Peter Senftleben

Peter Senftleben – Editor

Award-winning editor of bestselling novels with 15+ years of NY experience and a constructive, collaborative style.

Overview

Hey there, I'm Peter and I love all kinds of fiction but I specialize in guilty pleasures with none of the guilt! I grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, peak '90s YA horror, then adult novels running the gamut from romance to mystery to gay fiction and beyond. Thankfully, I've been able to build a career around the types of books that I've always loved and now I want to help you make your book as good as it can be through honest but gentle feedback. Together, we'll focus on your intentions as a writer, reader expectations, and market trends.


I have a degree in chemical engineering and math from Tulane University that I clearly don't use, and my editorial expertise comes from over 15 years acquiring, editing, and publishing more than 300 titles in almost every genre (sorry, westerns!). Many of the authors with whom I've worked have won awards and are New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. I also have some experience with audiobook and serialization (licensing and production), for a holistic view of publishing opportunities.


​When I'm not reading--ha!--you'll probably find me bingeing reality competition shows, dreaming about travel destinations, or brainstorming puns for cozy mystery titles. Things I particularly like: dogs, cookies, New Orleans, pizza, pop and synthwave music, Halloween, board games and puzzles, and chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

Services
Fiction
Horror LGBTQ Fiction Mystery & Crime Romance Thriller & Suspense Urban Fantasy Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (CAN) English (US)
Awards
  • RITA Award

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

Crooked Lane Books

Sep, 2016 — Feb, 2017 (5 months)

Editor of crime fiction and mysteries.

Kensington Publishing Corp.

Dec, 2006 — Sep, 2016 (almost 10 years)

Associate editor working closely with the editor-in-chief to acquire and publish over 40 titles per year.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Cover Story

Gomez, Valerie

Editorial Assessment
Bone White

Ronald Malfi

“Malfi is a master at horror.”—RT Book Reviews A landscape of frozen darkness. The scrape of bone on bone . . . Paul Gallo saw the report on the news: a mass murderer leading police to his victims’ graves in remote Dread’s Hand, Alaska. It’s the same bit of wi... read more
Deputy coroner Mattie Winston is starting to feel like she’s in way over her head . . .As the single mom of an energetic toddler and an investigator working for the medical examiner’s office in small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin, Mattie is used to her life being a... read more
Two Rivers

T. Greenwood

T. Greenwood's new novel is a powerful, haunting tale of enduring love, destructive secrets, and opportunities that arrive in disguise . . . In Two Rivers, Vermont, Harper Montgomery is living a life overshadowed by grief and guilt. Since the death of his wife... read more
One Texas Night

Jodi Thomas

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas lassos the heart of Texas with these four spellbinding stories, available together for the first time, where love shows up unexpectedly. . . Hank Harris wasn't even looking for a woman when he ended up with a wife.... read more
A USA Today BestsellerThe Immortal Guardians protect the innocent in secret. Sometimes the secret gets out...U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some... read more
Can a bold-faced lie lead to everlasting love? One by one, the impetuous heroines in the Wicked Deceptions series intend to find out, each in her unique way... How to seduce an estranged husband--and banish debt!--in four wickedly improper, shockingly pleasura... read more
Proofreading
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Refuge

VanPatten, Bill

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Cul-De-Sac

Irons, B.J.

Developmental Editing
“It’s got two things that everyone likes: Christmas and Murder.” – Jimmy Fallon Business is booming at the Scottish Emporium in Moosetookalook, Maine, and Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin couldn't be happier--or busier. A romantic getaway at a rustic Christmas tree farm... read more
Chills

SanGiovanni, Mary

One day to see the sights.One night to change your life…Magazine writer Kathryn Taylor is traveling from New York to Paris for work. But the flirtatious Frenchman she left long ago is waiting at the airport--and he wants to play…No one can guide Kat through th... read more
From debut author Sally Kilpatrick comes a hopeful tale of love and redemption in a quiet Southern town where a lost soul finds her way with the help of an unlikely circle of friends. . .Life has dealt Beulah Land a tough hand to play, least of all being named... read more
Is Val's breakfast pie the quiche of death? Owning her own business seemed like pie in the sky to Valentine Harris when she moved to the coastal California town of San Nicholas, expecting to start a new life with her fiancé. Five months—and a broken engagement... read more
What's Left Behind

Lorrie Thomson

When the person you've built your whole life around is gone, what do you do? It's not the first time Abby Stone has faced the question. At eighteen, she envisioned a future with her childhood sweetheart, Charlie, only to have him go off to school and leave a p... read more
"A classic Western historical with a hero you're gonna love." --Jodi Thomas"An enjoyable, adventurous western." –RT Book ReviewsBelieve In Second Chances…Trey March never wanted to see Daisy Barton again. But there she is, in over her pretty little head runnin... read more
Hayden Mundy Moore is an expert on everything chocolate, helping clients develop new products and revamp recipes until they're irresistible. But sometimes, a dash of murder finds its way into the mix...
Don't Let Me Go

J.H. Trumble

Some people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his in high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real, heart-pounding, tell-the-parents relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even ... read more
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016!A Washington Post Top Romance of 2016!Winner! RT Book Reviews May 2016 Seal of ExcellenceA Library Journal Cool Summer Read of 2016! "Shupe delivers a tremendously entertaining romance -- sexy and clever -- set in an era t... read more
In the bustling restaurants, shops, and cafés of Portland, Oregon, things really heat up for the hard-working men behind the scenes when the holidays come into town . . . For a stationery store owner, the holidays are great for business. But for Hollis Alcott,... read more
In the first of a thrilling new series, FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador, must race against time as they zero in on one of the deadliest killers in the country . . . Meg and Hawk are part of the FBI’s elite K-9 unit... read more

Peter has 41 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Christopher H.

Christopher H.

Dec, 2023

This is my second time working with Peter. He provides invaluable insights that elevate my story and make me a better writer. I can’t imagine using another developmental editor. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Eyal R.

Eyal R.

Sep, 2023

Thorough and professional
Kevin C.

Kevin C.

Aug, 2023

Peter was a wonderful partner. He was timely, professional, and did more than was expected of him in a developmental edit. He identified gaps in my writing that I had overlooked and offered thoughtful suggestions on how to best fill them. He also highlighted things that I did well throughout the story, which goes a long way for the confidence of a first time author like myself. I would gla...
Read more
David C.

David C.

Jul, 2023

Peter has been invaluable in helping me whip a manuscript into shape. His keen eye for plot holes and his candid critiques of where the story is falling short is causing me to turn this into a far better book than it would have been without him.
James C.

James C.

Jun, 2023

Peter was great. Gave helpful advice, quickly and efficiently and pointed me at some useful tips that will help me going forward.

Sign up to read more reviews

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

Professionals similar to Peter

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

Sasha Grossman

Sasha G.

Copy editor and proofreader focused on genre fiction (sci-fi/fantasy, romance/erotica, mysteries/thrillers).

Chicago, IL, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Susan Edwards

Susan E.

Professional fiction and non-fiction editor with 30+ years' experience helping writers to hone their craft and tell their stories.

Tampa, FL, United States

100% reply rate

View profile
Nicole Ortiz

Nicole O.

I'm a copy editor and proofreader with over eight years of experience for major book publishers, magazines, and digital publications.

New York, NY, USA

100% reply rate

View profile