Shara Zaval

Shara Zaval – Editor

A developmental editor who is passionate about middle grade and young adult fiction...and gold shoes, vintage pins and ketchup.

Overview

I am a developmental, line and copy editor who specializes in middle grade and young adult fiction but has worked on everything from new adult romance to coffee table books. I love memorable voices, strong characters and unusual stories, and enjoy collaborating with authors to help make their ideas come to life.

With a background in book publicity, digital marketing and book reviewing in addition to editing, I have a well-rounded view of the current publishing marketplace. I am happy to answer authors' questions about traditional publishing along with offering my editorial services.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Humor & Comedy Middle Grade Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Basic Manuscript Editing - University of Chicago Graham School
  • B.A. in American Studies - Northwestern University

Work experience

Kirkus Reviews

Jan, 2017 — Present

I review young adult books for Kirkus Reviews, a trade publishing magazine. I also write feature articles and interview authors for the publication.

Animal Media Group

Nov, 2016 — Present

I proofread, copy edit, line edit and developmentally edit for Animal Media Group's book division on a project basis. I have done everything from proofread their humor title BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO BUT YOU COULD HAVE DONE BETTER by Hilary Campbell and MAD MAD WORLD by Tom Cochrane, the singer/writer of "Life is a Highway."

Bank Street College of Education

Jun, 2016 — Present

I am a member of the Bank Street College of Education's Children's Book Committee, which is more than 100 years old. Together with the other members, I select the 600 best children's books (board books, picture books, middle grade books and young adult books) published every year for our annual list.

Faber & Faber and Icon Books

Feb, 2016 — Dec, 2016 (10 months)

Faber and Faber and Icon Books are two British publishers who are being distributed in the United States for the first time under PGW. As the only dedicated U.S. employee, I was in charge of planning and executing all publicity and marketing plans for both publishing houses, including sending out books for review, presenting titles at presentations, planning the publishers' presence at book fairs, networking with journalists, running the publishers' social media, planning author events and more.

The Book Report Network

Nov, 2013 — Feb, 2016 (over 2 years)

I planned and executed all of the creative content for Teenreads and Kidsreads, two websites that focused on young adult and middle grade books. I selected which book to review, wrote our weekly newsletters, arranged author interviews, wrote and edited feature articles and ran our social media. I gained 1,500 Twitter followers since my start date, and ran the popular Real Talk Publishing series. I also served on Book Expo's YA Buzz Book Committee, helping to select which five books we felt would be the most noteworthy in the coming season.

Georgia McBride Media Group

Jan, 2013 — Present

I serve as a developmental, copy and line editor for Georgia McBride Media Group on a project by project basis. I mainly work with Month9Books, their YA imprint, but have also worked on several middle grade manuscripts for their middle grade imprint, Tantrum Books, and their New Adult imprint, Swoon Romance. Developmentally edited books include EMERGE by Tobie Easton and SOULMATED by Shaila Patel.

Portfolio

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she's never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden... read more
Anonymous break up stories from men and women, old and young, serious and silly and the cartoons that inspired them. Author and artist Hilary Campbell turns the painful into the hilarious, validating emotions from forgotten middle school tragedies to relations... read more
**Winner of the 2015 Chanticleer Book Reviews Paranormal Awards in YA** Two souls. One Fate. Eighteen-year-old Liam Whelan, an Irish royal empath, is being forced to search for his elusive soulmate. The rare union will cement his family's standing in empath po... read more
Months have passed since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, during which time she's been under her mentor's magical protection. But now that she's turning 17, that protection is about to run out. When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she's manipulated ... read more
Forever does not go on unchanged.Caitriona Hayden’s destiny as the Dracopraesi dragon’s North Star is no clearer to her than it was weeks ago. However, Cait’s eternal future seems a minor concern while the vengeful elves continue taunting the dragons, now usin... read more
- The action-packed four book series is now complete. Start the series today! What if everyone in the world was invincible… except you? In an alternate version of today’s Earth, everyone is invincible. Since the beginning, people have been able to heal so fast... read more
Polaris

Beth Bowland

Bixie, Montana, is in the middle of nowhere, not connected to any place, and not used as a pass through to get anywhere. But one snowy evening, a lone visitor walking down an old country road changes 13-year-old Aaron Martin’s life forever. Aaron thinks he’s b... read more

Professionals similar to Shara

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

Steve Johnson

Steve J.

Wildly talented editor and writer with palmares including climate change, where-to, children's, and award-winning ghostwriting projects.

Minneapolis, MN, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Carlo DeCarlo

Carlo D.

I specialize in fiction (focusing on romance, thriller, and fantasy/sci-fi), narrative non-fiction, and how-to books on writing.

Rutherford, NJ, USA

100% reply rate

View profile
Lisa Mullenneaux

Lisa M.

Award-winning editor dedicated to getting my clients the widest possible audience for their work. I specialize in nonfiction, esp. memoir.

New York

100% reply rate

View profile