Maleah Bell - Editor
Nashville, United States
Former Thomas Nelson editor with 15+ years' experience in Christian non-fiction, study products, and Bibles
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Overview
I am a freelance editor with more than twenty-five years' experience in various facets of the Christian publishing industry. I have been in editorial work for more than half of those years. Because I have a keen eye for detail, I have an affinity for copyediting and proofreading manuscripts and typeset pages, and I focus on those areas. It is my job to make authors look good! I am also an experienced editorial project manager who can manage a book from manuscript to printing. I enjoy building author relationships!
Services
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Christian
Inspirational
Non-Fiction
Christian (Non-Fiction)
Publishing
Awards
- Thomas Nelson’s Star Core Values Award
Work experience
Editor
Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishers)
July, 2013
–
May, 2015
(almost 2 years)
Managed assigned editorial projects, including print study products, reference books, and DVD Bible studies.
• Supervised editorial and typesetting processes
• Reviewed all edits, submitting document for author’s approval
• Approved interior design and final manuscript, verifying text quality and design cohesion
• Wrote back ad and catalog copy, creating product interest for both reader and retailer
• Reviewed and approved printer proofs, confirming quality of printing
Associate Editor, Translation Development
Thomas Nelson
January, 2007
–
July, 2013
(over 6 years)
Coordinated and executed seven-year editorial process for The Voice Bible translation under direction of Vice President of Translation Development, producing one of most understandable Bible translations on the market.
• Reviewed work of over 100 writers, scholars, and editors, ensuring content clarity and accuracy
• Compared manuscript to English Bible translations, identifying biblical text versus embedded
explanatory material.
• Supervised typesetting and production of The Voice Bible and several ancillary books
Editorial Assistant
Thomas Nelson
November, 2003
–
January, 2007
(about 3 years)
Assisted Vice President of Editorial in creating Bibles, reference books, and ministry titles
• Learned editorial and publishing processes.
• Prepared author and work-for-hire contracts
• Coordinated freelance assignments and reviewed editorial work
• Copyedited and proofread as needed, verifying accuracy and grammatical presentation
• Proofread catalogs, Bible packaging, book covers, and marketing materials prior to publication
• Worked with typesetters, designers, and production managers
Portfolio (26 selected works)
How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness: Serving People Just as They Are (Refraction)
Todd Stevens, Erin Stevens, Refraction
The starting and ending points for all outreach have to be love. The most effective way to reach people for Jesus is through kindness outreach—showing God’s love in practical ways. This type of outreach is what Jesus modeled, is culturally relevant, and values people. The goal should be to invite people to take the next step from where they are.Friendship Community Church, led by Pastor Todd S... read more
The Voice Bible, eBook: Step Into the Story of Scripture
Ecclesia Bible Society
The Voice™ is a faithful dynamic equivalent translation that reads like a story with all the truth and wisdom of God's Word. Through compelling narratives, poetry, and teaching, The Voice invites readers to enter into the whole story of God, enabling them to hear God speaking and to experience His presence in their lives. Through a collaboration of nearly 120 biblical scholars, pastors, writer... read more
The Reluctant Journey: Fulfilling God?s Purpose for You (Refraction)
Dr. Richard Leslie Parrott
Imagine the God of the universe whispering in your ear, “What shall we create out of your life that will serve My purpose?” The path of authenticity is not a solo endeavor but a calling to a partnership with God that requires utter honesty, trust, commitment, and wisdom. God guides your path with a two-fold promise, “You know I love you as you are, but together, we can make of your life what I... read more
Transcending Mysteries: Who Is God, and What Does He Want from Us? (Refraction)
Ginny Owens, Andrew Greer, Refraction
“We fell in love with Jesus. Then we had to decide what to do with God.” In Transcending Mysteries: Who Is God, and What Does He Want from Us? Andrew Greer and Ginny Owens take readers on a journey to answer the question: is the God of the Old Testament the same God we relate to and worship today?As the most definitive written revelation of who God is, Scripture has always been vital to the st... read more
Study the meaning of biblical words in the original languages without spending years learning Greek. W. E. Vine’s New Testament Word Pictures places every key word from Vine’s classic Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words in Bible book and verse-by-verse order. The text of the King James Version of the Bible is included for context, but W. E. Vine’s New Testament Word Pictures is keyed ... read more
Study the meaning of biblical words in the original languages without spending years learning Greek. W. E. Vine’s New Testament Word Pictures places every key word from Vine’s classic Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words in Bible book and verse-by-verse order. The text of the King James Version of the Bible is included for context, but W. E. Vine’s New Testament Word Pictures is keyed ... read more
Same Kind of Different As Me DVD-Based Conversation Kit
