Overview
After spending time on the publishing side and the agency side of the book business, I found that the best part of both gigs (for me) was the opportunity to work closely with authors to develop and craft stories that captivate readers. So I now spend all my time doing just that as a freelance editor and consultant. I work with authors, agents, and publishers on a variety of projects—editing manuscripts, offering editorial critiques, proofreading, writing book proposals, and pretty much everything in between.I currently call sunny Los Angeles home but anyone who knows me will tell you that I am very creative when it comes to finding reasons to travel back to the East Coast, where I grew up and where I began my book career in New York City. There, I worked at Pamela Dorman Books/Viking (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and Hyperion Books (which was then owned by Disney ABC), and with numerous New York Times bestselling authors.I had long been curious about what it would be like to be on the other side—the agent as opposed to the editor—of the conversation. When I made the leap to the West Coast and the Los Angeles office of William Morris Endeavor, I found out. And it was fascinating. I think of literary agents and book editors as living on opposite sides of the same coin, and I’m glad I have an understanding of each.I’m drawn to stories—fiction, memoir, and narrative non-fiction—with a strong voice and unlikely protagonists. Every story is different and every author has different goals, but every story is made stronger with the help of a good editor. And I love collaborating in the name of making each book its best self.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
Inspirational
Sports & Outdoors
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
- B.A. in English and Creative Writing, Colgate University
Work experience
Self-employed
May, 2013 —
Present
For you and your manuscript:
General critique: If you need fresh eyes or want to know if your manuscript is ready for an agent/editor/your sophisticated best friend, I can do a thorough read and get back to you with both margin comments and a detailed editorial memo. This can be helpful with early drafts that you know still need to be shaped, or with later drafts that you are so close to that maybe you can’t quite tell if a particular character is interesting enough or if the pace of the story is off.
Line editing: I can also provide line edits—in addition to a detailed editorial memo or sans memo. Line edits are for you if your manuscript is in order, structurally speaking, but you want help polishing, tightening, fine-tuning. You might be a step away from publishing and need a careful last look or you might still be honing your writing style.
Book doctoring: This can look very different depending on the project but if you have a manuscript that needs heavier revision, I can work with you to re-structure and re-write it so that your story reaches its full potential.
For you and your ideas:
Proposal development: Putting together book proposals is both an art and a science, as the saying goes—something I really came to appreciate when I worked at an agency. I collaborate with authors who want help developing proposals that they can send out to agents, and also with authors and agents who want help crafting proposals to submit to publishers.
Brainstorming and consulting: I enjoy thinking about and talking about stories and ideas for stories, and developing marketable concepts. I can also dish on insider publishing matters, such as how to query an agent or list buy links on a book website in a way that makes all retailers happy.
Writing: If you have a story to tell but need help translating your voice to the page, or want another hand for writing jacket copy or other book marketing material, please get in touch and we can discuss your specific project.
Pamela Dorman Books/ Viking (Penguin Random House)
Jun, 2012 —
Feb, 2014
(over 1 year)
Hyperion (Disney ABC)
Feb, 2011 —
Jun, 2012
(over 1 year)
Portfolio
The memoir of a young diplomat’s wife who must reinvent her dream of living in Paris—one dish at a timeWhen journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately be... read more
“Another compelling entry in this complex, suspenseful series.” —Booklist (starred review)In the third volume of the bestselling Frieda Klein Mystery series, the brilliant but troubled London psychotherapist returns—only to journey into a darkness from which t... read more
Le Divorce meets The Elegance of the Hedgehog in this hilariously entertaining mega-bestseller from FranceWhen her chronically unemployed husband runs off to start a crocodile farm in Kenya with his mistress, Joséphine Cortès is left in an unhappy state of aff... read more
