Karin Cox

Karin Cox – Editor

A passionate 'generalist' who lives to learn, I've edited fiction and non-fiction for both indie and trade publisher clients for decades.

Overview

I'm a book and magazine editor with 20 years of experience in polishing and perfecting both fiction and non-fiction books for indie authors and trade publishers.


I have worked inhouse or freelance for Steve Parish Publishing, Pascal Press, University of Queensland Press, Elsevier Reed, New Holland Publishing, Teach Starter Publishing, Bookmark Publishing, Indelible Ink Press and most recently as Commissioning Editor for Australian Geographic.


Several bestselling authors are on my client list, as I can edit for US or AU/UK English, and my preferred style guides are CMoS, Oxford, and Wiley. I'm also a fan of Pam Peters and Alan Garner.


As the published author of 50+ titles myself, I know what it's like to be on both sides of the editorial desk, and I love working closely with my authors to help them realise the potential of their manuscripts. I offer developmental/structural edits, copyedits, and occasionally proofreads (for trusted clients) – all at an affordable rate.


* Review: "I have found Karin's editorial and writing service incredibly professional, quick and helpful. More importantly, though, my writing is continually improving as a result of Karin's care and attention. After consulting many editors with my initial manuscript, Karin is the one I recommend to fellow writers." – Katrina Logan, Children's book author of A Fish with a Wish, Down by the Bay, The Very Shy Peacock, What if we Ate Like Cows Do and The Call of the Far Eastern Curlew.


* Review: "... the number of errors she catches is breathtaking. But more than errors, she advises on flow, rhythm, and structure. She suggest cuts where the prose is flabby, where dialogue is just a filler, at any point where I am not moving the story forward. It makes the whole narrative punchier and tighter, and the overall effect more powerful. After I incorporate her changes, the story always moves up a level or two. The difference is unreal."

David Gaughran, author of Liberty Boy​, Mercenary, A Storm Hits Valparaiso, and Let's Get Digital: How to Self-Publish and Why You Should.

Services
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Picture Books Romantic Fantasy Science Fiction Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Life Sciences Nature
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Whitley Award 2010

Work experience

Australian Geographic

Aug, 2022 — Oct, 2023 (about 1 year)

As Commissioning Editor for Australian Geographic Books, I commissioned authors, editors and artists for natural history, photographic, social history and children's books, along with editing, picture, researching, project-managing and layout tasks.

Heading up the Australian Geographic Books team, I worked from initial and final print edits on seasonal product, junior non-fiction, and natural history titles, including Georgina Steytler's For the Love of Flora, and the AG Discover range: Animals that Glow, Venomous Animals, and Animal Mimics, and a junior Dictionary of Scientific Terms, among other titles.

My role often also included image selection, book layout in Adobe InDesign, and even pre-pressing final files and marketing, promotion and publicity with retail partners and media.

Teach Starter Publishing

Mar, 2019 — Jun, 2020 (over 1 year)

– Editing and QA of primary school educational resources for a digital publishing house, including editing literacy and numeracy resources for grades K–6 and ensuring they aligned to the Australian national curriculum and TEKS (US) curriculum.

 – Writing web and promotional content and editing blog posts and copy in WordPress.

– Style-setting and establishing an online style guide and hub for internal/external contributors.

– Mentoring and guiding staff to facilitate greater consistency and improved writing and self-editing skills, and to foster the company values of Pursue Quality and Unleash Creativity.

Wildlife Australia Magazine

Jan, 2017 — Mar, 2019 (about 2 years)

– Planning and delivering quarterly issues to schedule.
– Interviewing and briefing scientists and authors, managing all content and images, editing and writing articles, and choosing cover images and layouts.
– Crafting captions, supplementary material, microcopy, editor's message, advertorial, and promotional web copy.
– Promoting and publishing digital versions on Pocketmags and EBSCO.
– Managing Facebook, social media and website content, including creating infographics, and seeking out and booking opportunities for digital advertising, promotion, and publicity.

