Loma Halden

Loma Halden – Editor

Friendly, efficient editor and researcher with a deep passion for books and authors. Reading is my pleasure as well as my profession.

Overview

I am an extremely experienced copy-editor and proofreader, specialising mainly in fiction. I have worked for many publishers over a period of some twenty years, most notably Constable and Robinson, Macmillan and HarperCollins Publishers. In addition I have done some freelance research for the Royal British Legion; producing and editing material for their publications. I have more recently extended my client portfolio to include imprints of the Hachette Group, and worked with more self-published authors, fine-tuning their work.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs History Travel
Fiction
Historical Fiction Mystery & Crime Romance Short Story Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (UK)

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 1998 — Present

I have been freelancing for HarperCollins and other major publishers for nearly twenty years now, proofreading and editing titles both in the traditional style on paper, and increasingly on-screen. I have also had stints of working in-house as an editor and editorial manager, covering for holidays and maternity leave as and when needed. I also worked as part of a team recoding texts for digital use, and am now working on an ongoing basis for the Killer Reads team, which publishes crime fiction straight to eBook. I have also worked on historical fiction, romantic fiction, fantasy fiction and some non-fiction titles. Below is just a small sample of the titles I have either edited or proofread over the years.

I work fairly consistently for Bookouture, Orion, Little, Brown and Canelo, copy-editing and proofreading both digital and printed books, usually to quite tight deadlines so am accustomed to pressure! I have also recently been working with a friend on her memoirs, and also a selection of short stories. These are yet to be published, but the work has involved a certain amount to rewriting as well as advice and editorial input on my side.

For pleasure I enjoy reading crime, mystery and suspense, and so my work projects tend towards this genre, however I am just as happy working on other forms of fiction and biography,

Portfolio

Payback

R.C. Bridgestock

Returning home is never easy. Not when there is a serial killer at work... A completely unputdownable crime thriller full of authentic detail.DI Charley Mann left Yorkshire for the Met and a fast-track career – but now she’s back, she’s in charge and the area’... read more
The Killings at Kingfisher Hill: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery

Sophie Hannah

The world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot—legendary star of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile—returns to solve a fiendish new mystery. Hercule Poirot is travelling by luxury passenger coach from London to the exclusive K... read more
Killing Shadows (DCI James Hardy Series Book 6)

Gill, Jay

A Step In Time

Kerry Barrett

‘This is a great book and for fans of Strictly Come Dancing it’s an absolute must-read. It’s FAB-U-LOUS darling...’ - Louise Reviews The time of her life! Following a (totally justified) ugly, public brawl with her love-rat boyfriend, soap star and paparazzi d... read more
Gunmetal Gray

Mark Greaney

Mark Greaney, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tom Clancy's recent Jack Ryan novels, delivers another breakneck thriller following the world's deadliest assassin - the Gray Man.After five years on the run, 'The Gray Man' - Court Gentry - is back on ... read more
The Perfect Neighbours: A gripping psychological thriller with an ending you won’t see coming

Rachel Sargeant

The perfect neighbours tell the perfect lies... A top ten Kindle bestseller. A dark and twisty psychological thriller from a rising star in the genre, perfect for fans of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. When Helen moves into an exciting new neighbourhood, she finds hers... read more
The Pit-Prop Syndicate (Detective Club Crime Classics)

Freeman Wills Crofts

From the Collins Crime Club archive, the third standalone novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. Seymour Merriman’s holiday in France comes to an abrupt halt when his motorcycle starts leaking petrol. Following a lorry to ... read more
A Party In San Niccolo

Christobel Kent

Frankie's Manor

Anna King

She loved two men on different sides of the law...Rose Kennedy was lucky to have two men she could trust. Keeping her job as a barmaid in the East End wasn’t easy, but with the support of her sweetheart Jack Adams, a local constable, and Frankie Buchanan, whom... read more
The Babysitter

Sheryl Browne

You trust her with your family. Would you trust her with your life?Mark and Melissa Cain are thrilled to have found Jade, a babysitter who is brilliant with their young children. Having seen her own house burn to the ground, Jade needs them as much as they nee... read more
The Spy's Daughter

Adam Brookes

'Authentic, taut and compelling. Brookes is the real deal'Charles CummingThe stunning third novel from multi-award-nominated author Adam Brookes is paranoid, tense and spy fiction at its very finest.In many ways, Pearl Tao was a typical American child. She spe... read more
Dead Souls

Angela Marsons

The truth was dead and buried…until now.When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone.As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the g... read more
For My Brother's Sins

Sheelagh Kelly

The second in the bestselling Feeney Family sagas. How one treacherous act can turn a brother’s love into murderous rage...Summer, 1867: a sudden change in fortune promises to save the Feeneys from their life of poverty. But what will save the Feeney family fr... read more
The Bad Mother

