Overview
I’ve been an editor for almost twenty years, and I hold two first-class post-graduate degrees -- an MFA in fiction and an MA in writing. In 2011, I was taken on as the acquisitions editor for a small, high-quality publishing house. The following year, in my down-time, I opened a freelance editing company specializing in mentoring writers through to traditional publication deals. Over the years, I’ve developed a keen eye for what agents and publishers are looking for. My success rate with helping serious clients obtain a publishing deal is over 87%.
That’s not all I do, of course. There are some significant benefits to self-publishing, and I’ve worked on numerous books of all lengths on that basis. I’ve also compiled and edited anthologies, helped writers-for-hire with manuscripts for contracted delivery, worked with authors on plotting and outlining novels, assisted in preparing pitches and samples, and all sorts of other things.
My services include copy-editing and developmental editing, and I've recently added editorial assessments. I also do mentoring, collaborative writing, ghostwriting and ghost-editing. Talk to me about the possibilities.
My usual genres include historical fiction -- including historical romance, historical mystery, historical with a dash of speculative fiction and historical fantasy -- urban fantasy, non-graphic horror, and romantic suspense. I especially love stories that evoke elements outside of the normal day-to-day of modern life. But I’m comfortable working on a wide range of projects, and I also have good experience in contemporary romance, dark fantasy, crime fiction, cosmic horror, superhero fiction, and near-future sci-fi.
I have experience working with non-native speakers of English to polish their fiction.
I find it really rewarding to help writers improve their craft, and I particularly love to see my clients succeed. If you’re interested in working towards traditional publication, or just want to make your story the best it can be, get in touch.
MY WISH LIST
I would particularly be amenable to taking on another historical with some sort of subplot: romance, mystery, thriller, perhaps others. If you're serious about writing good books, please chat to me about the possibility of working together over the long term.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Self-employed
Flourish Editing came about because Tim Dedopulos and I were dismayed at how difficult it was for us to find freelance editors of the calibre we wanted for the books we were publishing at Ghostwoods Books. We realised how much help writers needed and we wanted to use our skills for good. Since we started, we have helped dozens of writers prepare their books for publication, including for self-publishing, work-for-hire, small press publishing and publishing with big publishers such as Penguin, Harper Collins and Harlequin. We have worked with American, British and Australian writers, as well as writers from other countries whose first language isn't English. I've had a very high success rate in my editing practice when writers want to be traditionally published and are willing to put in the amount of work necessary.
Ghostwoods Books
Here's what my bio says on the website: Reads new manuscripts before anyone else; acts as a liaison to authors; coordinates book covers and audio books; edits; copy-edits; acts as primary contact to press; makes a lot of snacks. Eats them all herself.
Portfolio
Salome has 3 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
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Ed G.
Jun, 2020
Elliot C.
Jun, 2020
Mathew T.
Dec, 2019
