Sam Cooney – Editor

“I was looking for an editor and mentor with compassion for the author as well as a deep interest in and commitment to the story. I got all of this in Sam. His close reading of my work in progress empowered me to change or strengthen sections while maintaining areas that were already humming. Our discussions have been engaging and robust. I’m now only a few weeks from sending a draft to an agent.”
—Ann Bolch, Fourth Drop

“When it was suggested to me that I should engage a professional editor, I was faced with the most daunting task. I read the profiles of dozens of editors, and the more I read, the more anxious I felt. I worried that they would just read my work and edit it for me, and not going to care two hoots about what I had actually written. But when I read Sam’s profile, I felt a sense of being at home and I knew that he was going to be the right person for my work. As a first-time writer of a non-English-speaking background, it was incredibly nerve-wracking to present my work to a professional editor of Sam’s calibre, but his humble and down-to-earth approach gave me back the confidence and self-belief that I had buried deep into a dark closet. With his fine brush of care and genuine interest, he unearthed aspects of my work that were covered by layers of doubt and dust, like an archeologist piecing together a lost world. Sam delicately guided me every step of the way by sharing his insights and thoughts, never hesitating to have in-depth discussions with me and always seeking my input. And Sam invested a considerable amount of time and passion to help me fulfil my dream of taking the manuscript to the next level when he linked me with a seasoned and respected literary agent. I was not just another piece of writing for Sam to edit – I was a human with feelings and an immense passion to tell a story. He has been a guiding light along this path, and he has become a friend for life, for which I am forever grateful.”
—Pirooz Jafari, Forty Nights

“It was easy to feel at ease in Sam’s editorial hands. He is confident and enthusiastic about the editorial process, but he’s not coddling. His advice is frank and straightforward. I never had to ‘interpret’ Sam’s suggestions. He won’t bite if you want to fight him. But you probably won’t fight him much, because in my experience Sam is brilliant at seizing on the spirit and mood of a text. He will learn what you want to do and help you further towards that. I knew my manuscript had problems and Sam found those problems, articulated them, provided clarity, and eventually we had a book.”
—Shaun Prescott, The Town

“We simply had to choose Sam to copy edit our book. He bent over backwards to make it professional. His editing style was elegant – we accepted all changes. He also made suggestions – for example, our manuscript included some foreign words and he showed us how to incorporate them without interrupting the flow of the story. His work was timely despite his attention to detail. As mega-ambitious first-time co-authors, we are writing about Ethiopian. Sam gets us. He is familiar with the publishing industry, so that helps enormously. Ethiopians would call him yerada lij, which means that he is a smart and self-sufficient supporter of the helpless. Publishing is a rich experience for us, thanks to Sam.”
—Mesfin Tadesse & Ianet Bastyan, Lucy’s People: An Ethiopian Memoir

“Sam was incredibly supportive during the process of publishing my book One Good Turn. To lay out a collection of about 100 individual drawings is difficult. ‘You’re gonna have to find a shit-hot designer’ I told him. And he did. When Sam visited my place in the bush, he saw Lois, my chihuahua, approaching an echidna, and worried she would get ‘porcupined’, (a face full of quills). He was very concerned and ran to save her. I thought that was nice... for a publisher.”
—Mary Leunig, One Good Turn (2018), and There's No Place like Home (1982), A Piece of Cake (1986), One Big Happy Family (1992), and Black and White and Grey (1993)

“Sam’s enthusiasm and strong support for When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over was rock solid from the start. I had all but given up hope of the book becoming a reality until the seemingly impossible moment when Sam expressed his clear and unwavering intention to publish it. His willingness to openly communicate how the work made him feel complimented his conduct as an experienced and respectful publisher. It was this combination of professionalism and warmth that made me feel like my work was in safe hands. I felt like I could just be myself. He inspired in me the confidence to remember that the stories I had to tell were important and worthy of serious consideration. Sam championed the book and gave it a platform that is rare for autobiographical cartoonists. His passion for publishing was evident from the start and I felt reassured and happy knowing I had his experience, respectful guidance and transparent communication at every stage of the book design, editing and publishing process. I honestly believed that this book would never be published and have the exposure and support that it has had and I’m so happy I was able to have the experience of working with Sam. His dedication to championing vital yet often underrepresented literary voices is evident in the incredible and daring books he has published. The good experience I had working with Sam on When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over has inspired me to more confidently pursue future publishing opportunities.”
—Mandy Ord

"I'd like to thank Sam for bringing my novel to a new level. He identifies the needs of a literary work, including identifying the appropriate genre, building on its strengths and reveals its flaws. His feedback inspires."
—James Whitington, Shifting Skies

"Sam's appraisal of my manuscript for a novel was, by far, the most insightful feedback I've had on any piece of writing. He articulated his thoughts and concerns in great detail - covering plot, pace, POV, dialogue, style and tone. He nailed some critical issues with the ms that I'd been unsure of, and, more importantly, unsure where to even begin to fix. The appraisal, and subsequent lengthy discussions, gave me exactly what I needed to polish and tighten the manuscript."
—Alex Fenton

“I’ve used a number of editors and proofreaders who were good, but Sam tops them all. He takes it to another level with his thoroughness and suggestions to improve your writing. His comments to improve my story and characters helped me immensely. Since my novel mainly takes place in Australia, his knowledge of the country and people was what I needed. I hope I get another chance to work with him again. You not only get an excellent product from Sam, but you learn from his work. I will continue to use him for my future books.”
—Dr. Keith K. Millheim