Overview
*~Oct 2023 Update: Booking for Jan. 2024~*
I'm a developmental editor, line editor, and copyeditor with nine years of publishing industry experience and four years of literary agency experience. I received my master's in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and my bachelor's in Professional Writing from King's College, with a second major in Psychology. My master's degree program included coursework in manuscript editing, copyediting, book publishing, marketing, and publicity, taught by professionals active in the industry.
My editing style focuses on strengthening while maintaining voice. My comments and suggestions will be framed not just to suggest what should change, but to explain why I'm suggesting a change. In this way, I aim to equip my authors with a deeper understanding of tactics for mastering voice, plot structure, pacing, and character development. Ultimately, my goal is to help you find the best resolutions that fit your vision, voice, and message.
SERVICES
Editorial Assessment: Broad strokes overview of what's working, what isn't, and why.
Developmental Edit: No-stone-unturned assessment of the manuscript aimed at guiding a revision that will make your manuscript stronger in every way.
Copyedit: Correction of true errors including grammar, usage, internal consistency, capitalization, spelling, etc.
Line Edit: A full copyedit plus edits that improve overall storytelling, including strengthening voice, flow, pacing, and word choice.
FREE SAMPLE EDIT
I provide a free sample edit of first pages to determine if we'd be a good fit, so please don't hesitate to reach out with a sample so that we can start discussing your project.
GENRE SPECIALIZATIONS
-Young Adult Contemporary
-Young Adult Speculative Fiction including Fantasy/Sci-Fi
-Adult Speculative Fiction including Fantasy/Sci-Fi
-Adult Literary/Contemporary Fiction
I am very excited to work on projects featuring and celebrating LGBTQIA+ characters and manuscripts written by BIPOC authors.
I'm not the best fit for religion- and philosophy-heavy fiction, political satire, or animal allegory.
BACKGROUND
I worked for literary agent Lana Popovic, previously of Chalberg & Sussman, for four years. I read dozens of manuscripts with an eye toward improving each manuscript's saleability to publishers. For each manuscript, I wrote an editorial letter critiquing the story, outlining issues with plot, characters, themes, and overall narrative arc. I also fielded all of Lana’s queries, which required knowledge of the current market. Once manuscripts were ready to pitch to publishers, I created submission lists of editors appropriate for each project, as well as a pitch that would become the basis of her pitch to the editor.
For 6 years, I worked for the University Press of Florida as a publicist and a rights manager. I worked directly with authors to promote their books, pitched authors to media outlets and bookstores, and negotiated and managed all rights deals and permissions requests.
I'm a reviewer for Shelf Awareness, where I review books prior to publication, staying abreast of the current book market.
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have prior to working together. I look forward to hearing from you!
Services
Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- Master's in Publishing and Writing (Emerson College)
- Bachelor's in Professional Writing (King's College)
Work experience
Self-employed
I specialize in fiction editing for both young adult and adult audiences, particularly in contemporary and science fiction/fantasy genres.
Shelf Awareness
I review adult, YA, and children's fiction and nonfiction books.
Lana Popovic (Chalberg & Sussman)
Crafted editorial letters critiquing story, outlining issues with plot, characters, themes, and overall narrative arc, explaining what worked and what didn't, and always offering suggestions on how to resolve the manuscript's issues. Additionally, I read queries daily and created submission lists of editors at publishers for client manuscripts.
Together with Lana, I helped edit the following published books, all with fantasy elements:
-The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry (Penguin Random House)
-A Million Junes by Emily Henry (Penguin Random House)
-The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato (Harper Collins)
-The Dark Beneath the Ice by Amelinda Berube (Sourcebooks Fire)
-Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Berube (Sourcebooks Fire)
University Press of Florida
I worked at the University Press of Florida in various capacities. I began work as a publicist, marketing and promoting authors' books and events, pitching books for review and awards, and pitching authors for appearances, readings, and book exhibits. As subsidiary rights manager, I pitched, negotiated, managed, and tracked all translation, film/tv, audiobook and other rights deals. I also managed all permissions requests. My work involved continual communication with authors, media outlets, and bookstores, as well as with international subagents and publishers.
Samantha has 14 reviews
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Sep, 2023

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