Johanie Cools

Johanie Cools – Editor

I'm a professional editor in both fiction and nonfiction. My specialties are Romance, Fantasy, and Psychological Thrillers.

Overview

Hi, I’m Johanie, a developmental copy editor, proofreader, and sensitivity reader with a lifelong passion for storytelling. Quality editors want the best for their client’s stories. As an editor, my job is to ensure the voices of my clients are maintained throughout their work and not my own.

I’ve edited for indie authors and publishers and worked with big-name publishers like Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Sourcebooks, and more. I’ve also worked with 16 best-selling authors throughout her seven-year career and will continue to work with more.

As an alumnus of Tessera Editorial, I've completed their mentorship program and am a professionally trained editor.

Working with me is like working with your cheerleader. I’ll work to encourage and support you through your writing journey while giving you quality service. You won’t regret it.

Services
Fiction
Paranormal Romance Psychological Thriller Romantic Fantasy Technothriller Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

StoryTerrace

Jan, 2025 — Present
• Analyze large texts, give constructive criticism, and provide feedback in an organized, clear, and easily implementable fashion • Provide in-depth feedback to ghostwriters to ensure the manuscript adheres to the specified genre • Attend Zoom calls with client and editorial team • Guide meetings to establish genre, tone, story structure, and audience

New York Writing Room

Jan, 2025 — Present
• Analyze large texts, give constructive criticism, and provide feedback in an organized, clear, and easily implementable fashion • Fact-check, pay attention to detail, correct spelling mistakes, create style sheets, and adhere to CMOS 17th/18th edition, Merriam Webster, and publisher house style guides using Track Changes • Edit for consistency in style, tone, and language • Familiar with editing pre-styled manuscripts • Research on pertinent topics and provide organized feedback from a DEI perspective

Filles Vertes Publishing

Jul, 2019 — Jan, 2020 (6 months)
• Completed weekly publishing industry related assignments • Critiqued query letters and conducted marketing research

Tessera Editorial

Mar, 2019 — Jan, 2025 (almost 6 years)
• Analyze large texts, give constructive criticism, and provide feedback in an organized, clear, and easily implementable fashion • Fact-check, pay attention to detail, correct spelling mistakes, create style sheets, and adhere to CMOS 17th/18th edition, Merriam Webster, and publisher house style guides

Portfolio

The Making of Yolanda la Bruja

Avila, Lorraine

Levine Querido

Proofreading
Copy Editing
Return To El Alto

Hindmarsh-Knights, Suzie

Developmental Editing
El Alto

Hindmarsh-Knights, Suzie

Developmental Editing
Glory Unbound (The Bishop Women)

King, Deborah L.

Red Adept Publishing

Developmental Editing
Along for the Ride

Grace, Mimi

Library and Archives Canada

Developmental Editing
Proofreading
Copy Editing
Editorial Assessment
What We Kept to Ourselves: A Novel

Kim, Nancy Jooyoun

Atria Books

Editorial Assessment
Editorial Assessment
If Wishes Were Obfuscation Codes and Other Stories

Edwards, Malon

Fireside Fiction Company LLC

Proofreading
Copy Editing
When Life Gives You Vampires: a Romcom (Slaying It)

Duke, Gloria

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Editorial Assessment
Pestilence (The Four Horsemen, 1)

Thalassa, Laura

Bloom Books

Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Markless

Malburi, C.G.

Levine Querido

Proofreading
Where Wolves Don't Die

Treuer, Anton

Levine Querido

Proofreading
The Gifted Society

White, Tatiana

Muse Papers, The

Copy Editing Proofreading
The Free People's Village

Kern, Sim

Levine Querido

Proofreading
The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman

Lowe, Mari

Levine Querido

Copy Editing
Soulmate

Hepworth, Sally

Griffin

Editorial Assessment
The Last Protector (Clayton White)

Gervais, Simon

Thomas & Mercer

Copy Editing
What the Jaguar Told Her

Méndez, Alexandra V.

Levine Querido

Copy Editing
The Favor: A Novel

Murphy, Nora

Minotaur Books

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Waiting for the Night Song

Dalton, Julie Carrick

Forge Books

Editorial Assessment
Desperate Measures (Wicked Villains Book 1)

Robert, Katee

Trinkets and Tales LLC

Proofreading
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
The Sunbearer Trials

Thomas, Aiden

Feiwel & Friends

Editorial Assessment

Johanie has 4 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Delano W.

Delano W.

Nov, 2025

I’m grateful to Johanie, who has been a pleasure to work with. She answered all my questions, and the feedback was excellent. My future readers will thank her, too, as her input was invaluable. I’ll work with Johanie again in the future and enthusiastically endorse her services.
Johanie C.
Thank you, Delano! It was a pleasure to work with you :)
Ciera V.

Ciera V.

Oct, 2025

I am grateful to Johanie for proofreading the final draft of my first self-published novel. She was professional, flexible, and did a wonderful job of spotting missed details. I would absolutely work with her again.
Nyx B.

Nyx B.

Oct, 2025

I loved her thorough work, give great feed back and awesome encouragement. Cannot wait to work with her again.
Ella R.

Ella R.

Aug, 2025

Working with Johanie was a wonderful experience. Very professional, attentive, and made the entire editing process smooth and enjoyable. Grateful for the expertise and highly recommend Johanie’s services
Johanie C.
Thank you so much, Ella! Working with you was also very enjoyable! You do amazing work.

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