Mary Beth Baker – Editor

My absolute favorite part of my job is helping authors make their work shine. My experience includes developmental editing, copyediting and proofreading, and query letter and proposal review. I hold a master’s degree in publishing from The George Washington University, and my editing portfolio includes numerous bestselling non-fiction books, with a focus on Christian non-fiction, history, lifestyle, and children’s books.

My editing style is collaborative and flexible based on the specific needs of the project. I will make whatever suggestions I think necessary to make a book all that it can be, but I never want you (the author) to feel set aside or unheard in the process. My job is to help you in your creative process—not to insert myself in your work. To that end, I write a lot of queries and include a thorough editorial memo with my edited draft, so you understand my thought process and can respond and even disagree as needed. In addition to editing text, I can assist with formatting notes and bibliographies, and I can also give guidance for acquiring permissions.

I work mainly with the Chicago Manual of Style, but I also have experience with AP style, and I am comfortable adapting to in-house style guides when provided. I work quickly, and I thrive under deadlines. I would love to meet you and learn more about your project!