Ron Hall, Denver Moore
Go deeper into New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different as Me. Perfect for individual study or a small-group discussion, this documentary-style video brings the themes of Same Kind of Different as Me to life and provides a continued connection to the story and the foundation for a convicting lesson. From a burning plantation hut in Louisiana to an upscale New York art gallery, you will... read more
The Catalyst Leader DVD-Based Study identifies the 8 essentials and key characteristics for leading well now and over the next 20 years. Are you a high-octane, energizing leader with big ideas and the skills to back them up? Do you help shape the hearts and minds of those you lead? In short, are you a Catalyst leader? The reality is that most of us want to be good leaders, but we’re not sure h... read more
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition
Ronald F. Youngblood
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is the most comprehensive and up-to-date Bible dictionary available. With a fresh new look and updated photographs, this new and enhanced edition is a wealth of basic study information with more than 7,000 entries plus more than 500 full-color photographs, maps, and pronunciation guides.Features include:Cross-references to major translationsMore than 7,000... read more
All the Names in the Bible (A to Z Series)
Thomas Nelson
Even the most savvy Bible scholar will admit that it can be challenging to learn all the names in the Bible. Not only are there hundreds and hundreds of them, but some can be difficult to pronounce and tough to remember. All The Names in the Bible is a fun and engaging handbook that includes every name in the Bible in one handy volume. This comprehensive resource lists every person and place m... read more
Slow to Judge: Sometimes It?s OK to Listen (Refraction)
David Capes, Refraction
God invites us to judge and to help correct wrongs from a place of understanding. Sometimes we pre-judge a person based on our own biases and superficial experiences. We stifle dialog before the conversation even begins. If all we know is our own faith, and we never put it side-by-side with what others believe, our spiritual growth and commitments can be easily stunted. By truly listening and ... read more
The Story of The Voice
David Capes Jr.
Step into the story behind “the story.” Discover the reasons behind and the vision for The Voice translation! In-depth interviews with key participants explain the translators' motivations and visions for the project. Learn how the translators worked to bring a balance between scholarship, literary style, and forward thinking to meet the scripture needs for the church. Features include: Discus... read more
Leaving Ordinary: Encounter God Through Extraordinary Prayer (InScribed Collection)
Donna Gaines, InScribed
The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and be known by God. God longs for an intimate relationship with us as well. But how do we develop that kind of relationship with a holy God? It is one thing to long for such a relationship, but quite another to experience intimacy with Him. In Leaving Ordinary, Donna Gaines shares from her personal experience how prayer can become the channel ... read more
Amazed and Confused: When God's Actions Collide With Our Expectations (InScribed Collection)
Heather Zempel, InScribed
Most people have prayed for something or someone in earnest, seeking God’s will, only to be left confused by God’s response. Sometimes we ask, “Why would a good God allow bad things to happen to good people?” In Amazed and Confused, Heather Zempel tackles this question head-on by exploring the book of Habakkuk.When the prophet Habakkuk prayed that God would bring change to the backsliding nati... read more
Barren Among the Fruitful: Navigating Infertility with Hope, Wisdom, and Patience (InScribed Collection)
Amanda Hope Haley, InScribed
The problem of infertility has reached epidemic levels in our society. It is projected that 40 percent of women currently 25 and younger will have difficulty conceiving a child or reaching a live birth. Amanda Hope Haley had married David, the man of her dreams, and earned a master’s degree from Harvard. She and David purchased their first home and settled down to start a family. All her hopes... read more
Big Fun Bible Puzzle Book
Thomas Nelson
Everyone can have hours and hours of puzzle fun with this book that includes hundreds of quick and easy ways to teach and learn about the Bible. See the Bible in new ways, refresh your memory of Bible facts, or quiz your family, friends, or Bible study group! Use it with kids on long trips. Great for rainy days too! Packed with hundreds of word searches, maze games, crosswords, and fast facts.... read more
Parents of preteens and teens can move from scared to prepared with a new approach to parenting their adolescents. Parents of preteens intuitively know that no matter how good their kids are, there is turbulence ahead. Many feel lost and unprepared as they watch the damaging effects of culture collide with their child's growing pains and raging hormones. For over 35 years Mark Gregston has liv... read more
Divided: When the Head and Heart Don't Agree (Refraction)
Bill Delvaux, Refraction
The longest distance in the universe is between the head and heart. For Christ-followers, it is the chasm between what we say we believe in our minds and what we truly believe in our hearts: a split between our statements about God and our experience of Him. This divide is everywhere around us, causing untold devastation. It is found in the double lives of believers and in the hypocrisy of chu... read more
