Lauren Smulski

Lauren Smulski – Editor

I am an accomplished editor of adult and young adult fiction, including New York Times bestsellers and books with multiple starred reviews.

Overview

After earning my master’s degree in publishing from Pace University, I went on to intern at Dorchester Publishing and freelance for Skyhorse Publishing before landing my first job as an editorial assistant at Harlequin. There, I worked my way up the ladder to become an associate editor for Inkyard Press, specializing in stories for young adults, ranging from epic fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers to contemporary, historical, and nonfiction. The books I edited have been New York Times bestsellers, Indie Next Picks, award-winners, and received multiple starred reviews.

As an editor, my mission is to preserve the author's voice above all else. I view myself as a collaborative partner, committed to bringing an author's story to the next level while staying true to their vision for the book. Key areas of focus for me are world building, character development and motivations, and enhancing the emotional depth of each story. So if you're looking for someone to be in your corner, to provide insider knowledge, to give your stories the polish and refinement they need to stand out in an incredibly crowded marketplace... look no further! I'm here to help with story development, in-depth line-editing, copyediting, proofreading, the works.

A complete list of my edited works is viewable at the bottom of my profile, but some of my career highlights include:

¤ New York Times Bestseller debut for ZENITH by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
¤ Three starred reviews and an Indie Next Pick for THE BLACK WITCH by Laurie Forest
¤ Starred review for THE DEAD QUEENS CLUB by Hannah Capin
¤ Starred review for REBEL GIRLS by Elizabeth Keenan
¤ Indies Introduce and Indie Next Pick for ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by Gregory Scott Katsoulis
¤ YALSA's 2019 Best Fiction for Young Adults nomination, Teens' Top Ten nomination, and OwlCrate selection for ACE OF SHADES by Amanda Foody
Services
Fiction
Chick Lit Contemporary Fiction Fantasy Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Romance Science Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Ithaca College: Bachelor of Arts, Journalism
  • Pace University: Master of Science, Publishing

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2019 — Present

Though I specialize in fantasy, science fiction, romance, and young adult, I have the skills and expertise to polish any creative project you have in mind, and offer customized services if you require something outside of what's offered here on Reedsy. Please submit a project request so we can further discuss your editorial needs!

Turnaround times vary by project and requested level of service, but for most full-manuscript services, a timeline of three to six weeks is standard. In some cases, rush service may be available for an additional fee.

Inkitt, Inc.

Mar, 2021 — May, 2022 (about 1 year)

• Launched GALATEA’s External Authors’ Portal and provided author support for chapter submissions and technical troubleshooting
• Managed relationships with ten high-performing authors
• Recruited, trained, and managed a roster of forty freelance editors
• Developed SOPs that scaled editorial capacity from two manuscripts per week to thirty-five
• Created monthly editorial budgets and oversaw processing of freelancer invoices
• Assigned and assessed the quality of over five hundred editorial projects in one year

Inkyard Press, a division of HarperCollins

Apr, 2013 — Oct, 2019 (over 6 years)

As Associate Editor for Inkyard Press, Lauren edited and managed an eighteen-author list that included New York Times bestselling author duo Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, as well as critically acclaimed authors Laurie Forest, Gregory Scott Katsoulis, Hannah Capin, Laura Taylor Namey, and Elizabeth Keenan.

Full Author List:
• Adi Alsaid
• Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings
• Jillian Cantor
• Hannah Capin
• Gia Cribbs
• Amanda Foody
• Laurie Forest
• Janet Gurtler
• Summer Heacock
• Alex R. Kahler
• Gregory Scott Katsoulis
• Elizabeth Keenan
• Alisa Kwitney
• Katherine Laurin
• Laura Taylor Namey
• Kaitlyn Sage Patterson
• Mara Rutherford
• Eric Smith
• Maria V. Snyder
• Robin Talley
¤ Emily Victoria

Portfolio

Sing Me Forgotten

Olson, Jessica S.

This Golden Flame

Victoria, Emily

The Shadow Wand (The Black Witch Chronicles Book 3)

Forest, Laurie

The Code for Love and Heartbreak

Cantor, Jillian

Aslan: Running Joy

Kaldahl, Kristin

Chaos Looming: A YA Fantasy Adventure (The Legion of Pneumos)

Reneau, H.B.

