Laurel Sills - Editor
I'm an award-winning editor specializing in fantasy, sf, and historical fiction. Bookseller rising star previously of Bloomsbury and Canelo.
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Overview
Editor and co-founder of the award-winning Holdfast Magazine (British Fantasy Society award for Best Magazine 2015) and Bookseller Rising Star 2017, I have over seven years of experience working in the publishing industry as an editor. I am comfortable working on a wide range of fiction, from women’s fiction to thrillers, literary to historical romance, with a specialism in science fiction and fantasy. Whether you want to prepare your manuscript for submission to industry professionals or polish your book for self-publication, together, we can get your work ready for the next stage of its journey.
My time at Canelo and Bloomsbury have given me a breadth of experience not only as an editor, but also as a proofreader and seasoned submission reader.
'The best thing about working with Laurel (apart from her overflowing energy and enthusiasm) was her ability to put her finger on things that weren’t quite right in my book. There were inconsistencies that had bothered me for ages, and loose ends that needed to be tidied up properly – Laurel found them all and made gentle suggestions that helped me make a better book' – Helen Wright, author of A Matter of Oaths
Developmental Edit
This is the big picture edit, where we will consider the order of events, if there are any plot holes, and if the tension, drive, balance and narrative clarity of your manuscript can be improved. We will address if your book is hitting your target audience (or if you aren't sure who that is yet, we can find out who that might be!) We will also look at things like character development, theme, and dialogue.
If you go through the traditional publishing route, an in-house editor at your publisher will do a structural edit for you there. I know from experience however that the more ready your book is for publication the more likely it will be accepted by a publisher in the first place. There is so much work involved in getting a book ready for publication that the less revisions an editor feels are needed the more likely they are to take you on. If you are getting your work ready for self-publication, it is really helpful to get this level of edit from a professional pair of eyes to make sure your book is ready to wow your readers.
Copyedit
This comes after the structural edit, once you are confident that your story is in the best shape it can be. This is where sentence-level detail is looked at such as typos, spelling errors, sentence clarity, fact-checking and consistency. This makes sure you smooth out any issues you are having with language and avoids inconsistencies such as the black cat on page 31 miraculously becoming a tabby on page 100. I will also be looking at the flow and feel of your prose and making suggestions in order to avoid clumsy phrasing, which can interrupt the communication between author and reader. If you are self-publishing this could be an important service in order to get your book to the best standard possible.
Proofread
The proofread is the final stage of polish before your book reaches your readers. This is the last chance to catch things such as typos, punctuation and spelling errors before publication. No matter how meticulous your copyedit was I would always recommend getting a proofread completed as the final stage of your book's journey. This is to ensure a fresh pair of eyes with excellent attention to detail can catch anything missed by you or your editor (and some remaining mistakes are, alas, inevitable!) and make sure your book is as clean and ready for the world as it can be.
Query Letter Review
As a veteran of reading through submissions, I can assure you that the covering letter (or email, these days) is vitally important. Have you introduced yourself and the work succinctly while making it enticing? Have you thought through your readership, pitched your synopsis right and noted the relevant comparison authors? If an editor or agent has a hundred submissions to get through and you've sent them a genre that they do not publish or your synopsis is confused then they may not even read the first line of your carefully crafted book baby. Getting a professional pair of eyes to offer detailed advice could help you stand out from the crowd.
I love working with authors to get the most out of their writing and work with clear communication and friendly professionalism.
Languages
English (UK)
Fiction
Dystopian
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Urban Fantasy
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- MA Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths University
- Digital Proofreading - Publishing Training Centre
- Introduction to Editorial Skills: Copy Editing and Proofreading - Publishing Training Centre
Awards
- Bookseller Rising Star
Work experience
Senior Commissioning Editor
Canelo
November, 2017
–
October, 2019
(almost 2 years)
Editorial Production Manager
Bloomsbury Reader
May, 2015
–
November, 2017
(over 2 years)
Editor and Co-founder
Holdfast Magazine
June, 2013
–
May, 2015
(almost 2 years)
Editorial Assistant
Bloomsbury Reader
June, 2012
–
May, 2015
(almost 3 years)
Portfolio (11 selected works)
Athena's Champion (Olympus Series Book 1)
David Hair, Cath Mayo
A prophecy condemns him, a goddess binds him, but what will set Odysseus free? A thrilling tale of a legendary Greek adventure, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and David Gemmell.Young Prince Odysseus is about to have his world torn apart. He has travelled to the oracle at Pytho to be anointed as heir to his island kingdom, but instead a terrible secret is revealed, one that tears down ever... read more
Oracle's War (Olympus Series Book 2)
David Hair, Cath Mayo
Gods and mortals collide in the thrilling second instalment in the historical Greek fantasy the Olympus Series.When Prince Odysseus is sent on a quest to recover his family honour, he’s led to Delos where a mysterious new prophecy has captivated the gods. Caught in a tangled web of intrigue, he discovers that this prophecy is tied to his own destiny and the fate of his patron goddess, Athena.W... read more
