studies in Antisemitism)

Jennifer Craig-Norton

Jennifer Craig-Norton sets out to challenge celebratory narratives of the Kindertransport that have dominated popular memory as well as literature on the subject. According to these accounts, the Kindertransport was a straightforward act of rescue and salvatio... read more
The Victorian World: Facts and Fictions (Historical Facts and Fictions)

Ginger S. Frost

An introduction to the myths and realities of the history of Victorian Britain, with accompanying primary sources.• Corrects nine myths about the Victorian era, with explanations of why these myths began• Includes over 50 primary documents from a wide variety ... read more
Performing Tsarist Russia in New York: Music, Émigrés, and the American Imagination (Russian Music Studies)

Natalie K Zelensky

Offering a rare look at the musical life of Russia Abroad as it unfolded in New York City, Natalie K. Zelensky examines the popular music culture of the post-Bolshevik Russian emigration and the impact made by this group on American culture and politics. Perfo... read more
The Persevering Penguins and Pals: Propelling One Another to Success

Moorea Friedmann

It is another beautiful day in Patagonia as a colony of penguins snuggles on the iceberg they call home. Little Milo is nestled next to his mother, Winter, while his father, Tux, is out hunting for food. But when a big crack in the iceberg suddenly separates M... read more
The Big Bang: Notes from Looking Within

Jason Matthews

This is the 2005 version of the book. It still exists here and elsewhere as The Little Universe. "...quite an inventive story.""...before you know it, you can't put the book down.""...one of those rare books, light enough on the surface to be a fun summer read... read more
Every New Beginning

Catherine Crichlow

Despite living amongst luxuries only the son of eccentrically rich socialites could have, Scott Benson is miserable and alone. With limited connection to his parents and even less to his classmates, all Scott can do with his life is narrate someone else?s. Sit... read more
Light of the Desert

Lucette Walters

Rare book
Emma Environmentalist

Christy Crews Kenyon

Emma Environmentalist is about a girl named Emma who loves nature and wants to help the earth. Her parents have taught her many things about taking care of our planet, and she is figuring out her own path in this book. By following her heart, she inspires othe... read more
Aesthetic Sexual Involution: The Prerequisite to Erotic Evolution and Sex Mastery: Tome 1: Know Eroticism, Erotica, and Erotic Intelligence Level 0 (Volume 1)

Seven Golden

Through evolution, sexual revolution can occur. Smooth incremental change is valuable. Humans are ever evolving. Stagnation is disastrous. There are things we accept—as members of contemporary society—that we do not need to accept. There are locked doors to se... read more
Ogham`s Realm The Celtic Wolves (Volume 1)

Rosemarie Shields

Ogham, is an old disfigured Celtic druid who lives in a timeless, magical realm. Along with possessing significant power over nature, he has the ability to travel from his realm to our earthly realm. The year is 1649. Famine and plague is rife and Oliver Cromw... read more
A Farewell to Arms, Legs, and Jockstraps: A Sportswriter's Memoir

Diane K Shah

Strike fast, strike hard―whether it’s scoring a homerun or front-page news, Diane K. Shah, former sports columnist, knows how to grab the best story.In her memoir A Farewell to Arms, Legs, and Jockstraps, follow Diane’s escapades, from interviews with a tipsy ... read more
The Road to Freedom 1: Crossing the 17th Parallel

Hiep Vo

Communism, Capitalist, French, Japan, The U.S., Soviet Union, China, North and South Vietnam, who is good guy; who is bad guy? Read "THE ROAD TO FREEDOM" by Mr. Vo to understand the fate of the children, who were born and grew up in a miserable country during ... read more
Letters to the Next President

Richard G. Lugar

The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee discusses Guatemala, the Philippines, Nicaragua, South Africa, and the role of Congress in the U.S. foreign policy
The Many Worlds of Rorlitzer Screw

Juliana Morgado

In secret worlds connected to our own there are ageless creatures that know each of us intimately well. Tasked only to observe and instructed never to interfere, they monitor us from afar throughout our lives. I have one. You have one. And on a curious quest t... read more
My Husband, My Friend: A Memoir

Neile McQueen Toffel

MY HUSBAND, MY FRIENDTHE REAL STEVE McQUEEN - FROM ABANDONED CHILD TO GLITTERINGSUPERSTAR TO HAUNTED MAN....Now his wife of 15 and a half years, Neile, who rodethe dazzling Hollywood roller coaster with him, revealsA Steve McQueen no one knew his good side,his... read more
I Remember Me

Carl Reiner

I Remember Me weaves an American tapestry of colorful tales, beginning with the timid musings of a young boy on the verge of becoming a man in the Jewish section of New York's Bronx neighborhood, and bringing us up to date with the mature insight of a man whos... read more
Ailbe and the Elements

Lind Edwards

Ailbe spent her life alone trying to survive on the blue mountains. Once she is accepted into Nightshade Academy for Dark Magic, she thinks her problems are over. However, life at a dark arts school is no fairy tale. Danger and death are everywhere and Ailbe m... read more

Joe has 325 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Buddy D.

Buddy D.

Apr, 2024

Joe did a great job with my memoir! His developmental edit made me go inside myself and pull out emotions I never hadn't about for decades or thought I'd expose. It was quite a spiritual adventure. His copy edit was spot on and now I'm ready to take the next steps to publish. Buddy Dreas Adventures of Uncle Buddha Part 1
Jeffrey G.

Jeffrey G.

Apr, 2024

Polite, professional and very insightful, I will happily come to Joe again!
Mark K.

Mark K.

Apr, 2024

This was my fourth collaboration with Joe, and my fifth will be this summer when my fifth book is published. Joe makes it easy. He is helpful and responds to all and any questions one might have. The responses are prompt. His work is excellent. The process itself, for those who may be considering hiring their first professional editor, is straightforward. There is no guesswork. I recommend Joe ...
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Colin S.

Colin S.

Mar, 2024

Joe was fast and responsive with this query letter edit request, and his fee was fair. He previously proofread the novel that this query was for, so he was one of the best for this job. Without changing the content of the query too much, he restructured it to be far more compelling and professional. I hope that these changes will result in a successful pitch, but whether that happens or not, Jo...
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Michael Simon B.

Michael Simon B.

Mar, 2024

Joe did an amazing job. His editing and guidance have helped me polish this book to a quality that will ease its path to success. I needed a second set of eyes. Thanks Joe!

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