The Cendovian (The Cendovian Chronicles Book 1)

Hennessy, Mark

Try Me: A Fake Relationship Romance (Aloha Series Book 2)

Brashear, Jill

Walking In Shadows

Laffoon, C. Drew

The Water Child

McGinty, Ellen

House of Bastiion

K.L. Kolarich

Centuries after the Forgotten Wars ravaged the world and turned it to ash, the Houses of Pilar, Darakai, Boreal, and Bastiion forged an accord, founding a Quadren of advisory to the throne. Every generation, a single Haidren from each House is appointed to thi... read more
You Too?

Janet Gurtler

A timely and heartfelt collection of essays inspired by the #MeToo movement, edited by acclaimed young adult and middle-grade author Janet Gurtler. Featuring Beth Revis, Mackenzi Lee, Ellen Hopkins, Saundra Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Rainfield and many m... read more
Crashing the A-List

Summer Heacock

"Come for the romance, but stay for the hysterical dialogue." —NPRAfter four months of unemployment, former book editor Clara Montgomery is officially stuck—stuck sleeping on her little brother’s ugly couch in Queens, stuck scrolling through job listings in se... read more
The Awkward Path to Getting Lucky: A Novel

Summer Heacock

In thirty-four days, it will have been exactly two years to the day since I’ve had sex. Having sex wasn’t exactly high on Kat Carmichael’s priority list while her successful bakery was taking off, especially since things hadn’t been working very well in that d... read more
Dawn Study (Study Series Book 6)

Maria V. Snyder

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder brings her Poison Study series to its exhilarating conclusion Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bond—and a family—that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the ... read more
Night Study (Study Series Book 5)

Maria V. Snyder

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder transports readers back to the realms of Sitia and Ixia in an exciting new Study novel full of magic, danger and intrigue. Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life ha... read more
Nexus (The Androma Saga Book 2)

Sasha Alsberg

Return to the high-stakes, riveting world of The Androma Saga in this dazzling finale from #1 New York Times bestselling authors Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings.With her crew captured and her ship a smoldering ruin, notorious mercenary Androma Racella is no... read more
Zenith (The Androma Saga Book 1)

Sasha Alsberg

From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings comes the first book in The Androma Saga, an action-packed thrill ride of adventure, intrigue and steamy star-crossed romanceKnown across the galaxy as the Bloody Baroness, Captai... read more
Crown of Coral and Pearl

Mara Rutherford

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine… Nor once... read more
Light Mage (The Black Witch Chronicles)

Laurie Forest

Journey to the magical world of Erthia in this exciting prequel to The Black Witch by critically acclaimed author Laurie Forest.Before Elloren Gardner came to possess the White Wand of myth, the Wand was drawn to another bearer: Sagellyn Gaffney. Sage’s affini... read more
Wandfasted (The Black Witch Chronicles)

Laurie Forest

Magic, romance and adventure collide in Wandfasted, the irresistible ebook prequel to The Black Witch by Laurie Forest When they painted Heretics on our barn and set fire to it, I thought that was the worst it could get. Until they sent the dragons. But they d... read more
The Library of Lost Things

Laura Taylor Namey

From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new prop... read more
The Exalted (The Alskad Empire Chronicles)

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Since the founding of the Empire, Alskad has been ruled by the singleborn…but the new heir to the throne carries a secret that will change everythingWhen an assassin’s bullet takes the life of Queen Runa and allows an impostor to steal the throne, Bo Trousilli... read more
The Diminished (The Alskad Empire Chronicles)

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

In the Alskad Empire, nearly all are born with a twin, two halves to form one whole…yet some face the world alone.The singlebornA rare few are singleborn in each generation, and therefore given the right to rule by the gods and goddesses. Bo Trousillion is one... read more
The Dead Queens Club

Hannah Capin

If your school’s homecoming king had a little too much in common with Henry VIII, would you survive with your head still attached?You’d think being the new girl in a tiny town would equal one very boring senior year. But if you’re me—Annie Marck, alias Cleves—... read more
The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan

