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 Contemporary Fiction Historical 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

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 mountain biker who's training for a major race. Allie leads Sadie and Joe... read more
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 abruptly when she is fatally stabbed at an open house. Suspicious of th... read more
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. Visited by eerie premonitions, morbid dreams, and unusual events t... read more
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 • Hunting • Fishing • Buying a Car • Training Pets • Asking for a L... read more
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 their turbulent lives. But when hes back in Philadelphia during the sc... read more
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 awareness of being alive in three separate historical scenes. Remaining ske... read more
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 to a wide variety of professional, educational, and cultural fields.... read more
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 writings, photos, and personal stories, Merlin Stone Remembered is a sig... read more
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 adult life at the University of Iowa. She marches in protests and di... read more

Lucy has 13 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Shana A.

Shana A.

Mar, 2025

Working with Lucy was exceptional. She took her time and answered any questions that I may have had. As a first time author she took a chance with me and that for me is what mattered the most! She is professional and honest and I would recommend her to anyone that wanted a caring and detailed o...
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Lucy V.
Good luck, Shana! I especially liked Rocky’s story but all of them were compelling.
Cindy O.

Cindy O.

Mar, 2025

I had the pleasure of working with Lucy, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. Her professionalism was evident from the start, and she maintained clear, timely communication throughout the editing process. Lucy provided insightful feedback. Her attention to detail and commitment to ...
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Lucy V.
I really hope you do write more books about this inspiring family!
Derrick B.

Derrick B.

Mar, 2025

Good job. The professional understood much of what was needed. Worked with no fuss on text that was itself fussy.
Jon T.

Jon T.

Jan, 2025

I enjoyed working with Lucy. I've had experiences with other editors who failed to deliver on time. Not so with Lucy. She is a professional. I started with a very long overwritten manuscript. Lucy adeptly helped me understand how to pare it back to the essentials without losing the heart. The res...
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Melvin R R.

Melvin R R.

Jun, 2024

This was a wonderful experience. Her willingness to give me fair and constructive feedback while providing high professionalism was great. I was also impressed by her willingness to explore the topic beyond what I wrote in my book, this enabled her to take a more objective look at my work. All sa...
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Lucy V.
Melvin was a dream client. Always enthusiastic in advocating for his project and very willing to consider and implement my feedback where it was helpful to him. A very courteous gentleman as well. ...
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