Nancy Smay – Editor

I'm Nancy and have worked for more than a decade as a line editor and story coach to help writers deliver their best work, whether they're seeking traditional publication or planning to take the indie path.

Clients include bestselling and best-ranking writers, as well as new authors. As a line editor, I work on the sentence level, helping create pleasing cadence and flow, and ensuring consistency in story and language. As a developmental editor, we work at the story level to to tighten pacing, improve dialogue and characterization.

As a coach, I help writers brainstorm plots, untangle story issues, and solidify characterization. I also coach writers on marketing skills related to their books.

I began editing fiction for traditional publishers in 2012, and launched my freelance career to serve the indie population in 2015.

In addition to editing, I write steamy small-town romcom and cozy mystery under two different pen names and am a USA Today bestselling author. My deep involvement in the writing community and experience publishing give me a unique ability to empathize with authors--not only about the complexities of writing a novel but for everything else that publishing entails.

“Nancy is insightful, sharp, thorough, and always a pleasure to work with. She’s a consummate professional who takes stress out of the editing process because I know I can trust her. I recommend her without reservation.”

— Laurelin Paige, NYT and International Best-selling Author

“Nancy is meticulous, thorough, and incredibly easy to work with. Her edits are smart and clear, and her turnaround time is fantastic. I’m extremely picky about editing, and I recommend her highly.”

— Melanie Harlow, USA Today Bestselling Author