Lauren Dooley

Lauren Dooley – Editor

A passionate, devoted editor who adores storytelling and specialises in fantasy, horror, and cozy mysteries. Worked for Joffe Books.

Overview

With an MA in Publishing and 4+ years of experience, I am an extremely competent editor. I've worked for two indie trade publishers, SmashBear Publishing and Joffe Books, along with freelancing as a genre editor.

I have experience working on fantasy, sci-fi, romance, horror, historical sagas, crime thrillers, and cozy mysteries. I have extensive experience in developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading.

I adore reading and bringing stories to life. I love the idea of delving into a new challenge and putting my current skills to the test to make an amazing book flourish. I thoroughly enjoy reading LGBTQIA+ and diverse SFFH, and cozy mysteries, and I bring my passion for storytelling to every editing project. I also love helping authors find their voice, especially those under-represented in the industry.

Services
Fiction
Cozy Mysteries Epic Fantasy Horror Romantic Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • BA English, Maynooth University, Ireland
  • MA in Publishing, Roehampton University, UK

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2022 — Present
- Editor for over 70+ manuscripts, including SFFH, crime, thrillers, cozy mysteries, and romance. - Providing developmental, copyediting, and proofreading support.

Joffe Books

Jun, 2024 — Aug, 2025 (about 1 year)
- Working across commercial fiction genres, including crime, romance, sagas, historical fiction, cozy mysteries, thrillers, and more. - Structurally editing new manuscripts, along with copyediting and proofreading.

SmashBear Publishing

Nov, 2021 — Jun, 2024 (over 2 years)
- Commissioned new SFFH titles - Developmental editing, copy-editing, and proofreading support.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Editorial Assessment
Made with Reedsy
The Promise of Lightning (The Godsplit Universe)

Weatherwax, Jenna

SmashBear Publishing Print

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Life After Me: An emotional and uplifting romance about love and loss

Cook, Ella

Choc Lit Contemporary Romance: A Joffe Books Company

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
ELEVEN HOURS TO MURDER a BRAND NEW gripping and witty cozy murder mystery (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 11)

Borton, D.B.

Joffe Books crime thriller, mystery and suspense

Developmental Editing
The Mardi Gras Murders: A Briana Song Crime Thriller

Stark, Jemma

Independently published

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Eden: Book One

Mireles, Lilith

Proofreading
Developmental Editing
They Hung the Moon

Carini, Loredana

SmashBear Publishing

Copy Editing
Blooms of Dawn: Tales of Hope

Publishing, SmashBear

SmashBear Publishing

Developmental Editing
Children of the Tithe

Carvill, Tracey M

SmashBear Publishing

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
The Malachite Quest (The Cursed Weapons Trilogy)

Apeltun, Aerin

SmashBear Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Opal King: The Cursed Weapons Trilogy Book: 3

Apeltun, Aerin

SmashBear Publishing

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Editorial Assessment Proofreading

Lauren has 11 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Elena K.

Elena K.

Dec, 2025

Working with Lauren has been an absolute joy from start to finish. She stepped into my project like a kind fairy godmother—gentle, confident, and immensely supportive—at the very moment when I was close to giving up on publishing my novella. Her calm, respectful communication immediately put me a...
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Scott B.

Scott B.

Dec, 2025

This was my first submitted manuscript, drafted four times, and Lauren Dooley gave me far more than I had expected. She carefully studied my story and delivered notes within the manuscript as well as a five page development plan regarding plot holes, character development issues, notes on pacing,...
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Shelly L.

Shelly L.

Nov, 2025

Had a very positive experience working with Lauren and hope to collaborate with her on my next project!
Tina B.

Tina B.

Nov, 2025

Working with Lauren was great - will 100% hire her for another project.
Donna M.

Donna M.

Nov, 2025

Lauren has done an amazing job on the copy edits for my debut novel. They were professional and very enthusiastic about the brief. I was reassured and kept up to date along the way, and the result is absolutely spot on. I will definately come back to Lauren for the follow up book!

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