Rebecca Lester – Editor

Looking for something a bit different? Do you want an editor with passion and commitment who can also think outside of the box? Someone who really "gets" the process of writing? I may be just what you're looking for! I have a unique combination of skills and expertise that I'm eager to put to work for you.

I have a PhD in cultural anthropology with specialties in gender (including LGBTQIA+ and queer issues), mental health/ psychiatry, and religion. I am also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with specialties in eating disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and trauma. I have over 20 years’ experience with editing and publishing: I am the author of two award winning books and over 2 dozen articles; I am currently the Editor-in-Chief of a major international journal; I was the editor for a book series (Culture, Mind, and Society) for Palgrave McMillan; and I have been a reviewer/ proofreader for dozens of journals, presses, and grant-giving institutions. As a professor, I have guided over 2 dozen doctoral students through the writing and production of their dissertations.

My most recent book, Famished: Eating Disorders and Failed Care in America (2019) is what I call an ethnographic memoir, which follows a somewhat unconventional format for anthropological texts. I mention this by way of noting that I am comfortable with (and enjoy) both conventional and non-conventional forms of writing.

Writing can be a vulnerable endeavor and having an editor you can trust is essential. As an editor, my job is to facilitate your ability to achieve your vision of your project and to supply the skills, encouragement, and guidance needed to get there. As an author myself, I know what a difference the right editor can make. I have benefited from some excellent editors and have suffered through some challenging ones. Knowing the process from both sides makes me additionally compassionate with authors and the difficulties and joys of writing.