Crisis Point is a new espionage, high-octane, action-packed tour de force.CIA operative Sam Driver is at the top of her game, until she is betrayed, captured, and disavowed by her country. Left to rot in a Siberian prison, the future looks bleak. But when the world is threatened by a series of terrorist attacks bringing civilization to the brink of nuclear war, she may have a chance to earn he... read more
A Matter of Oaths
Helen S. Wright
'A compelling, mind-bending future that's finally come home to the present' – Becky Chambers, author of The Long Way to a Small, Angry PlanetWhen Commander Rallya of the patrol ship Bhattya hires Rafe as their new Web officer, she knows she is taking a risk. As an oath breaker, Rafe has suffered the ultimate punishment – identity wipe – but luckily for him, there's no one else around qualified... read more
A race against time on a perilous journey through Siberia with a murderous demon, in this gritty fast-paced horror thriller.Con-artist Amanda Coleman lives in a London rife with undercover magic. Abras, as they are known, can harness these illegal powers, but for Coleman – whose father was a powerful and abusive practitioner – magic is anathema.When her criminal crew hire an Abra to help with ... read more
Watchmen Of Rome (Carbo of Rome Book 1)
Alex Gough
After twenty-five long years serving in the Roman Legions, Carbo returns to Rome to retire in peace. Life has moved on in the time he’s been at the front, and he finds himself friendless and homeless.But when he comes across Rufa, a childhood friend he swore an oath to protect, he must fight to rescue her from an evil priestess, liberate her from slavery and save Rome from total annihilation. ... read more
Barbarian Princess
Damion Hunter
The epic novel of Roman adventure.Correus and Flavius, half brothers and rivals, have found the life of a Centurion to be dangerous. After imprisonment and torture, Flavius found his strength and proved his mettle. Correus, son of a slave, found glory on the battlefield.But now the brothers have been stationed to Wales, a land of barbarians, mud and freezing rain. Here they must face the shame... read more
Kemp: The Road to Crécy (Arrows of Albion Book 1)
Jonathan Lunn
An epic Medieval adventure of the Hundred Years WarWhen Martin Kemp joins the English army in order to avoid the hangman, he may just be delaying the inevitable. While he remains hopeful that at least there’s the chance for some heroics, the reality is very different. Kemp's war is instead a terrifying odyssey through the panic and confusion of his first battle, the brutal realities of siege w... read more
A devastating Viking raid leads Corban on an epic quest – the first in an extraordinary adventure series.Corban and Mav are twins born to the lord of an Irish coastal farmstead. Mav has the Second Sight, and is her father's favourite; Corban, however, is a deep disappointment. Exiled for refusing his father's command to take up his sword in the name of the High King, he is long gone when the d... read more
A Vision of Light
Judith Merkle Riley
A village girl receives a divine vision that will lead her into the chambers of the English Inquisition...Young, wealthy and twice married, Margaret has a modest enough ambition: she wishes to write a book. But this is 1355, and the notion of a woman wanting to record her experiences and thoughts is not just arrogant, it’s possibly heretical.Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret’... read more
The Eagle and the Raven
Pauline Gedge
The making of a legendary queen, the story of an infamous last stand.This is the story of Boudicca, the most famous warrior of ancient Britain, and of Caradoc, the son of a Celtic king, who set out to unite the people of the Raven and lead them against the might of Rome.As the Roman army advances into Britain, pillaging and burning villages to the ground, Caradoc’s efforts are met with fierce ... read more
Laurel has 9 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Laurel was very helpful when it came to proofreading my manuscript. She made sure names were all spelled the same throughout the text and found obvious mistakes in spelling. She even looked at some content correction when it came to scenes and dialogue. Overall, I highly recommend Laurel and hope to maybe someday work with her again! Excellent job!
Madison Klophaus, May 2020
Reply from Laurel Sills
Laurel's notes on my manuscript helped me improve and become more self-aware of the type of writer I am. My mind tends to be all over the place, thus, I'm itching to get in all the heads of my characters. This can be great, but it needs to be clean and organized for my readers. The last thing I want to do is confuse them. Nevertheless, she helped with the organization and flow of my novel, and ...
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Diego Ornelas-Tapia, May 2020
Laurel was amazing! She had great insight into my story and understood my vision for where I wanted to take it. She's extremely intelligent and pointed out practical things to ground my story. It can be a bit scary to have someone read and edit your work but literally every note she made was extremely helpful. I feel lucky that she worked with me! Genuinely she's the best. The only editor I eve...
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Jessie Haynes, April 2020
Reply from Laurel Sills
Laurel edited my query letter, synopsis, and first chapter. She made it all much more engaging and explained each edit, which was super helpful cuz I'm really new to all of this. Would recommend.
Dylan Wiseman, April 2020
I am very pleased with the developmental editorial report and edited manuscript that Laurel has produced. She has given great insights into what needs fixing with my novella and some much needed words of encouragement that has fired up my interest in writing again. What more could a writer ask for? Highly recommended,
Graham Stanley, April 2020
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