Isabelle Grey

Are there secrets that should never be told? If so, how far must a mother go to keep them? Tessa Parker runs a successful B&B in a seaside town. During a surprise visit, a long-lost aunt lets slip a family secret with devastating consequences. Navigating her o... read more
Don't Stop Me Now

Colleen Coleman

A hilarious feel good read about making lemonade when life gives you lemons, and finding the silver lining in every cloud. Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped... read more
Spring at Blueberry Bay

Holly Martin

Welcome to beautiful Hope Island where the sea sparkles, the daffodils are blooming and a blossoming romance is just around the corner…Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome hom... read more
A Room Full of Killers: A DCI Matilda Darke crime thriller

Michael Wood

‘DCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths The third book in Michael Wood’s darkly compelling crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid. Eight killers. One house. And the almo... read more
The Case of the Gilded Fly

Edmund Crispin

A VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERYAs inventive as Agatha Christie, as hilarious as P.G. Wodehouse – discover the delightful detective stories of Edmund Crispin. Crime fiction at its quirkiest and best.Yseut Haskell, a pretty but spiteful young actress with a talent for ... read more
The Woman Next Door: A dark and twisty psychological thriller

Cass Green

A No.1 e-book bestseller, perfect for fans of HER by Harriet Lane and IN A DARK DARK WOOD by Ruth Ware. Two suburban women. Two dark secrets. The almost perfect murder. Everybody needs good neighbours... Melissa and Hester have lived next door to each other fo... read more
Departures: Seven Stories from Heathrow

Tony Parsons

Seven short stories from bestselling author Tony Parsons, based on his week as Writer in Residence at Heathrow airport. Here is Heathrow as it has never been seen before – a secret city populated by the 75 million travellers who pass through every year, a plac... read more
My Dear I Wanted to Tell You

Louisa Young

A letter, two lovers, a terrible lie. In war, truth is only the first casualty. ‘Inspires the kind of devotion among its readers not seen since David Nicholls’ One Day’ The Times While Riley Purefoy and Peter Locke fight for their country, their survival and t... read more
A Great Task of Happiness: The Life of Kathleen Scott

Louisa Young

Louisa Young, the best-selling author of MY DEAR I WANTED TO TELL YOU is also the granddaughter of the celebrated sculptor, Kathleen Scott. In A Great Task of Happiness: The Life of Kathleen Scott she tells us about an extraordinary woman and a celebrated arti... read more
The Toy Taker (DI Sean Corrigan, Book 3)

Luke Delaney

The third novel in the DI Sean Corrigan series – authentic and terrifying crime fiction with a psychological edge, by an ex-Met detective. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Stuart MacBride. Your child has been taken... Snatched in the dead o... read more
After She Fell: A haunting psychological thriller with a shocking twist (Alex Devlin, Book 2)

Mary-Jane Riley

A darkly compelling psychological thriller, full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of AFTER ANNA and THE GOOD GIRL. There are so many ways to fall... Catriona needs help. Her seventeen-year-old daughter Elena was found dead at the bottom of a cliff near he... read more
Outside Looking In: A darkly compelling crime novel with a shocking twist (DCI Matilda Darke, Book 2)

Michael Wood

‘DCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths The second book in Michael Wood’s darkly compelling new crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid. When elderly George Rainsford goe... read more

Loma has 5 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jonathan B.

Jonathan B.

Sep, 2019

It was great to work with, Loma. She's a real professional with years of experience in the book editing field. I will definitely be working with her again and highly recommend her services.
Loma H.
Thanks Jonathan, it was a pleasure to work with you too and glad to hear there are more books in the pipeline. Do get in touch as and when.
Luke B.

Luke B.

Oct, 2018

While her edit was more of a guideline than a full edit, she has helped me to bring the book down to a reasonable length while keeping many of the important messages within the story. She made many comments for me to review and have changed many things according to her perspective, without needing to challenge or question her decisions much. I would say this collaboration was a success, despite...
Read more
Loma H.
Thank you for this, Luke. I hoped I at least managed to fulfil some of the things the book required. It really did require a full rewrite in places rather than an edit, and that was not requested. ...
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Miranda R.

Miranda R.

May, 2018

What a brilliant editing experience I've had with Loma! She is extremely professional, gave me updates on her progress and has been so helpful in tidying up my manuscript. I can't thank her enough.
Pete D.

Pete D.

Feb, 2018

Excellent communication, professional editing, and a pleasure to work with
Simon C.

Simon C.

Apr, 2017

Loma is a consummate professional. She's a pleasure to deal with, and highly recommended.

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