Self-employed

Jan, 2011 — Present

Freelance editing for valued repeat clients while working part or full-time and raising children.

Over the years, I have helped many authors publish their titles from start to finish, assisting with editorial, fact-checking, image selection, formatting, layout and cover design, prepress and publication.

LexisNexis/Elsevier Reed

Feb, 2004 — Dec, 2004 (10 months)

– Styling and editing content for educational textbooks and digital and print newsletters, using MS Word and Adobe Pagemaker.

– Liaison with production/printers to ensure material was printed and/or added to relevant websites on time.

Steve Parish Publishing

Jan, 2004 — Jun, 2012 (over 8 years)

– Briefing and managing a team of editors, proofreaders, and freelancers to produce natural history and social history books, travel guides, and educational print and digital publications.
– Preparing costing estimates and project- managing schedules.
– Planning content and briefing authors for commissioned titles, or researching and writing text for my own, often choosing images and layouts too.
– Editing for content, grammar, punctuation, and style; working with authors to transform academic text into mass-market copy.
– Structural editing, fact-checking, line editing, and proofreading.
– Laying out text and images and editing in-page using Adobe CS.
– Being responsible for QA and sign-off on all final product.
– Writing and editing jacket blurb and promotional copy, press releases, web copy, and blog content.

Self-employed

Jan, 1999 — May, 2003 (over 4 years)

– Researching, ghostwriting, editing, and formatting commissioned works for New Holland Publishing, including Roma: From Prison to Paradise, Secret Women's Business, Irresitible Italy, Ripple Effect, and Whatever’s Going to Become of Us.
– Project-managing the progress from initial drat through to final edit.
– Editing and proofreading titles for University of Queensland Press, Hema Maps, John Wiley & Sons, and various indie clients.
– Writing marketing content, synopses, jacket blurbs, and website copy.

Bookmark Publishing

May, 1998 — Jan, 1999 (8 months)

Editorial tasks, including line editing and proofreading, for a variety of fiction and non-fiction titles in a small press.

Karin has 13 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Riccardo C.

Riccardo C.

Apr, 2024

Pinned
Karin is a consumate professional and excellent editor and publisher. She charges too little for her skills.
Karin C.
Thank you, Riccardo. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you - with a great deal of laughing out loud - and I look forward to continuing to work with you on this project to get it in the ...
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Julie O.

Julie O.

Feb, 2024

Pinned
Karin did an excellent job proofreading my book. Her attention to detail and knowledge of her craft was exceptional. Karin was also very engaging, communicative, and punctual. I recommend her unreservedly.
Karin C.
Thank you, Julie. It was wonderful working with you on this project. Thanks, too, for sharing your appreciation and ecological understanding of Australia’s unique wildlife with a larger audience....
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Melissa C.

Melissa C.

Feb, 2024

Pinned
Karin is always a pleasure to work with. It's the second time she has help with a short story of mine. She is thorough and her suggestions are always helpful.
Karin C.
Thank you, Melissa. It is always wonderful collaborating with you, too. Good luck with the story, and always follow that compass.
Brooke B.

Brooke B.

Aug, 2024

Karin was great to work with. She turned my novel from a mumbled mess into a professional book. The readability being cleaner. She was always responsive and helped me with my many questions. Would recommend Karin to help with any edits to do with your book. She really helps bring your book to life. Will be using her again for my second book.
Karin C.
Thanks so much for the kind review, Brooke. It was a pleasure to work with you, too. And, for a debut novel, it was very far from a mumbled mess! I can’t wait to see what you bring to the table for...
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Ilona B.

Ilona B.

Apr, 2024

Karin has been lovely to work with and very positive with feedback. She has kept in touch throughout the process quickly, despite time differences, and has been very reliable. She took meticulous care of my work and was very helpful. I couldn't recommend her enough! Thank you Karin!

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