Melissa Caminneci - Editor
Experienced freelance copy editor and book proposal writer. Formerly of Little, Brown and Company and The Monacelli Press.
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Overview
I'm a Harvard graduate with over 5 years of experience in the corporate book publishing industry. After working at Perigee Books (Penguin Random House), Little, Brown & Company (Hachette Book Group), and The Monacelli Press, the bulk of my industry experience is in adult illustrated books. These are otherwise known as coffee table books! I have read countless cookbook proposals, and I would love to help any emerging author to relate their experience in food in a way that is present and conversational.
As a freelance editor I most frequently work with prescriptive nonfiction: common areas are food reference, health and nutrition, fitness, and self help.
I am also an essayist and storyteller in my own writing, and I would love to work on more essays and memoir.
Let me help you tell your story, as clearly and engagingly as possible.
As a freelance editor I most frequently work with prescriptive nonfiction: common areas are food reference, health and nutrition, fitness, and self help.
I am also an essayist and storyteller in my own writing, and I would love to work on more essays and memoir.
Let me help you tell your story, as clearly and engagingly as possible.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Architecture
Art
Biographies & Memoirs
Cooking & Food Wine & Spirits
Design
Entertainment
Health & wellbeing
History
Photography
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Plays & Screenplays
Poetry
Short Story
Women's Fiction
Work experience
Freelance Editor, Proofreader, and Copywriter
Self-Employed
February, 2014
–
Present
(almost 7 years)
I guide independent authors through every stage of manuscript development, from the first draft to publication. My strengths are in finding the "big idea" in even the roughest rough draft, large-scale structural alteration and re-organization of prescriptive nonfiction, and line editing while maintaining the author's unique voice. I also help authors with book proposals and query letters.
Assistant Editor
The Monacelli Press
August, 2013
–
April, 2014
(8 months)
- Copy edited first drafts of incoming manuscripts
- Proofread final drafts of all titles and input text changes in InDesign
- Wrote official press releases for all titles and designed all of these press releases in InDesign
- Wrote jacket copy for all titles, mostly in the areas of Interior Design, Architecture, and Art
- Wrote sales copy for seasonal catalogs; attended sales and marketing meetings at Random House
Editorial Assistant
Little, Brown & Company
August, 2010
–
August, 2013
(about 3 years)
- Evaluated book proposals by writing reader’s reports and compiling Bookscan sales of comparative titles
- Fact-checked and line-edited food reference titles The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine and See Mix Drink
- Proofread both original manuscript pages and layout pages
- Acted as liaison between author, designer, and copyeditor on multiple bought-bound titles
- Consulted on hiring of freelance designers and reviewed all phases of layouts from first pages to blues
- Organized image deliveries from authors and photographers and transmit final images to Production
- Participated in weekly editorial meetings as well as production status meetings with representatives from Production, Art, Managing Editorial, and Editorial departments
Editorial Intern
Perigee Books-Penguin Group USA
February, 2010
–
April, 2010
(about 2 months)
- Evaluated both solicited and unsolicited proposals for all members of the imprint and wrote reader's reports
- Completed an archival photo research project for a Mad Men-inspired title
- Wrote readers' guides and jacket copy for multiple titles
Editorial Intern
The Iowa Review
October, 2009
–
February, 2010
(4 months)
- Wrote reports evaluating all creative non-fiction submissions and attended editorial meetings
- Initiated and updated a Filemaker Pro database of all prize-winning pieces published by the magazine
Assistant Editor
Sententiae-Harvard Undergraduate Journal of Medieval Studies
April, 2008
–
June, 2009
(about 1 year)
- Worked directly with authors to edit their academic articles
- Selected pieces for publication with the editorial board
- Led meetings regarding distribution method and publicity for the Medieval Studies journal
Research Assistant to Megan Marshall
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
October, 2006
–
June, 2007
(8 months)
- Transposed the hand-written letters of Ebe Hawthorne, Nathaniel’s sister
- Made note of interesting subject matter in the letters
- Prepared checklists and attended one-on-one meetings with the author to review her project’s progress
Portfolio (15 selected works)
Tea: A User's Guide
Gebely, Tony
Pure Health & Happiness: 8 Weeks To Change Your Life
May, Jennifer
FLIP: The Four Levels of Influencing People
David, Tim, Shaw, Jeanette, Caminneci, Melissa
Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week
Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Recipes, tips, and strategies for easy, delicious vegan meals every day of the week, from America's bestselling vegan cookbook author.How does Isa Chandra Moskowitz make flavorful and satisfying vegan meals from scratch every day, often in 30 minutes or less? It's easy! In Isa Does It, the beloved cookbook author shares 150 new recipes to make weeknight cooking a snap. Mouthwatering recipes li... read more
