Latoya C. Smith - Editor
NYT and USAToday bestselling editor with almost two decades of experience; Instructor; Literary Agent; Writer; CEO
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Overview
Latoya C. Smith started her editorial career as an administrative assistant to New York Times bestselling author, Teri Woods at Teri Woods Publishing while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at Temple University. She graduated Cum Laude from Temple in August of 2005. She then attained a full-time position at Kensington Publishing in March of 2006. In October 2006, Latoya joined Grand Central Publishing, an imprint at Hachette Book Group. For the span of her eight years there, Latoya acquired a variety of titles from Hardcover fiction and non-fiction, to digital romance and erotica. She was featured in Publishers Weekly, Forbes and USA Today, as well as on various author, book conference, and book blogger websites. In early 2014, she appeared on CSpan2 where she contributed to a panel discussing the state of book publishing. From August 2014 to February 2016, Latoya was Executive Editor at Samhain Publishing where she acquired short and long-form romance and erotic fiction. She is the winner of the 2012 RWA Golden Apple for Editor of the Year, 2017 Golden Apple for Agent of the Year, and the 2017 Literary Jewels Award for Editor of the Year. Latoya provides editorial services and literary representation through her company, LCS Literary Services.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Inspirational
Self-help & Self-improvement
Fiction
LGBTQ (Fiction)
Mystery & Crime
Romance
Science Fiction
Short Story
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- B.A. in Journalism, Temple University, 2005
- Media Bistro, New York, NY, Facebook Marketing Course
- Media Bistro, New York, NY, Copyediting Course
- New York University, Publishing Program: Manuscript Editing Course
Awards
- 2014 RITA Best First Book, The Sweet Spot, Laura Drake
- 2014 RITA Best Multicultural, The Choir Director 2, Carl Weber
- 2012 RWA Golden Apple, Editor of the Year
Work experience
Editor / Literary Consultant
Self-employed
February, 2016
–
Present
(over 4 years)
- Developmental/content editing, line editing, copyediting and proofreading for authors and online magazines.
- Offer consultations to authors throughout all stages of their writing careers, including assistance with branding and promotional campaigns.
- Travel nationally to teach workshops on writing, publishing, and branding.
- Offer mentorship to those seeking employment in print and online media.
Executive Editor
Samhain Publishing
August, 2014
–
February, 2016
(over 1 year)
Associate Editor
Grand Central Publishing / Forever - Hachette Book Group
September, 2011
–
August, 2014
(almost 3 years)
Assistant Editor
Grand Central Publishing / Forever - Hachette Book Group
December, 2009
–
September, 2011
(almost 2 years)
Editorial Assistant
Grand Central Publishing / Forever - Hachette Book Group
October, 2006
–
December, 2011
(about 5 years)
Administrative Assistant
Teri Woods Publishing
May, 2002
–
August, 2005
(over 3 years)
Portfolio (13 selected works)
fugly (The Fugly Series Book 1)
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
***Now available, too! IT'S A FUGLY LIFE, Book #2 and a Standalone Continuation of FUGLY, a USA Today Bestseller***UGLY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER...My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, and despite being born with an unattractive face, I have never doubted who I am: smart, driven, and beautiful on the inside.Until I met Maxwell Cole.He's handsome, excessively wealthy, and the o... read more
A Virtuous Ruby (Migrations of the Heart)
Piper Huguley
An unexpected love in a small, Southern town.Migrations of the Heart, Book 1After fifteen months of hiding from the shame of bearing an illegitimate child, two words drive Ruby Bledsoe to face the good citizens of Winslow, Georgia. Never again. She vows to speak out against injustice. For her sisters. For her parents. For her infant son, Solomon.When she comes to help an injured mill worker, s... read more
The Sweet Spot (Sweet on a Cowboy Book 1)
Laura Drake
A Love as Big as Texas . . . Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together.James "JB" Denny doesn't... read more
Slow Surrender (Struck by Lightning Book 1)
Cecilia Tan
