Paula Cooper Hughes – Editor

Hi! I'm an experienced editor with a demonstrated history of working with major book publishers and private clients. I have over twenty years of experience in developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing.

More recently, I've also begun to write reading group discussion prompts for new fiction. Check out the guide I wrote for Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain for Grove Atlantic. It's been great to explore social, cultural, and literary themes more deeply through a curious reader's eyes.

Whether I'm editing or writing, I view my authors as collaborators and each project as an opportunity to bring their visions to fruition. Every writer is in a one-on-one relationship with his or her reader at the end of the day. It's my job to be the set of eyes that helps make that relationship resonate, be it through refining structure, smoothing and tightening the writing, "listening" for cadence, or just ensuring the grammar and facts check out. Meticulous attention to detail is key. Keeping the reader immersed and engaged through seamless prose, credible storytelling, and/or an accurate, relatable narrative is always front of mind.

As for genres, I'm interested in everything: memoir, history, politics, science, creative nonfiction, and contemporary and character-driven fiction. I've been thrilled to work the gamut from David Zucchino's Pulitzer Prize–winning book, Wilmington's Lie, to Emily Fridlund's beautiful debut novel, History of Wolves. I especially appreciate the opportunity to help bring important social and historical themes into the light through my authors' perspectives.