Maria D'Marco

Maria D'Marco – Editor

Empathetic Developmental Editor specializing in YA, Historical fiction, Series/Trilogies, and Self-Help for 25+ years. Customized services.

Overview

I am a professional book editor specializing in Developmental & Line edits for nearly three decades. I thoroughly enjoy the challenges of developmental editing and delight in working with authors with a raw first draft, a manuscript with feedback from beta readers and/or has faced writing group 'skirmishes'. Some have been retrieved from the depths of a desk drawer. Others seem complete, yet there is the nagging feeling that something is 'missing'.

From 1st-book authors to published pros, I provide insightful support and work to reveal, explain, and promote the foundational actions their book needs to succeed. My author cohorts and I search for the best possible iteration of their story, often broadening the reach of the message and sharpening cliff edges and conflicts. Creating the smooth, unfettered pathway from mind to 'page' demands courage, a confident pen, and the trust in one's ability to craft a story with clarity. I strive to be the net beneath every author who walks the high wire of balancing vision and action to keep moving forward.

Editing is my profession but writing is my passion, and I hold the belief that having the soul of a writer allows me to envision and experience each author's story through the passion they have poured into it. I view every author and their manuscript as unique. This view demands that I recommend editing services unique to each manuscript with benefits tailored to the specific needs or specific stage of the manuscript.

I am a firm believer that story construction, character evolution, productive scenes, sterling dialogue, and dynamic conflict, operating within an engrossing environment, are all necessary for great story-telling. And even a rough draft, with all these elements yet bereft of perfect grammar, will deeply engage any reader.

As a progressive editor who has observed the rapidly mutating world of publishing for years, I regularly check the pulse of current writer/author conundrums (including the latest scams), acquire new agent listings, keep up with contemporary publishing standards and trends, as well as follow and comment on top-ranked writing blogs.

I have enjoyed many wonderful editing experiences on Reedsy supporting first-book and previously published authors. Whatever author situation, my approach and intent is honesty, kindness, and bringing the material to a greater iteration of the original by enlightening author perceptions and abilities to communicate their story.

My edit interactions with authors do not stop at the completion of an edit or assessment. I remain available for gratis consults to clarify my notes , as I believe an author cannot best utilize my guidance if they are unsure of my meaning. Ours is a shared creative experience, so we will work through any concerns or questions. I'm here for you.

As an extension of every author's journey to publication, I can review book queries and proposals, synopses and cover blurbs.

Want to be certain of your story and your concept? Reach out and we'll cross the bridges together.
Services
Fiction
Dystopian Historical Fiction Psychological Thriller Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Copy Editing I, II (EFA)
  • Master Writers I & II (John Yeoman)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 1993 — Present

Perform all levels of manuscript edits, from in-depth developmental edits and comprehensive line edits to insightful, illuminating manuscript assessments.

Establish collaborative partnerships with authors, tailoring editing to their needs in order to produce the highest iteration of their book within their budget parameters.

Coach authors through all developmental levels of their books, from initial concepts to world-building to developing character profiles to blocking out a first draft, and beyond.

Ghost-editing support from rough draft through final polish.

Portfolio

Tell Me The Truth

Heilgendorff

Deep in the Amazon jungle, Ayahuasca: An Executive's Enlightenment chronicles a young man's self-transcendence to become one with the Mother of the Rainforest and the creator of the universe.A successful advertising executive, Michael Sanders travels to Peru o... read more
Priors

Francis V.

Joe Iocca, an undistinguished veteran P.I., hadn’t seen a new client walk through his doors in several months. So when his former clients start appearing, asking him to solve their cases as if he never had, the fact that they haven’t aged a day is worth invest... read more
Pain is an unbidden guest, humanity's shadow companion down through the ages. It is a despoiler of dreams and a thief. Chronic pain can appear suddenly in a person's life, changing it forever. Dr. Lynn R. Webster puts a face on chronic pain through the lives o... read more
Welcome to Rulemania, a small country in the south pacific. On the outside, it is a flourishing nation with happy citizens and a fair ruler. On the inside, the country is almost torn apart by conflict. Prince Thomas is the tyrant that rules there with an iron ... read more
Vito Catana stood at the helm of his Spanish galleon, Lady Morgan. He prayed that he and the Lady would remain steadfast in the face of what lay ahead, for he was fooling with history, and his own destiny. Over the years, he had built a wonderful life until on... read more
Lord (1)

Dimitrios M.

