Kim Halstead

Kim Halstead – Editor

I'm an experienced editor in all stages of manuscript development, and I'm just as socially awkward as you are. Let's chat.

Overview

Hi there! I'm Kim. I've done a lot of writing and editing over my lifetime, beginning with my very first picture book titled "The Cat Climbed Up" at age 3 (the cat eventually fell back down but was, thankfully, unharmed). Since then, I've dedicated my life to words and people like me who love them.

I'm experienced in a variety of genres and stages of text development. Whether you're exploring for the moral quandaries of sci-fi or the will-they-won't-they of romance, I can help make your vision for your book your reality.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Romance Dystopian Epic Fantasy Post-Apocalyptic Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • David Guterson Award for Fiction Writing at the University of Washington MFA Program
Certifications
  • MFA in Prose - University of Washington

Work experience

Simon & Schuster

Aug, 2014 — Present
• Proofread, copy edit, and cold read for fiction and nonfiction imprints under tight deadlines and multiple editors, including Scribner and Gallery imprints for New York Times bestselling authors

Lyrical Press

Aug, 2014 — Present
• Copy edit and proofread novella and novel-length manuscripts (20k-120k+ words) under multiple deadlines for Lyrical Press

University of Washington

Sep, 2015 — Jun, 2017 (over 1 year)
• Autonomously instructed students in freshman- and sophomore-level courses • Courses taught include: Expository Writing, Introduction to Creative Writing

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
The Stray Spirit (The Lutesong Series Book 1)

Ashwick, R.K.

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit (The Side Quest Row Series)

Ashwick, R.K.

RK Ashwick Books

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Stork Lake: Tales from a Wall of Hats

L.C. Reid

Copy Editing
Surviving Ice: A Novel (The Burying Water Series)

K.A. Tucker

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Water—which Kirkus Reviews called “a sexy, romantic, gangster-tinged page-turner”—returns with a new novel packed wi... read more
Proofreading
The Binding: A Novel

Nicholas Wolff

When a rare mental disorder begins to consume his small-town neighbors, a young psychiatrist digs up the past for clues to the epidemic’s bone-chilling source in this brilliant supernatural ho... read more
Proofreading
Self-Portrait with Boy: A Novel

Rachel Lyon

A compulsively readable and electrifying debut about an ambitious young female artist who accidentally photographs a boy falling to his death—an image that could jumpstart her career, but woul... read more
Proofreading
Kiss the Sky

MK Schiller

Love can move mountains . . . Strong, athletic, and driven, Tristan Sinclair is determined to fulfill his late brother’s wish to climb Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain. He ne... read more
Proofreading
A Meddle of Wizards (Fledgling Magic)

Alexandra Rushe

Welcome to Tandara, where gods are fickle, nightmares are real, and trolls make excellent bakers . . . Raine Stewart is convinced she’ll die young and alone in Alabama, the victim of a chronic... read more
Proofreading
Promise to Keep: A Novel (Promise of Sunrise)

Elizabeth Byler Younts

World War II Marine Joe Garrison returns home from war longing to be a father to his deaf daughter, Daisy, only to find that she is attached to Esther Detweiler, the Amish woman who has raised... read more
Proofreading
Shooting for the Stars: A Gil Malloy Novel (The Gil Malloy Series)

R. G. Belsky

“I read it in two sittings.”—Sandra Brown, New York Times bestselling author "Smart, juicy...highly satisfying.” –Publishers Weekly “Belsky is a tantalizing, devilish, mesmerizing writer.”—Killer Nashville Following up his “engrossing journalistic thriller” (K... read more
The Pine Tar Game: The Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees, and Baseball's Most Absurd and Entertaining Controversy

Filip Bondy

An award-winning veteran sportswriter who personally covered the Pine Tar Game looks back and explores one of the wackiest events in baseball history.On July 24, 1983, during the finale of a heated four-game series between the dynastic New York Yankees and sma... read more
The Orpheus Clock: The Search for My Family's Art Treasures Stolen by the Nazis

Simon Goodman

“An extraordinary piece of history...a fresh and lively read” (The Christian Science Monitor)—the passionate, gripping, true story of one man’s single-minded quest to reclaim his family’s art collection, stolen by the Nazis in World War II.Simon Goodman’s gran... read more
Black Lotus: A Woman's Search for Racial Identity

Sil Lai Abrams

A unique and exquisitely wrought story of one multiracial woman’s journey to discover and embrace herself in a family that sought to deny her black heritage, Sil Lai Abrams shares her story in Black Lotus: A Woman’s Search for Racial Identity—an account that w... read more

Kim has 41 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Grace M.

Grace M.

Jul, 2025

Pinned
I got to work with Kim on my first novel, and she did a great job! She finished when she said she would and delivered exactly what was promised. She checked in with me throughout the editing process to make sure everything was clear. She was super sweet and was very pleasant to work with!
Rebecca K.

Rebecca K.

Apr, 2025

Pinned
Kim is amazing!! I've worked with her on five books now. Her suggestions and insights are always so spot on- I don't know what I'd do without her!
Bob V.

Bob V.

Nov, 2024

Pinned
This is my third collaboration with Kim. She has provided the highest quality proofread one each on my books. Her work is exceptional. She meets her deadlines. She is both easy to work with and a dedicated professional. When my next book is finished, I hope to work with Kim once again. I wouldn't...
Read more
Ryan M.

Ryan M.

Mar, 2026

Great to work with.
Karenga R.

Karenga R.

Nov, 2025

Kim did a FANTASTIC job with the proofreading and formatting for us. She's very communicative, patient, and detailed in her work. Excellent work polishing the book. I will definitely collaborate with her for future work!

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