Lyndsey Smith – Editor

I am an editor with five years' experience working with authors seeking to self-publish and those about to begin their query submissions. During those five years, I have specialized in speculative fiction, primarily horror and fantasy, but have also worked with romance, cozy mystery, thriller, and sci-fi genres. I also collaborate with traditional publishers like Turner Publishing, editing their horror and fantasy titles.

I began with a bachelor's in English and creative writing, a bachelor's in forensic psychology, a master's in English and creative writing, a certification in online teaching, and a certificate in copyediting. Currently, I am pursuing my master's in clinical psychology. Since 2020, I have also completed all tiers of editing training from the Editorial Freelancers Association and have been a mentor for the Horror Writers Association new author program for multiple semesters.

My goal during each project is to truly form a team with the authors I work with. I understand that it isn't simply enough to be a good editor; I have to be the best editor for you. And to do that, I have to focus on the intent behind your author voice, the nuances of your style, and the effectiveness of your novel's delivery, sharpening and smoothing the edges where necessary to make for a final cohesive product that will appeal to an ever-changing reader market.

"Lyndsey edited my horror novel The Devil's Shallows, and once again, I was blown away at the quality and thoroughness of her edits. Remember when Donald Rumsfeld made that famous statement about the knowns, known knowns, and unknown knowns? It's kind of like that. There's the stuff I'm sure needs fixing. Then there's the stuff I suspect needs fixing. And then Lyndsey gets to work, cleans all that up, and then digs out landmines you had no idea were there." - Debra Castaneda, author of the Dark Earth Rising horror series and the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries urban fantasy series.

"Working with Lyndsey was an incredible experience. This is my second novel, and having worked with several editors in the past, I was blown away by her professionalism, communication, and incredible knowledge of the editing attention to detail is beyond any level I've ever is absolutely worth the investment." - H. C. Newell, author of the Fallen Light fantasy series.

"Working with Lyndsey has been one of the best decisions I've made as an author. Professional, prompt, and thorough editing throughout my manuscripts were but the beginning of a wonderful working relationship. Lyndsey took the time to comment on some of her editing decisions, delve into my character arcs, and provide the book map she used for tracking plots that opened up a whole new perspective for me. You don't get what you pay for; you get more." - Katherine H. Brown, author of multiple cozy mystery series.