Mary Cook

Mary Cook – Editor

Experienced copy editor, proofreader, and fact-checker who has worked with award-winning authors of creative nonfiction, poetry, and fiction

Overview

I specialize in copyediting, proofreading, and fact-checking memoirs and essay collections about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, nature and the environment, grief/death/loss, love/desire, and travel.

I have a bachelor of science in biology (Cornell University) and a master of arts in English (University of Vermont), and I am a current English PhD candidate (University of California, Santa Barbara).

For six years, I worked as a freelance development editor for pediatric nursing textbooks published by Pearson. Then, before becoming a part-time college professor of English, I began copyediting, proofreading, and fact-checking for literary titles in creative nonfiction, poetry, literary fiction, and occasional genre fiction (mystery/thriller) and still take on such freelance work to this day.
Services
Fiction
Anthologies Literary Fiction Poetry
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Nature Sex & Relationships Sports & Outdoors Travel
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Lake Tahoe Community College Molly Owen Creative Writing Award (2013)
  • Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) Postcolonial Essay Award (2021)
  • Lake Tahoe Community College Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award (2022)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2012 — Present

Job specifications: copyedit, proofread, fact-check, and lay out manuscripts of diverse lengths and mediums (literary journals, anthologies, poetry collections, memoirs, novels); knowledge of MLA and Chicago styles, Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator.

Lake Tahoe Community College

Sep, 2018 — Present

Specialties: American literature, world literature, composition and rhetoric, research writing, creative nonfiction writing, and basic skills in the Incarcerated Student Program.

Lake Tahoe Community College

May, 2012 — Present

Job specifications: responsible for all aspects of Lake Tahoe Community College’s literary journal, The Kokanee, including call for submissions; submission management, review, and selection; contributor communication; manuscript organization; copyediting; manuscript layout and design; cover design; proofreading; manuscript preparation for printer; marketing; and book launch.

Pearson Education

Sep, 2010 — Oct, 2016 (about 6 years)

Job specifications: project management and completion on deadline and within budget of college-level pediatric nursing textbooks; management of the art program, peer-review process, and contributing authors; development of pedagogical features; analysis of competing texts; adherence to APA style; and preparation of manuscripts for release to production.

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