Kate Victory Hannisian - Editor

I'm an editor, writer, manuscript midwife and book therapist who provides editorial services to thought leaders who want to polish their books and book proposals so they're ready to pitch or publish. I've spent my entire career, first as a business journalist and now as a freelance editor, telling stories that matter, entertain, inform, and inspire. To date, the majority of my book editing projects have been on the nonfiction side, on topics ranging from business, history, and law to health, philosophy, social issues, and self-help. I've also edited memoirs, fiction (including adult mystery novels and a few children's books), and books of essays. (The books shown in the Gallery offer just a sample of my projects; a complete list is available upon request.) My editing experience is also supplemented by my work as a writing tutor and a teacher of college courses on copy editing and book publishing.

My clients value my careful attention to detail and my ability to also see the "big picture." They tell me that I am patient and kind while being very clear about what we can do to improve a manuscript. (A new client just told me I have "the superpower of gentleness as I speak fierceness.") In addition to providing developmental editing and copy editing services, I can also help you develop and polish book proposals and query letters, and guide you to the appropriate publishing path for your book. I will work collaboratively with you through the process of getting a manuscript over the finish line, whether it needs attention to structure and flow or a thorough copy edit to clean up issues like word usage, grammar or consistency of style. My edits are thorough and precise, while very much respecting and preserving your "voice" as a writer. My purpose is to serve as a fresh set of eyes on your work, able to spot what you might not, and smooth out the rough spots that might trip up your readers or obscure your message. My goal is to help you make your manuscript shine.

Client Testimonials -- Nonfiction

* “Kate, whose main role was my editor. You wore multiple hats in helping me flesh out various content and structural changes, were a powerful and patient sounding board the many times I felt stuck in the muck, and an incredible resource for all things self-publishing. I cannot imagine what this book would have looked like without your insights and word mastery, from the initial book proposal all the way through the finalized manuscript. My deepest thanks to you!” -- Chris Vasiliadis, Ignition: A Professional Woman’s Guide to Energized, Burnout-Proof Living

* “To Kate, thank you for the ‘book therapy’ and for understanding what I was trying to do before I understood it myself.” -- Debby Irving, Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race

* “My editor, Kate, stood by me with her amazing combination of patience and persistence as I pushed and missed deadlines. As a first-time author, I relied heavily on Kate’s expertise – and did I mention her patience!” -- Deb Nelson, Finding Health After Cancer: Stories of Renewal and Healing

* “Thanks to Kate for your publishing guidance and good humor with the spelling idiosyncrasies.” – Ruth Barrett, anthology editor, Female Erasure

* “To Kate, for reading the book during various stages of the writing process and offering insight and suggestions that ultimately made it a better read.” – Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, Breaking Money Silence: How to Shatter Money Taboos, Talk More Openly about Finances, and Live a Richer Life

Client Testimonials -- Fiction

* “I gave her straw. She spun it into gold.” – James H.K. Bruner, Son Over the Yardarm (Bike Cop #2)

* “My editor, Kate, was so patient with my passive voice and point of view mishaps. I am grateful for her watchful eye and expertise in the craft of writing.” -- James H.K. Bruner, Shadows of Dog Island Light (Bike Cop #3)

* “Copyeditor Kate, a pleasure to work with, such a professional.” -- Joanne Carota, The Docks

* “Many thanks to Kate for her precise and insightful copy editing.” – Claire Alemian, In the Shadow of Light