StartFragment Have you tried mixing a Mojito? What about a Rusty Nail? Or a Cosmopolitan? With See Mix Drink, the first-ever cocktail book to offer instruction through info-graphics, making the drinks you love at home is as easy as, well, See, Mix, Drink. This unique, illustrated guide graphically demonstrates how to make 100 of today's most popular cocktails. For each drink, color-coded ingre... read more
The Food Lover's Guide to Wine
Karen Page, Andrew Dornenburg
2011 Gourmand Wine Book Award winner - USAA wine book unlike any other, THE FOOD LOVER'S GUIDE TO WINE offers a fresh perspective via the single aspect of wine most compelling to food lovers: flavor.At the heart of this indispensable reference, formatted like the authors' two previous bestsellers The Flavor Bible and What to Drink with What You Eat, is an encyclopedic A-to-Z guide profiling hu... read more
The books that we choose to keep --let alone read-- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In MY IDEAL BOOKSHELF, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters,... read more
Kurt Vonnegut Drawings
Nanette Vonnegut
Those who know Kurt Vonnegut as one of America's most beloved and influential writers will be surprised and delighted to discover that he was also a gifted graphic artist. This book brings together the finest examples of his funny, strange, and moving drawings in an inexpensive, beautifully produced gift volume for every Vonnegut fan. Kurt Vonnegut's daughter Nanette introduces this volume of ... read more
Vintage photos from one of the largest archives of Cuban photography in the world capture the island’s history. The enduring fascination of Cuba intensifies as the island once again becomes a seductive travel destination. From Ramiro Fernández, whose collection of Cuban photography and ephemera is one of the largest outside of the island nation, comes a dazzling array of images of Cuban life, ... read more
Houses of the Presidents: Childhood Homes, Family Dwellings, Private Escapes, and Grand Estates
Hugh Howard, Roger Straus
HOUSES OF THE PRESIDENTS offers a unique tour of the houses and day-to-day lives of America's presidents, from George Washington's time to the present. Author Hugh Howard weaves together personal, presidential, and architectural histories to shed light on the way our chief executives lived. Original photography by Roger Straus III brings the houses and furnishings beautifully to life. From Jef... read more
Kentucky: Historic Houses and Horse Farms of Bluegrass Country
Pieter Estersohn
In Kentucky: Historic Houses and Horse Farms, pre-eminent architectural and interiors photographer Pieter Estersohn guides us through Bluegrass Country, the legendary landscape around Lexington, Kentucky. The wealthiest town west of the Alleghenies prior to the Civil War, Lexington has a rich architectural and cultural history that is manifest in the elegant houses within and around the center... read more
Trained pastry chef, blogger, and mother of two Aran Goyoaga turned to gluten-free cooking when she and her children were diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Combining the flavors of her childhood in Bilbao, Spain, with unique artistry and the informal elegance of small-plate dining, Aran has sacrificed nothing.Dishes range from soups and salads to savory tarts and stews to her signature desser... read more
Eleven Madison Park: The Cookbook
Daniel Humm, Will Guidara
Eleven Madison Park is one of New York City's most popular fine-dining establishments, where Chef Daniel Humm marries the latest culinary techniques with classical French cuisine.Under the leadership of Executive Chef Daniel Humm and General Manager Will Guidara since 2006, the restaurant has soared to new heights and has become one of the premier dining destinations in the world. ELEVEN MADIS... read more
Melissa has 9 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
My experience with Melissa was easy and she made my manuscript so much better!
Maria La Serra, February 2018
Melissa is quick, thoughtful and easy to work with. She delivered an editorial assessment that reviewed the plot and characterization and provided fresh insights into rhythm and pace. I am particularly grateful for her graceful handling of a novice author. Her comments were always 'to the point' but encouraging.
I heartily recommend Melissa to any aspiring author looking for an honest read of y...
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Nick Burn, December 2017
It has been my first experience with an external editor (out of my campus) and am very grateful with Melissa response and prompt attention to every request or comment.
Edna L. Negron Martinez, December 2017
Melissa proofread my book manuscript and provided invaluable feedback. Her level of competence and attention to detail made me trust her implicitly. The best thing I can say about Melissa is that she handled my baby with care and I'd work with her again.
Tim David, November 2017
I really enjoyed working with Melissa. She handled our collaboration both promptly and professionally. Her revisions were subtle and maintained the personality of my work but still extremely thoughtful, which made a drastic impact on the clarity of my piece.
Amelio Nazarko, August 2017
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