Kristen Weber

Kristen Weber – Editor

Developmental Editor with 20+ years of experience. I know exactly what it takes to get your manuscript ready for the world.

Overview

I have worked with hundreds of authors, first as an editor at two of the top book publishers in New York City and now as a freelance editor. I’ve helped my clients land agents, secure deals with publishing houses from big to small (including 6-figure deals!), and publish independently quite successfully, winning awards and hitting bestseller lists.


Hiring a developmental editor like me should be the very first step in your path to publication, whether you are trying to traditionally publish and are only receiving agent rejections or you want to independently publish and make sure your work is perfect before you release it to the world. A developmental edit addresses the content and structure of a manuscript. I provide very extensive page by page notes laying out the basic areas in which a manuscript might be improved, on everything from plot, character development, pace, perspective, and more....basically everything except copy editing, although I will flag any grammar, punctuation, or spelling issues that seriously impede the reading experience.


“I’ve known Kristen for years . She has a keen editorial eye and really knows what it takes to make a book a success, as evidenced by the vast number of award-winning projects she has edited. There’s no question I would recommend Kristen to anyone seeking the best in editorial guidance.”

— Jessica Faust, Literary Agent, Bookends, LLC


“Hiring Kristen to edit my first novel was the best career move I’ve made. She forced me to step back and examine the manuscript – something I wouldn’t have done on my own. By breaking the story down I found its heartbeat. Working with her was the best money I’ve ever spent. I came out the other side a better writer.”

— Terri Nolan, author of THE BIRDIE KEANE MYSTERY SERIES


“Kristen is an incredibly sharp, kind, and enthusiastic editor. She helped me get my debut thriller in shape to go out to agents. Although I had all the pieces in my book, it needed restructuring. Her astute notes guided my rewrite, after which I landed an agent and sold my novel. Without hesitation, I highly recommend her editorial services and plan to work with her again.”

— Sagit Schwartz, author of SINCE SHE’S BEEN GONE (FEBRUARY 2024)


I work on all commercial fiction, with a focus on crime fiction and romance. Now, let's get you published!

Services
Fiction
Contemporary Romance Cozy Mysteries Legal Thriller Medical Thriller Psychological Thriller Romantic Suspense
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Master's in Publishing, Pace University

Work experience

Self-employed

Sep, 2009 — Present

New American Library, Penguin Random House

Sep, 2006 — May, 2009 (over 2 years)

I worked as a senior editor for Penguin’s New American Library (NAL), where I helped launch Obsidian, their dedicated mystery imprint. Besides running the day-to-day operations of Obsidian, I edited approximately one hundred original titles across all genres. I was also in charge of NAL’s movie/television tie-in program and edited numerous original novels based on TV programs such as Burn Notice, The Unit, Criminal Minds, and Psych.

Mysterious Press, Warner Books

Aug, 2000 — Sep, 2006 (about 6 years)

I began my career in the subsidiary rights department of what is now Hachette Book Group, but quickly switched to the editorial side, eventually overseeing Grand Central Publishing’s legendary Mysterious Press. There, I worked with many amazing authors, including such luminaries as M. C. Beaton, Lindsey Davis, Margaret Maron, and Marcia Muller.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Killer Story

Witten, Matt

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Query Letter Review
Developmental Editing
Now I See You

Work, Shannon

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Query Letter Review
Developmental Editing
Mad Dog House

Mark Rubinstein

Roddy Dolan, a successful suburban surgeon, long ago left behind his past--one that nearly landed him in jail at 17. When he's approached by an old friend about becoming a silent partner in a ... read more
Developmental Editing
After losing her mother to cancer, Sally Solari quits her job as an attorney to help her dad run his old-style Italian eatery in Santa Cruz, California. But managing the front of the house is ... read more
Developmental Editing
Savannah is considered a Southern treasure, a city of beauty with a rich, colorful past. Some might even call it magical…To the uninitiated, Savannah shows only her bright face and genteel man... read more
Developmental Editing
Go Down Hard

Craig Faustus Buck

Sex, Thugs, and Rock-n-Roll The wild, daring, sexy and outrageously original crime novel from Macavity Award winner and two-time Anthony Award nominee Craig Faustus Buck. Nob Brown is a divorc... read more
Developmental Editing
Book expert Brooklyn Wainwright discovers that murder is always a bestseller in the first novel in the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series.Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled su... read more
Developmental Editing
*DOWNLOAD 4 FREE ebooks TODAY* and start 4 of Melissa Foster's bestselling series FREE: Lovers at Heart - Sisters in Love - Game of Love - Seaside DreamsVoted BEST BOOK SERIES by Supportive Bu... read more
Developmental Editing
Blood Orchids

Toby Neal

Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water-but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there's a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop in the sle... read more
Developmental Editing
“A page-turner! Smart, fast-paced and surprising.” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winner, Author of Say No MoreFreshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a car... read more
Developmental Editing
An Innocent Client was a top 100 book in the Kindle Store for all of 2016. The novel has been translated into 10 languages. Joe Dillard is an Amazon two million copy bestselling series. A prea... read more
Developmental Editing
USA TODAY BESTSELLER and AGATHA AWARD WINNER“Imaginative, empathetic, genuine, and fun, Lowcountry Boil is a lowcountry delight.” - Carolyn Hart, Author of What the Cat SawPrivate Investigator... read more
Developmental Editing
Swerve

Vicki Pettersson

The New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose “skill at capturing emotion in lyrical passages sets her head and shoulders above her peers” (Publishers Weekly) dives head first into... read more
Developmental Editing

Kristen has 22 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Philip K.

Philip K.

May, 2024

Kristen was a pleasure to work with. She is responsive, pleasant, thoughtful and has a light touch. Her suggestions made sense and seemed to be right on. I recommend her.
Scott M.

Scott M.

Aug, 2023

Kristen gave me much needed guidance on how to improve my pacing with well thought-out and descriptive ideas and suggestions. Thank you so much!
larry C.

larry C.

Aug, 2023

Excellent feedback and help!!
Brandy B.

Brandy B.

Jan, 2023

Kristen was very thorough and gave me great feedback for my query letter! Highly communicative.
Bruce B.

Bruce B.

Dec, 2022

Kristen edited my debut novel, and those edits really helped me improve the overall story. She's so good at judging narrative pacing and overall story structure, and her suggestions made all the difference. Because of her, I was able to find a literary agent. Literally. The agent read my manuscript just because Kristen had edited it! From there, I sold my first book. I just finished the second ...
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