Jim Gash's comfortable life as a Los Angeles lawyer and law professor nearly ensured he and Henry, a Ugandan boy languishing in prison for two murders he didn t commit, would never meet. Henry was losing hope, prayed for a sign from God. Halfway around the word, Jim listened to best-selling author of Love Does, by Bob Goff, encourage lawyers to help imprisoned children in Africa. Jim felt an i... read more
Church History in Plain Language: Fourth Edition
Dr. Bruce L. Shelley
With more than 315,000 copies sold, this is the story of the church for today’s readers. The fourth edition of Shelley’s classic one-volume history of the church brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century. This latest edition of the book takes a close look at the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere, addresses the decline in tr... read more
Discover the exciting growth plan for your life! Find out how God can use anything in your life to help you become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. Explore God’s abundant resources that nourish you—His Spirit, the Bible, the church, time and challenges, and the spiritual disciplines—proven paths to a fruitful life. Learn how God speaks to believers and empowers them to overcome entrenched sins... read more
Prophets. Rapture. Tribulation. Judgment. End times. Learn what the Bible has to say about prophecy, how Christians differ in their views of the end times, and what the universal aspects are on which all Christians agree. The Max Anders What You Need to Know About series is made up of ten 12-lesson study guides covering the fundamentals of Christianity. The ten books in the series together for... read more
Unlimited: God's Love, Atonement, and Mission
Ken Hemphill
The unlimited character of God is seen in His unlimited holy love, which is expressed in His unlimited atonement, Mandating an unlimited mission for His church that is empowered by His unlimited resources and assured by His unlimited presence!Is a person's eternal destiny sealed before he or she is ever born? Did God create some persons to spend eternity in heaven and others in hell with no ch... read more
Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose
Melissa Spoelstra
In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to list... read more
For Christians worldwide, the month of December is filled with joy and wonder as we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. There is no other time of the year that can compare to the Christmas season for both the young and young at heart. From December to New Year’s Eve, reawaken the wonder, joy, and magic that is Christmas with daily scripture and inspirational readings of stories behin... read more
From Relief to Empowerment: How Your Church Can Cultivate Sustainable Mission
Laceye C Warner, Gaston Warner
Mission flourishes when relationships are characterized by mutuality--a difficult, but important, balance to sustain. While there are times for the relief efforts and traditional charity when disasters strike, if years later the same people are receiving the same aid, an opportunity is lost. Mission that moves beyond relief to empowerment opens up ways to address systemic forms of oppression a... read more
Maleah has 9 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Communication
I have learned so much and loved working with Maleah. Her knowledge and expertise is what I was looking for when I reached out to her. She was the last editor before I submitted by book for a proof copy in publishing. Best decision I ever made!
She was thorough, a good communicator and guide in our conversations. I look forward to working with you, Maleah, in the future. Thank you so much!
Stephanie Anderson, May 2019
Reply from Maleah Bell
I am a first time author and Maleah made me feel at ease every step of the way. Her communication was consistent and her work was perfection. She never made me feel my questions were bothersome. She also finished the project ahead of schedule. A true Blessing!
Gina Warren, April 2019
Reply from Maleah Bell
Maleah is a gem! If you have the opportunity, you should hire her. She was prompt, clear, flexible and detailed. I especially appreciated her candidness to tell me when I had an idea that wouldn't settle with evangelical readers (that's what editors are for). This was my first book so I wasn't sure what to expect. I am grateful to have been picked up by an experienced editor and that she was wi...
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Tara Galles, March 2019
Reply from Maleah Bell
I can not imagine a better experience working with an editor. Maleah responded quickly to my questions and was truly friendly throughout the entire process. She didn't simply edit the work, she engaged it. We had several friendly conversations about the manuscript, and I felt she completely understood what I was trying to do with the work.
Maleah also completed the edit a week sooner than the...
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Philip Jorgensen, December 2018
Reply from Maleah Bell
This is my first experience with the publishing process. Maleah let me know what to expect and she was prompt with her responses to emails. This project is a self publish work, so when we had to work around deadlines it was easy; but, I believe she would have been easy to work with even if the deadlines were set. She was thorough in her work and the explanations she gave. I will definitely ...
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Michael Metz, November 2018
Reply from Maleah Bell
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