Melissa Prideaux

Melissa Prideaux – Editor

Highly experienced, dynamic and astute Australian line/copy editor. I have a global client base.

Overview

An Australian, based in France, with 20 years experience working for non-fiction publishing houses in Sydney and London. I made the transition six years ago to editing fiction as well.


I have many US, Canadian and British clients. I can edit in both US and UK English.


I love working with indie authors and I have a great deal of experience copy/line editing and proofreading both fiction and non-fiction titles. I can provide samples of books I've worked on in the following genres: time travel, sci-fi, thriller, horror, memoir, comic fiction, business and many more!


I am a highly skilled editor, extremely thorough, and incredibly reliable. I take on projects I am passionate about and I feel that passion is evident in my work. I'm easy to work with and you can be guaranteed I will immerse myself in your manuscript (and probably fall in love with some of your characters).

Services
Non-Fiction
Business & Management
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Psychological Thriller Science Fiction
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • Bachelor of Arts with the Degree of Laws - Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Diploma of Editing - Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2023 — Present

I copyedit and provide editorial assessments for this publisher

Self-employed

Feb, 2022 — Present

I refine manuscripts (copyediting,proofreading) - mainly crime/thrillers but also literary & business titles which have already been published and translated into English from various languages

Self-employed

Jun, 2016 — Present

Developmental, copy editing and proofreading services for independent authors of both non-fiction and fiction titles. See my portfolio for some samples of the many books I have worked on.

Wolters Kluwer (UK) Ltd

Nov, 2002 — Mar, 2016 (over 13 years)

Editing manuscript received from authors – both substantive and copy editing.

Commissioning [2002-2012] - Researching for potential authors and signing authors

Sweet and Maxwell Legal Publications

Jan, 2002 — Nov, 2002 (10 months)

Copy editing/proofreading legal and business publications

Lexis Nexis (Now Reed Elsevier Plc) Legal and Business Publishing

Aug, 1997 — Oct, 2001 (about 4 years)

• Substantive and copy editing of legal and business publications

Portfolio

Don’t Chase The Dream Job, Build It: The unconventional guide to inventing your career and getting any job you want

Thomsen, Evan

Copy Editing
THE INNOVATIVE ANIMAL: Unveiling the Hidden Pattern within All Natural & Human Innovations

Benazzouz PhD, Nizar M.

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview: Unlock the secrets behind modern case and fit interviews and join the one percent that breaks into McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms

Smeritschnig, Florian

Copy Editing
Warrior of Kragdon-ah: An Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Jacksons' Debate

Neves, Marqv

Thrive Publishing

Developmental Editing
ZERO-SUM GAME

Abate, Alessandro

Alessandro Abate

Copy Editing
The Rape of American Democracy: Republican Actions and Democratic Failures, 2016-2021

Rowles, James P.

Trenchant Observer Press

Copy Editing
Beyond Potential: The Complete Wellbeing Guide to Boost Performance and Success at Work

Samara, Lubna

HigherWill

Developmental Editing
The Ambitious Lives of Evan Sanderson: A Middle Falls Time Travel Story

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing
Beyond Efficiency: Escape the Efficiency Trap and Become an Amazingly Effective and Peaceful Leader by Paying Yourself First with Time

Rosendahl, Annika

Copy Editing
The Scream of the Butterfly: A Lars Winkler Novel

Melander, Jakob

Proofreading
Magic Unfurled

Ryan, M.L.

Copy Editing
The Encore Lives of Effie Edenson: A Middle Falls Time Travel Story

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Brand Management: An Introduction through Storytelling

Mogaji, Emmanuel

Copy Editing
Staycation: A chilling horror novel

Clark, RJ

Copy Editing
The House That Jack Built (A Lars Winkler Novel Book 1)

Melander, Jakob

Proofreading
Mama Goddess Glow : 4 Steps To A Radiant Pregnancy

Van Der Bauwede , Cara

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Slob's Guide to the Perfect Job

O'Carroll, Mr Jeremy Simon

Copy Editing
Flavour with Benefits: France

Connally, Cathy

Proofreading
Flavour with Benefits: Sicily & Calabria

Cathy Connally

Developmental Editing
Time Roller (An Arielle Lucila Thriller)