Gia Cribbs

No one wants me to tell you about the disappearance of Sloane Sullivan.Not the lawyers or the cops. Not her friends or family. Not even the boy who loved her more than anyone. And most certainly not the United States Marshals Service. You know, the people who ... read more
Don't Read the Comments

Eric Smith

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for D... read more
Rebel Girls

Elizabeth Keenan

In 1992 Baton Rouge, a single rumor has the power to change a girl’s life forever.When it comes to being social, Athena Graves is far more comfortable creating a mixtape playlist than she is talking to cute boys—or anyone, for that matter. Plus her staunchly f... read more
Access Restricted (Word$ Book 2)

Gregory Scott Katsoulis

In this gripping sequel to All Rights Reserved, Speth Jime has freed her home of Portland from the oppressive system that forced everyone to pay for every word they spoke. Now she will discover the cost of that freedom, and the devastating secrets of the world... read more
All Rights Reserved: A New YA Science Fiction Book (Word$ 1)

Gregory Scott Katsoulis

In a world where every word and gesture is copyrighted, patented or trademarked, one girl elects to remain silent rather than pay to speak, and her defiant and unexpected silence threatens to unravel the very fabric of society.Speth Jime is anxious to deliver ... read more
King of Fools (The Shadow Game Series Book 2)

Amanda Foody

Indulge your vices in the City of Sin, where a sinister street war is brewing and fame is the deadliest killer of them all...On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous ... read more
Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game Series Book 1)

Amanda Foody

Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…and secrets hide in every shadowEnne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes mi... read more
Daughter of the Burning City

Amanda Foody

A darkly irresistible new fantasy set in the infamous Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival of debauchery that caters to the strangest of dreams and desiresSixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festi... read more
The Iron Flower (The Black Witch Chronicles Book 2)

Laurie Forest

Dark forces are on the rise in this sweeping sequel to The Black Witch by critically acclaimed author Laurie Forest.Elloren Gardner and her friends were only seeking to right a few wrongs when they rescued a Selkie and freed a military dragon. The last thing t... read more
The Black Witch: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Black Witch Chronicles Book 1)

Laurie Forest

“Potter-worthy.” —Justine magazine“A whole new, thrilling approach to fantasy!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce“Powerful” —New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb “Exquisite.” —Publishers Weekly, starred reviewA new Black Witch will ris... read more

Lauren has 12 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Piper B.

Piper B.

Mar, 2021

Lauren was extremely friendly, flexible, and easy to work with. As a first time author, she helped me to understand the kind of editing I needed, and was very upfront and clear about different options. She talked to me for nearly an hour, and clearly had invested time in reading and understanding my work. Her suggestions and edits were extremely helpful, I look forward to possibly working with ...
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Sean A.

Sean A.

Mar, 2021

Lauren was excellemt to work with and I look forward to working with her in the future! Despite the work taking longer than expected (she was injured) Lauren provided exceptional feedback in an easy to digest format. Money well spent.
Ellen M.

Ellen M.

Dec, 2020

Lauren exceeded all my expectations! She's a brilliant editor and writer. Highly recommended! Absolutely loved the book cover blurb she did for my debut novel!
Kait K.

Kait K.

Oct, 2020

Lauren was a huge blessing in preparation for the release of my debut novel, House of Bastiion (The Haidren Legacy, Book 1). Not only did Lauren try her best to emphasize my voice and my vision for the characters, she ultimately polished the entire manuscript, elevating it to an entirely new standard while protecting what made it "mine". Like a yin yang, she molded her approach around my nee...
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Lauren S.
Thank you so much for these kind words, Kait! I really loved working on House of Bastiion with you and diving into the utterly unique fantasy world you've created. I look forward to seeing how the ...
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Alretha T.

Alretha T.

Jul, 2020

I requested quotes from over a dozen editors and out of the bunch, Lauren was the one who wowed me!!! Her sample edit blew me away. Her edits displayed her attention to detail and were what I would expect from someone with her background and experience. I was excited about having her copy edit my manuscript, query, and synopsis and she did not disappoint. She took my manuscript to new heights...
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