Shannon Kelly

Shannon Kelly – Editor

Collaborative, creative editor with 9 years' experience editing and supporting specialized standouts and bestsellers at three major houses.

Overview

I have 9 years of experience editing influential, New York Times bestselling authors in fiction and nonfiction categories at Hachette Book Group, Penguin Random House, and Abrams Books. I specialize in helping authors hone their voices.


In particular, my focuses have included personality-driven nonfiction projects in self-help and wellness, body/mind/spirit, creativity, art, lifestyle, food and beverage, magical and mystical, and personal narrative/essays/memoir. I also have experience editing contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, and crime thrillers.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits DIY & Crafts Inspirational Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Thriller & Suspense
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Hachette Book Group

Aug, 2021 — Present
I publish nonfiction projects that inspire and entertain, focusing on categories like magical and mystical, wellness, self-help, cocktail, and craft. In particular, I help creatives, coaches, and specialists develop their voices to translate their work to the page and reach their audiences effectively.

Abrams Books

Nov, 2019 — Aug, 2021 (over 1 year)
At Abrams, I published nonfiction projects across categories, focusing specifically on food and beverage, personal narrative, and self-help.

Penguin Random House

Mar, 2015 — Oct, 2019 (over 4 years)
At Viking Penguin, where I began my career, I gained experience evaluating queries and submissions material from authors and agents and editing manuscripts in both fiction and nonfiction categories. I worked on several New York Times bestsellers including We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (historical fiction) and More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth (inspirational memoir). I also acquired and edited the Edgar Award finalist crime novel The Keeper by Jessica Moor.

Portfolio

Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes

Mosley, Laci

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Weed Witch: The Essential Guide to Cannabis for Magic and Wellness

Saint Thomas, Sophie

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Black Friend: Essays

Ziwe

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
You Are a Badass® (Ultimate Collector's Edition): How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

Sincero, Jen

Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
This Book Will Make You Kinder: An Empathy Handbook

Garrett, Henry James

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching
The War at Home: A Wife's Search for Peace (and Other Missions Impossible): A Memoir

Starnes, Rachel

Penguin Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Maeve in America: Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else

Higgins, Maeve

Penguin Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Back Talk: Stories

Lazarin, Danielle

Penguin Books

Editorial Assessment
The Winters: A Novel

Gabriele, Lisa

Penguin Books

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Mend!: A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto

Sekules, Kate

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching
Enchanted Cross-Stitch: 34 Mystical Patterns for the Modern Stitch Witch

Isobel, Grace

Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Sip Me, Baby, One More Time: Cocktails Inspired by Pop Music's Iconic Women

Gibson, Ashley

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching
Keeping a Creative Sketchbook: Build Your Artistic Practice for a Joyfully Inspired Life

Block, Emma

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Nailed It!: Baking Challenges for the Rest of Us

Nailed It!

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Gentle Chaos: Poems, Tales, and Magic

Gaca, Tyler

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching
The Keeper: A Novel

Moor, Jessica

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review
Who Ate the First Oyster?: The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History

Cassidy, Cody

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Awards for Good Boys: Tales of Dating, Double Standards, and Doom

Lorman, Shelby

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Query Letter Review Book Coaching
More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)

Welteroth, Elaine

Editorial Assessment
A Noël Killing (A Provençal Mystery)

Longworth, M. L.

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
We Were the Lucky Ones: A Novel

Hunter, Georgia

Editorial Assessment

Shannon has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Suki P.

Suki P.

Sep, 2024

Pinned
With no prior experience in the publishing world, I was fortunate to connect with Shannon for editing and reviewing my work. As a seasoned professional editor, her responsiveness, communication style, editorial guidance, and marketing suggestions were invaluable. She has truly helped me grow as a...
Read more
jasmine C.

jasmine C.

Aug, 2024

Pinned
Shannon was an absolute gem! She is knowledgable, patient and very thorough. I look forward to working with her again in the future.

Professionals similar to Shannon

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

Misty Bourne

Misty B.

Veteran editor specializing in inspiring stories about religious deconstruction, deconversion, and narcissistic abuse recovery

Nashville, TN, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Lisa Daily

Lisa D.

Bestselling author/book coach for new to bestselling 6- and 7-figure authors including Theodora Taylor, Renee Rose and Skye Warren

Siesta Key, FL, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Taylor Plimpton

Taylor P.

With over 25 years in literary publishing, I'm currently focused on the self-help genre. I'm also a practicing Zen Buddhist!

Pleasantville, NY, USA

100% reply rate

View profile