Lucy Vilankulu

Lucy Vilankulu – Editor

Experienced editor with publishing, agency and direct-author experience.

Overview

I'm an editor and proofreader based in Minneapolis, MN. Experience with fiction and nonfiction ranging from paranormal romance to annual reports. Eleven years of working with occult publisher Llewellyn Worldwide grounded me in both alternative spirituality and "genre" fiction like romance, YA, supernatural, mystery and memoir, while work with ad agencies, journals and newsletters gave me experience with articles, ad copy and legal. Recent projects include a book about organizing, a first-time novel, and a medical memoir.

I usually work with publishers, book agents and established writers but I have worked with many a first manuscript.

I set my price using Reedsy's self-publishing cost calculator, so have a look before asking me to bid: https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-self-publish-a-book/cost-to-self-publish/. I don't double- or triple-book projects, so your project will get my undivided attention.

Services
Fiction
African American Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Health & Wellbeing History New Age
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Llewellyn Worldwide

Aug, 2004 — Oct, 2015 (about 11 years)
Proofreader on a range of books including YA, spirituality, health and wellness, supernatural, calendars, almanacs and mystery.

Minnesota Literature

Mar, 2004 — Jan, 2008 (almost 4 years)
Wrote and produced Minnesota Literature, a monthly publication of literary news, publications and opportunities in Minnesota published continuously from 1974-2009.

Self-employed

Jan, 1998 — Present
Twenty-seven years’ experience editorial and proofreading for a range of publishing, advertising and marketing agencies. Clients include Minnesota Literature, Llewellyn Worldwide and Patti Frazee (publishing services), as well as work with individual writers. I have edited nonfiction, fiction, YA, supernatural, supernatural romance, mystery, alternative spirituality and memoir.

Portfolio

Monsters in Love: Why Your Partner Sometimes Drives You Crazy―and What You Can Do About It

Menakem MSW LICSW SEP, Resmaa

Copy Editing
The Quaking of America: An Embodied Guide to Navigating Our Nation's Upheaval and Racial Reckoning

Menakem, MSW, LICSW, Resmaa

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The It’s Not About the Sex Workbook: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy After Sexual Compulsivity

Susskind, Andrew

Routledge

Copy Editing
Chasing AllieCat

Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Dumped with relatives in a small Minnesota town for the summer, Sadie Lester is relying on her mountain bike to save her from total boredom. Then she meets Allie, a spiky-haired off-road mount... read more
Proofreading
Killer Listing (A Darby Farr Mystery)

Vicki Doudera

Multimillion-dollar listings, hefty commissions, and cutthroat deals are the name of the game for Kyle Cameron, south Florida's stylish and driven star broker. But her fast-track life ends abr... read more
Proofreading
Ghosts of Lincoln: Discovering His Paranormal Legacy

Adam Selzer

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most haunted—and haunting—presidents in US history. Sightings of Lincoln’s ghost, as well as the ghost of his assassin, have been reported for more than 150 years... read more
Proofreading
Llewellyn's 2016 Moon Sign Book: Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon (Llewellyn's Moon Sign Books)

Kris Brandt Riske Riske

For more than one hundred years, this easy-to-use guide has provided detailed times and dates to help you achieve success. Use the moon’s dynamic energies to get the best results for: Planting... read more
Proofreading
Pieces of Us

Margie Gelbwasser

Two families. Four teens. A summer full of secrets. Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities . . . and escape from th... read more
Copy Editing
Portrait of a Past-Life Skeptic: The True Story of a Police Detective's Reincarnation

Robert L. Snow

A veteran police detective, Robert Snow was devoted to evidence and hard facts—he had never given any thought to reincarnation. But during a hypnotic regression, he experiences a vivid awarene... read more
Copy Editing
A Woman's War, Too: Women at Work During World War II

Wright-Peterson, Virginia

Proofreading
From Seven Rivers to Ten Thousand Lakes: Minnesota's Indian American Community

Preeti Mathur

Immigrants from the Indian subcontinent have been coming to Minnesota for more than half a century, and today more than forty thousand people of Indian descent live in the state, contributing ... read more
Proofreading
Merlin Stone Remembered: Her Life and Works

Gloria Orenstein

Discover the extraordinary life and profound contributions of Merlin Stone, the renowned feminist, author, artist, historian, and speaker. With unparalleled access to Merlin’s unpublished writ... read more
Proofreading
The Marginal Woman: Loving, Living, & Breaking Boundaries in a Pre-Feminist World

Shirley White Pearl

Shirley White Pearl was raised in an era when women stayed home and raised children, took care of the house and husband. But Shirley is anything but typical. In 1952, she set out to start her ... read more
Copy Editing

Lucy has 20 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Zeinab H.

Zeinab H.

Jan, 2026

Working with Lucy has been an incredibly grounding and affirming experience. She approaches editing with both skill and heart, honoring the writer’s voice while offering thoughtful, clear guidance that truly elevates the work. I felt seen, supported, and understood throughout the process, which m...
Read more
Lucy V.
Zeinab, you were so great to work with and your book is going to be inspiring to so many! I hope to see more of your work in future.
Johann J.

Johann J.

Oct, 2025

Working with Lucy V on my book, Beyond the Veil, was an absolute pleasure. Her editing was meticulous, insightful, and truly elevated the manuscript. She has a remarkable eye for detail and a deep understanding of storytelling. I couldn't be happier with the result and highly recommend her services!
Lucy V.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Nereida M.

Nereida M.

Aug, 2025

I think Lucy is a good editor. However, I felt that her development edit of my manuscript was a little too rushed and she was unable to mark up my last chapter because she was hurrying off to leave for holiday. I hope she can finish marking up the last chapter when she comes back, She thought it...
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Merri Ann O.

Merri Ann O.

Jul, 2025

I enjoyed working with Lucy. She is a great communicator, timely, and her experience with editing shines through. I wanted to work with her based on the theme and content of my manuscript aligning with her editing background, interests and portfolio. She didn't disappoint. Her insight as an edit...
Read more
Lucy V.
Merri Ann was a joy to work with. For everyone' sake I hope she writes more books!
Derrick B.

Derrick B.

Jun, 2025

Fantastic!

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