Gonzalez, Andre

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Flux: The Game is Life : Book 10

Schott, Terry

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Grid (The Sentinel's Legacy Series Book 1)

Schott, Terry

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Running Out of Time: A Time Travel Romance (Love Across Time Series Book 2)

Stanton, Angie

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Tumultuous Lives of Karl Strong: A Middle Falls Time Travel Story

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Precipice: The Chronicles of Altor

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Finding Me: A journey of self-discovery through a cancer diagnosis

Ewald, Amy

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Whispers in the Walls

Dowler, Claire

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Mended Souls: Axe's Story (Souls of the Wolves Book 2)

Cacopardo, Kayla

Copy Editing
Aftermath: Murder · Adventure · Revenge in Lake Tahoe (Emergence Series)

Parsons, Lisa

Copy Editing
Save for the World: The Little Book of Green Influence

Sharif, Vian

Copy Editing
Love, guilt, and motorcycles

Rosendahl, Annika

Copy Editing
The Stubborn Lives of Hart Tanner: A Middle Falls Time Travel story

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
The Alternative Lives of Aiden Anderson: A Middle Falls Time Travel Story

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Prince of Kragdon-ah: An Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure

Inmon, Shawn

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Siege

DeSimone Jr., Robert

Copy Editing
The Tangle (Ash Chase Adventures Book 1)

Schott, Terry

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Running Mount Rainier: An Ordinary Runner's Journey from Crippling Injury to Ultra Marathon Finish Line

Stone, Mark

Copy Editing
The Grain Merchant: An Argolicus Mystery (Argolicus Mysteries)

Altair, Zara

Copy Editing
The Dawn of King Darilis (The Heir of Horlana Series)

Mignone, Matteo Joseph

Copy Editing
Incendiary

Dowler, Claire

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment

Melissa has 11 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Marilyn F.

Marilyn F.

Dec, 2024

I had completed a novel writing course with feedback, however, that, at more than 3 times the price, was perhaps not as useful as Melissa's editorial assessment. Some niggling doubts I had about the manuscript were confirmed by Melissa, and other areas which I did not realise required work were pointed out. The process was quick and painless, the feedback was brilliant, and I only wish I could...
Read more
Stafford R.

Stafford R.

Nov, 2024

Melissa exceeded my expectations. Her corrections and suggestions revealed a close attention to detail and were spot on. Some included references to research she did to check on facts, indicating a generous allocation of time to matters that might have caused me legal problems had she not pointed them out. I will certainly use Melissa again.
Edvin T.

Edvin T.

Oct, 2024

Flawless. Great editor, always wrote back, charged fairly, and was flexible when needed. Would definetly use her services again! Thanks Melissa!
James R.

James R.

Sep, 2024

Melissa worked patiently and with great dedication and dispatch, despite the delays caused by me which resulted from an extremely ambitious production schedule given the timeliness of the book. Her copy-editing was superb, reflecting great resourcefulness and expertise. It has been a real pleasure to work with Melissa. I will want her to copy-edit all of my future books.
Atanas R.

Atanas R.

Sep, 2024

I could not be happier with the line editing Melissa did for my manuscript. She worked on enriching my language by varying sentence beginnings and syntax and removing repetitive word usage when it was not a deliberate style choice. She also corrected some less-than-perfect word choices. I had overused the word "then," and Melissa removed it when it wasn't necessary to show the sequence of eve...
Read more

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Melissa and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Melissa

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Emily Frisella

Emily F.

Copyeditor and proofreader with an international outlook; specializing in fiction, memoir, and well-being.

London, UK

100% reply rate

View profile
Emily Martin

Emily M.

Editor specializing in romance, fantasy, and YA, with experience editing NYT bestsellers. Author with Simon and Schuster + HarperCollins.

Boston, MA, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Amaryah Orenstein

Amaryah O.

Literary agent/editor with 10+ yrs experience, looking to help authors bring out the best in their manuscripts, proposals, query letters.

NYC, NY, USA

100% reply rate

View profile