He pushes her sexual boundaries . . .From the moment waitress Karina meets him in a New York bar, she knows James is different. Daring. Dominating. Though he hides his true identity from her, the mysterious, wealthy businessman anticipates her every desire and fulfills her secret fantasies. Awakened by his touch, Karina discovers a wild side she hadn't known existed and nothing is off limits.S... read more
The Man in 3B
Carl Weber
Daryl Graham has just moved into a Jamaica, Queens, apartment building and his neighbors, both male and female alike, can't stop talking about him. From his extreme attractiveness to his undeniable swag, Daryl is the man every woman wants and every man wants to be.Connie, an unhappy wife, turns to Daryl for help losing weight, hoping to fix her marriage. But when Daryl starts making Connie fee... read more
Shooting Scars: Book 2 in The Artists Trilogy
Karina Halle
Twelve lessons for success from Coach Ken Carter as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the hit movie Coach Carter.From learning about the quality of one's character to the love of learning-as well as the importance of self-discipline and spirituality-Coach Carter takes you through his own life experiences and shows you how you, too, can become successful in your everyday life. His fundamental b... read more
Soft is the New Power: Embracing Your Feminine Edge to Win in Love & Life
Deya "Direct" Smith
Soft is the New Power What if everything you thought you understood about communicating with men was wrong? Would you be willing to re-calibrate your thinking to possess the love and life you desire? From the creator of the Man Whisperer Multimedia Series comes the new book Soft is the New Power by Deya “Direct” Smith. Smith shows readers how to return to the organic softness that is feminine ... read more
Home for the Holidays: A Cavanaugh Island Novella
Rochelle Alers
This Christmas novella is set in charming, Sanctuary Cove featuring popular characters from Rochelle Alers' bestselling small-town, Cavanaugh Island contemporary romance series. Love is always in season. There's no place like home for the holidays, especially for divorced pastry chef Iris Nelson. After escaping an abusive marriage, she's found peace on charming Cavanaugh Island. As the holiday... read more
The Practice Wife
Marissa Monteilh
A Practice Wife is defined as; a woman who a man dates right before he settles down with someone else, and Misha London has had three exes, who within months of breaking up with her, got married. Misha, the only daughter of religious parents, cleaned up Carson Rivers for two years, improving him from head to toe, forgiving his bad sides and focusing on his good sides. And just like two of her ... read more
Thuggz Valentine
Wahida Clark
This is the first Street Lit book to be written in reverse! Thuggz Valentine is the story of a modern day Bonnie & Clyde, natural born killers who go out in a blaze of glory after taking on the city s police force. Step by step, readers relive Ebony and Bless s last day together . . . Valentines Day. The day however, starts nothing like it ends, and as time goes back, hour by hour, the two lov... read more
The King Trilogy (5 Book Series)
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
From Book 1: A DARK FANTASY FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFFA USA TODAY BESTSELLER!"I am the man who can find anything or anyone. For a price. And my price is you."When Mia Turner's brother goes missing in Mexico, while on an archaeological dig, she believes that life couldn't get much worse. But when she's blocked at every turn from finding answers, by both local and U.S. a... read more
To Find a Viking Treasure (Norse Series Book 2)
Gina Conkle
Norse Series Book 2Survival’s in his bloodRough-souled Brandr’s ready for a new life far from Uppsala, but he can’t stop thinking of a certain flame-haired thrall named Sestra who gets under his skin. Before he leaves for good, the Viking has one final task —Protect her at all costs.Saving others is her purposeA slave since birth, Sestra's life has been filled with hardship...until she learns ... read more
Latoya C. has 1 review
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Working with Latoya was the right move for me to move my book forward. I’ve had some tough love from editors in the past but she was able to communicate what I was specifically missing and gave me ideas on how to fix it. I appreciate her attention to detail and her enthusiasm for her work. I am still getting my first novel together, but I feel like this award-winning editor (she’s won two Golde...
Read more
Alicia Dill, November 2017
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