Lauren Dooley

Lauren Dooley – Editor

A passionate, devoted editor who adores storytelling and specialises in fantasy, sci-fi, 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 three indie trade publishers, SmashBear Publishing, Joffe Books and Rising Action Publishing, 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 Paranormal Romance 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

Made with Reedsy
Eden: Book One

Mireles, Lilith

Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston

Wallin, Nick

Rising Action

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
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
Somnium

Amicus, Alena

Copy Editing Proofreading
The Promise of Lightning (The Godsplit Universe)

Weatherwax, Jenna

SmashBear Publishing Print

Copy Editing
Children of the Tithe (The Changeling Trilogy)

Carvill, Tracey M

Elsewhen Press

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

Stark, Jemma

Independently published

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
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
Developmental Editing
Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Editorial Assessment Proofreading

Lauren has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Anthony P.

Anthony P.

Jan, 2026

Lauren is amazing. She started the project on time, and finished early. Her notes were clear and insightful. She noticed things I had not picked up on through several readthroughs. She noted areas where worldbuilding/character development needed improvement. She suggested adjustments to ends and ...
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Kimberly V.

Kimberly V.

Jan, 2026

Lauren has been very patient with me as a first-time author; she was kind and provided amazing feedback!
Keith Leonard G.

Keith Leonard G.

Jan, 2026

My dev edit from Lauren changed so much. The difference is amazing. The glaring holes in the story and characters which being on the inside I simply didn't see. Great communication and explanations of everything too, even if it was at early hours of the morning, so thank you for being a night ow...
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Michael E.

Michael E.

Jan, 2026

Lauren was an absolute delight to work with on my project, The Wick Effect. Her notes were thorough and professional and pushed the story in the right direction. I highly recommend her editing services, and I will be reaching out to her again on my next novel.
Aslihan Aida A.

Aslihan Aida A.

Jan, 2026

From the first moment of our collaboration, Lauren was extremely professional, and it was immediately clear that her talent for shaping stories into a book is exceptional. She has a remarkable ability to see the bigger picture while also paying close attention to the smallest details. Her guidanc...
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