Overview
I've been a freelance editor for thirty years. I like working with authors to get their books to be what they want them to be, whether that's getting the story as strong as possible or finding the best phrasing to convey an argument or explain an idea.
In the past I have worked for big UK publishers including Pan Macmillan, Oxford University Press and Harvill, but a lot of what I do these days is helping new authors shape their books, at the level of both sentence and story. The principles are same, whether it's fiction or non-fiction.
I also edit academic titles, and I make something of a speciality of working closely with authors whose first language is not English. My favourite editing treasure is a copy of 'Peasants and Prayers', a book about Norse Greenland, inscribed by the author to 'the best editor ever', with my name written in Norse runes.
In the past I have worked for big UK publishers including Pan Macmillan, Oxford University Press and Harvill, but a lot of what I do these days is helping new authors shape their books, at the level of both sentence and story. The principles are same, whether it's fiction or non-fiction.
I also edit academic titles, and I make something of a speciality of working closely with authors whose first language is not English. My favourite editing treasure is a copy of 'Peasants and Prayers', a book about Norse Greenland, inscribed by the author to 'the best editor ever', with my name written in Norse runes.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
History
Nature
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
Middle Grade
Plays & Screenplays
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Certifications
- Full member AFEPI (Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland)
Work experience
Self-employed
Jan, 1989 —
Present
I have worked as a proofreader, copy editor, structural editor and project manager. I have an excellent eye for detail, but what I most enjoy is helping an author find their voice.
Portfolio
Copy Editing
How to keep your faith in a Power greater than yourself when in the midst of a dark night of the soul?“The FaceTime call that plunged us all into chaos arrived on a winter’s morning early in 2... read more
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Qeqertasussuk and Qajaa are the only known sites of the early arctic small tool tradition in the Eastern Arctic, where all kinds of organic materials, such as wood, bone, baleen, hair, and ski... read more
Copy Editing
‘When the story is finished, Muriel and Polly sit in silence. The coloured lights on the fuchsia bush twinkle against the black sea and the black mountain and the black sky. They sit in silenc... read more
Proofreading
Have you ever made a drunken bet? Worse, still, have you eveer tried to win one? In attempting to hitchhike round Ireland wich a fridge, Tony Hawks did both, and his foolhardiness led him to o... read more
Proofreading
This study provides the first sustained address of The Book of Howth and its compiler, Christopher St. Lawrence, 7th baron of Howth (ca. 1510-1589). The Book of Howth ultimately offers a uniqu... read more
Copy Editing
Copy Editing
In this masterly book, now in a third, revised edition, Michael Jacobs looks with fresh eyes at all the traditional delights of Andalucia while doing full justice to the lesser-known aspects of the region. He explores Andalucia's local cuisine, varied natural ... read more
Six papers by international scholars reporting on studies of food production and food consumption in the North Atlantic area during the Viking Age and Norse Period. At least three papers are c... read more
Copy Editing
Book two of the exciting new series of ‘The Adventures of Jack and Adam.’ Halloween is approaching and the boys have come to the conclusion of yet another school term. A lot has been learned b... read more
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Welcome to the beginning of a series of intriguing stories following the adventures of two young brothers and their pets, Club and Diamond, along with their family and friends. ‘Wanted’ introd... read more
Copy Editing
Book four in 'The Adventures of Jack and Adam series.' Jack and Adam go on holiday to a faraway destination. The boys are given some freedom to explore their surroundings. However, with freedo... read more
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Book three in this enthralling new series of ‘The Adventures of Jack and Adam’. Winning isn’t everything, especially when it comes to physical pursuits. Jack and Adam try to enjoy themselves a... read more
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Neil Powell has been a dog handler for more than forty years and the dogs in his charge (breeds including the Alsatian, bloodhound, retriever and Labrador) have participated in every kind of search and rescue: from daring mountaineering rescues in the Mourne M... read more
It began in 1821 with the finding of the Kingittorsuaq stone, the first evidence of runic writing in Norse Greenland. Researchers were faced for the first time with the language spoken by the ... read more
Copy Editing
Marianne, Louise and Cassandra Knight were nieces of the great 19th century novelist who gave us Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Jane knew the girls well, reading and sewing wit... read more
Proofreading
1970, Irish team competes in Jersey Channel Islands. Left to right: Harry Evans, Dave Kenny, Hugh OBrien Moran, David Govan, Roger Steadman, Eamon Matthews, Bo Vance, Kevin Cavey, Alan Duke.Th... read more
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
The Companion to Irish Traditional Music is a landmark, easy to use A-Z format for studying, exploring and researching one of Ireland’s most universally recognisable cultural expressions.Among... read more
Copy Editing
Simon has 19 reviews
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Richard C.
Sep, 2024
Jane B.
Nov, 2023
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Aug, 2023
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Apr, 2023
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Mar, 2023
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