This novel is an epic, spine-chilling portrait of a vigilante, who calls himself Traveler.Lord, a young, tall, and handsome professor of physics in Los Angeles, California, having psychotic tendencies for killing, he decides to become a serial killer. He names... read more
Scott Johnson had always taken the easy path no matter who he hurt along the way. That is, until he was mistakenly targeted as a donor by the Good Works church and asked to assist in a world-changing project. His home in a mid-western city is also home to the ... read more
Vice, Loyalty, and Passion in the Roaring TwentiesAiden McCarthy enjoys thieving and scheming much more than abiding by the morals of his Catholic, Irish-American, working-class parents. He has always been a pisser, but working for the North Side Gang feeds hi... read more
You don’t need another advice book. You need a PLAN to create a life you’ll love!You deserve to live your happiest life. To create a life you love, you'll need more than clichés and vague advice - you need a plan tailored to your values, desires, and goals.The... read more
The Resilience Way is a book for people who want to overcome their struggles and challenges and build the life they truly desire. In this approachable and engaging book, author Kelly Ann McKnight unwraps the keys to building resilience. She shares the Five Ele... read more
MOVE! is written specifically for people who need to systematically re-orient their life. When we feel stuck, hopeless, overwhelmed, or in need of clarity, we need to move. For those facing tough decisions, life transitions, or stuck in a "Now what?" moment, M... read more
Just when Big Jake Sujac had it made, 9/11 rocks his carefully constructed life. His story begins seven decades earlier in the Croatian neighborhood of Sunflower Hill. The Great Depression and World War II inflict a terrible toll on his family. Raised by his i... read more
When a brilliant psychopath terrorizes the innocent, an untried hero is their only hope.Alice was never one to back down from a fight. So, when her beloved aunt is brutally murdered, she vows to bring the killer to justice. Even if it means becoming the legend... read more
He fights crime. She was born into it. When the city’s in danger, superheroes can come from both sides of the law. Marco has abandoned his superhero duties to search for an antidote for his friend’s uncontrollable fits of rage. When the only man who knows the ... read more
She's the hero the world needs, and she's training for the rematch of her life…Alice is out for revenge. After narrowly escaping death at the hands of her nemesis, she spends her days living undercover as a crippled heiress. By night, she plans for the moment ... read more
The Order of the Dragon is a secret organization founded within the shadows of the Knights Templar. Their goal is to unite the world under one ruler: The Dracul. Many have sensed their existence, but none have been able to concretely expose them… until now.Tut... read more
The Fading of Lloyd embroils the reader in family history as members struggle through historic challenges: the end of the American frontier, the dawn of railroad travel that wove Midwest communities together, World War I, and the social mores of the 1920s and ... read more
Raiding the Empire of the Sun: Tinian 1945 is a historical novel of B-29 Superfortress missions over Japan during the last year of WWII. This book is based on real life events of a B-29 crew, describing life on Tinian Island as well as the dramatic happenings ... read more
The Oarsman

Zubin M.

In the novel, The Oarsman, a magical river begins singing out, and a dying man suddenly aches to know if the paradise at its end is real enough to fill his heart. He hires an oarsman to take him upstream, but a twisted encounter sends them back to revisit ever... read more
Are you a professional woman ready to harmonize family career and self? This interactive and insightful book is divided into 7 short thorough exercises that will guide you, systematically, through a process of defining your personal Life Balance. You will asse... read more
Demographics, globalisation, technology and the knowledge worker are impacting business growth in Asia and across the world. Despite these external issues, many so-called leaders are contributing to internal issues impeding success. People are looking for a qu... read more
Lost the magic? Stressed and struggling on the way to your dreams? Find your happiness, as revealed through a mythical, magical dream. With simple, understandable explanations, this insightful book explores an empowering allegory – how Dorothy finds courage, w... read more
Donning a pressed apron and tender smile, Agnes Waverly puts the final touches on another scrumptious meal at her quaint bed and breakfast. But even Agnes has secrets...perhaps one that she may share. That is of course, if her deceased husband, Walter, doesn't... read more
The author takes us along on her journey as she narrates the life events that weave an emotional tapestry, from adolescent imagination to adult life situations. Conveying amusing candor, Defforge details how she came full circle, from Paris to “la vie en rose”... read more
'Success at School and Beyond' shows you seven simple steps how to boost your child's ability to learn, to have more confidence and self-esteem, for greater success in school and in life. Having fun, being in the moment developing happier, healthier and confid... read more
March

