Nancy Tan

Nancy Tan – Editor

A jack-of-all-trades copy editor with experience in multiple genres and trade and academic nonfiction

Overview

I am an experienced copy editor and project manager who works mainly in book publishing. I have edited a wide range of genres, from romance to speculative fiction, and bring to each manuscript a fresh eye and an open mind, no matter the subject.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Political Science & Current Affairs Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Feb, 2008 — Present

Current clients include HarperCollins Publishers, Grove Atlantic, the Modern Language Association, Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, and Unnamed Press.

HarperCollins Publishers

Feb, 2008 — Nov, 2011 (over 3 years)

Oxford University Press

Sep, 2006 — Feb, 2008 (over 1 year)

Portfolio

The Committed

Nguyen, Viet Thanh

My Dark Vanessa: A Novel

Russell, Kate Elizabeth

Weather: A novel

Offill, Jenny

A leader of the transcendentalist movement and one of the country's first public intellectuals, Ralph Waldo Emerson has been a long-standing presence in American literature courses. Today he is remembered for his essays, but in the nineteenth century he was al... read more
These are the continuing adventures of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, time traveling superheroes on an epic journey to turn the tide of history, bromancing spacetime together in search of a brighter future for America. Desperate times call for desperate measures.... read more
Celebrate all of the special moments in your life, big and small, with this warm and welcoming, illustrated lifestyle and entertaining guide, complete with delicious, healthy recipes, from actress, fashion icon, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling aut... read more
theMystery.doc

Matthew McIntosh

With praise from Alan Moore and Rachel Kushner, a groundbreaking novel told in an exciting new form, mixing fiction, memoir, prose poetry, and textual art, exploring birth, death, the Internet, and the writing life as they play out in contemporary America and ... read more
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice "[A] modernist masterpiece. . . . True, his characters are young people living in Brooklyn. And he writes about the Internet. But we should stop calling Tao Lin the voice of his generation. Taipei, his new novel, ha... read more
MEM

Bethany C. Morrow

MEM is a rare novel, a small book carrying very big ideas, the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.Set in the glittering art deco world of a century ago, MEM makes one slight alteration to history: a scientist in Montreal di... read more
The secrets behind the world's most beautiful skin!In Korea, healthy, glowing skin is the ideal form of beauty. It's considered achievable by all, men and women, young and old—and it begins with adopting a skin-first mentality. Now, this Korean beauty philosop... read more
Ladivine: A novel

Marie NDiaye

From the hugely acclaimed author of Three Strong Women—“a masterpiece of narrative ingenuity and emotional extremes” (The New York Times)—here is a harrowing and subtly crafted novel of a woman captive to a secret shame. On the first Tuesday of every month, Cl... read more
Freshwater

Akwaeke Emezi

An extraordinary debut novel, Freshwater explores the surreal experience of having a fractured self. It centers around a young Nigerian woman, Ada, who develops separate selves within her as a result of being born "with one foot on the other side." Unsettling,... read more
An Unnecessary Woman

Rabih Alameddine

Winner of the California Book AwardFinalist for the National Book Critics Circle AwardFinalist for the National Book Award“Beautiful and absorbing.”—New York TimesAn Unnecessary Woman is a breathtaking portrait of one reclusive woman’s late-life crisis, which ... read more
The Sympathizer is the story of this captain: a man brought up by an absent French father and a poor Vietnamese mother, a man who received his education in life and love in America, but returned to Vietnam to fight for the Communist cause. A man who is a spy a... read more
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTUREWhen literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man an... read more
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"Freaky pleasure...it scratches a nostalgic itch for those who grew up on Saturday morning Scooby-Doo cartoons and sugar-bombed breakfast cereal"--USA Today"Deliriously wild, funny and imaginative. Cantero is an original voice."--Charl... read more
The most definitive biography to date of the poet Pablo Neruda, a moving portrait of one of the most intriguing and influential figures in Latin American historyFew poets have captured the global imagination like Pablo Neruda. In his native Chile, across Latin... read more
A brilliant, soulful, and timely portrait of a two-hundred-year-old crabbing community in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay as it faces extinction "BEAUTIFUL, HAUNTING AND TRUE." — Hampton Sides • “GORGEOUS. A TRULY REMARKABLE BOOK.” — Beth Macy • "GRIPPING. FA... read more
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER John Kerry tells the story of his remarkable American life—from son of a diplomat to decorated Vietnam veteran, five-term United States senator, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and Secretary of State for four years—a revealing m... read more

Nancy has 3 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Michael Andrew J.

Michael Andrew J.

Sep, 2021

This is the second time I have worked with Nancy, and the only reason I continue to write is because I know she will be editing my work. As professional as it gets. Literally the best there is. Hire her!!!
Nick H.

Nick H.

Feb, 2020

Nancy is everything I could have asked for in a copy editor, especially since she worked on my debut novel. The highlights of her work include: 1. Continuity - My story timeline is long and complex; Nancy helped me smooth out inconsistencies. 2. Technicalities - My manuscript was full of Em-dashes; Nancy whittled them down so the remaining ones were more effective. 3. Punctuality - I had ...
Read more
Michael Andrew J.

Michael Andrew J.

Jan, 2020

Nancy did superb work on my novella. Very professional in her correspondence, provided me a sample of her work, and was overall an absolute pleasure to work with. Will be using her services again in the near future!!!

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