Molly Spain

Molly Spain – Editor

Experienced developmental editor, copyeditor, and proofreader, specializing in memoir, fantasy, and romance.

Overview

I have nine years of experience in the book publishing industry. Before becoming a full-time freelancer, I was previously an editor at TCU Press, a university press that publishes in Texas/regional history, literary and historical fiction, children's books, art and architecture, and memoir and biography.


My favorite subjects to read and edit are fantasy, romance, and creative nonfiction. When I'm not editing or reading, you can find me outdoors hiking and camping, doing yoga, walking my dog, or just diving into another epic fantasy book by Sarah J. Maas or Kevin Hearne or addictive romance by Jasmine Guillory or Emily Henry. I am a perfectionist, and I hope that is evident in my work on authors' manuscripts. Because I'm so detail-oriented I've earned the nickname "Eagle Eye" from my peers. And, perhaps most importantly, I am a staunch supporter of the controversial Oxford comma.


One author, whose book "Ethical Dilemmas in Schools" was published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about my work on the project: "Molly is a master editor and a major reason we completed the work" (Douglas Simpson). I believe everyone has a story to share, and I want to be the one to help authors tell that story.

Services
Non-Fiction
Art Biographies & Memoirs History Music
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Certificate of Publishing, Denver Publishing Institute, University of Denver

Work experience

TCU Press

Oct, 2015 — Mar, 2023 (over 7 years)

Copy edit manuscripts to adhere to Chicago Manual of Style and make suggestions for clarity, style, and organization
Edit diverse genres, including historical fiction, memoir, trade nonfiction, children’s, art, architecture, poetry, and biography
Proofread page proofs and write cover copy
Coordinate the internship program and supervise interns
Manage the acquisitions database, write reader reports for acquisition submissions, and oversee the peer review process for acquisition prospects
Schedule and organize all office meetings and events, including weekly staff meetings, book launch meetings, and Advisory Board meetings
Maintain and update invoice and royalty information in the office database
Contribute content and blog posts for all social media platforms
Assist with the planning and execution of marketing events and sales

Self-employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

Edit and proofread fiction, nonfiction, and scholarly manuscripts, marketing materials, and articles. I've worked with a variety of authors to develop their manuscripts, including a world-renowned music conductor, a television personality, and a philosophy scholar. In addition, I have edited materials for companies such as Beautiful Feet Books, ExxonMobil, and Fusion29.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Apr, 2019 — Present

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
The Mirage Guild: A Spicy Novel (The Prism Society)

Salas, Gabi

Flora Publishing

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The White Rose of Texas

Maxwell, Elora

Independently published

Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
City of Mirth and Malice: Vows of Vengeance Duet Book 2 (Order and Chaos Series)

Menard, Alexis L.

Midnight Tide Publishing

Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Fallen Veil

Scheck, Robert

Copy Editing Proofreading
Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Dusk's Awakening (The Twining Fate Series)

Ward, T.D.

T.D.Ward

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Toquuxla

Brenna, James N

Proofreading
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Not to Reason Why

Decker, Robert L.

Proofreading
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Hunted Guardian

Carter, Ashlynn

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Elsie and the Lynx

Campbell, Dora

Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Hannah and Ariela

Bernhard, Johnnie

Copy Editing Proofreading
Moonlight Massacres

Zumwalt, McKinley

Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Ethical Dilemmas in Schools

Simpson, Douglas J.

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Luke Burgoa is an ex-Marine on a solitary covert mission to infiltrate the Basque separatist organization ETA in Spain and help bring down its military commander, Peru Madariaga. Luke hails fr... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
The Silent Shore of Memory chronicles the life of James Barnhill from his days as a young Confederate soldier through the trials of Reconstruction in his native Texas and his later career as a... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
In Amado Muro and Me, ten-year-old Robert Seltzer discovers that his father, Chester, actually leads two lives—one as a newspaperman and father who somehow always knows what his son is thinkin... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Odd Birds

Severo Perez

The year is 1961. Seventy-year-old Cosimo Infante Cano, a Cuban-born artist in need of inspiration, follows his lover to Texas in what was to be a temporary sabbatical from their life in Franc... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Outcry Witness

Thomas Zigal

It’s the 1980s. A priest is found murdered in his New Orleans rectory. When compromising videotapes are discovered in his bedroom, the Bishop and his staff withhold this damaging evidence from... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Plum Creek

W. W. McNeal

Plum Creek is a historical novel set in nineteenth-century Texas. It is a coming-of-age story involving Billy McCulloch, a fifteen-year-old boy who accompanies a former Texas Ranger, a black m... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Sports Makes You Type Faster presents a remarkable new collection of essays by one of America’s best-known and best-loved sportswriters. Served up with the acerbic wit that is Dan Jenkins’s ha... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
Critic Michael Ennis stated twenty-five years ago that there has never been more than a cursory overview of Texas art from the nineteenth century to the present. The Art of Texas: 250 Years no... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
In her memoir Talking to the Stars: Bobbie Wygant’s Seventy Years in Television, Bobbie Wygant recalls her trailblazing career as an arts and entertainment reporter for Dallas-Fort Worth’s Cha... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading
The Iron Orchard

Tom Pendleton

Originally published in 1966 under the pen name Tom Pendleton, The Iron Orchard garnered a cult following for its authentic representation of the people and business of the Texas and American ... read more
Proofreading
Born in a demilitarized zone during the Vietnam War to a Vietnamese mother and American soldier, Sau Le arrived in the United States as a young woman with only twenty dollars in her pocket. Th... read more
Copy Editing Proofreading

Molly has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Sharon P.

Sharon P.

Apr, 2022

Pinned
I was very impressed with Molly’s edits from the beginning. It seemed like she slid right into my voice, my cadence and my humor without disrupting the message or the rhythm. She hit every deadline and her suggestions were smart and instructive. I look forward to working with her again in the future!
Jim Y.

Jim Y.

Oct, 2020

Pinned
I am a self-publishing writer working on his first effort. Entrusting my years-in-the-making manuscript to a professional was scary because I rather doubt many people will purchase my unusual local history and therefore money I spend for help would unlikely be recouped. But I'm thrilled and lucky I hired Molly! She successfully tackled my micro-historiography/anatomy with its 1100-plus endnotes...
Read more
Anthony D.

Anthony D.

Nov, 2024

I had the privilege of working with Molly Spain on my book The War of Magic, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. From start to finish, she brought a level of expertise, insight, and dedication that truly elevated my manuscript to a whole new level. Her attention to detail was exceptional, and she managed to strike the perfect balance between preserving my voice and making sure the ...
Read more
Lexi H.

Lexi H.

Oct, 2024

Molly was great to work with. I feel like she really took the time to get to know my characters and story and give feedback that added value to my book.
Rowan S.

Rowan S.

Sep, 2024

She did the first few chapters very well to clarify what I want to express in my work, that I requested to do a few more. Very happy with her work and is pragmatic to talk to.
Molly S.
Thank you, Rowan!

Sign up to read more reviews

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

Professionals similar to Molly

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

Jeremy Hauck

Jeremy H.

Editor of how-tos, eco gardening, & reference books. Proofreader of books by Penguin Random House.

Lancaster, PA, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Anna Jean

Anna J.

Award-winning editor and publisher with a near-obsessive eye and over fifteen years experience in the industry.

London, United Kingdom

100% reply rate

View profile
Tracy Gold

Tracy G.

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Baltimore, MD, United States

100% reply rate

View profile