Sunni O.

A creative wunderkind who once topped the country's most prestigious fashion school, Apple March is now languishing behind a retail counter. When fate shifts and her imaginative passion is reawakened, so too is the threat of a past secret. From the cool heart ... read more
When two newcomers settle in the Shire of Yandilla (situated somewhere in the middle of the hinterland that skits the long eastern coast of Australia) they disrupt the peaceful environment. They play pranks on the folk of LillyVille, they cause havoc in the va... read more
“Dr. Hisham's 4D Leadership is a fascinating book. He understands clearly what it takes to succeed and is a guiding light for others. Awareness is key and applying the principles in this book will open the door to your successful life.” - Bob Proctor, Best-sel... read more
Just when everyone thought our times would never go beyond stare-at-a-screen boring, along comes a generation that outshines the Beats, the Baby Boomers, the Xs, the Ys, the Zs, the Romans, and the Cowboys! The Mighty Beam Generation! ("Big" + "Dream" = Beam!)... read more
Evil stalks her. True love finds her. Destiny claims her. Rose wakes from a coma to find her life has changed forever. Her parents were killed in the accident that nearly claimed her life. Now orphaned, her mother's sister brings her to live in the country wit... read more

Maria has 53 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Holly M.

Holly M.

Aug, 2023

Maria is a wonderful editor. She has been incredibly helpful with all of my questions. She is very approachable, kind and polite. Her process is clearly thorough, and I've found her notes easy to understand. I would highly recommend her.
Maria D.
Holly was a delight to work with, having a poignant and intense story and premise to tell and present. Her book offers some tremendous insights, given honestly and with tremendous insights. I wis...
Read more
Pamela S.

Pamela S.

Aug, 2023

Maria's input is turning my disjointed thoughts into a cohesive whole that I believe will make an excellent non-fiction book. Her comments are straight forward, easy to understand, and get right to the heart of the matter. I'm so grateful for her insights, expertise, and professionalism. I have more books to come and look forward to collaborating with her again.
Maria D.
Pamela has written a unique book in a field littered with like-kind books -- yet her voice and vision rise above the ordinary. This is a self-help genre book that manages to avoid any hint of victi...
Read more
Debra F.

Debra F.

Feb, 2023

This was my first experience with Reedsy and I am thrilled with the results! Maria far exceeded my expectations. She understood my vision and her guidance has been invaluable. I had planned to consider other editors for my next novel, but I won't be doing that. I'll be using Mariafor as long as she is willing to work with me.
Maria D.
Debra has been a lovely author to work with, confident (though she would likely refuse that description) and prepared to take action and apply guidance given, her drive to produce finely curated ma...
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Gerald B.

Gerald B.

Jan, 2023

I had an extremely positive experience working with Maria. She responded to my messages quickly and offered thorough and insightful feedback on my questions and throughout the manuscript. I would definitely work with Maria again and I feel like my book will truly be a stronger piece of literature because of her direction. Thanks so much, Maria!
Felicia H.

Felicia H.

Jan, 2023

Maria’s feedback has been immensely helpful and guiding. She always responded right away and strove to suggest ways how I could make my book stronger and better. One of the reasons I chose her, was because she went above and beyond to make an effort to understand what I was trying to say with my book, instead of forcing her own ideas on me. I very much enjoyed our collaboration and am extremel...
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Maria D.
Felicia is a imaginative, resourceful, and passionate author who was a delight to work with...being both receptive to guidance and assertive in her application of it. I enjoyed our collaborative e...
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