Sue Copsey

Sue Copsey – Editor

Editor and award-winning author, 20+ years in UK and NZ publishing. Ex Dorling Kindersley and Pearson. Meticulous, fun and kind.

Overview

I'm a professional book editor with 20+ years' experience in the UK and NZ publishing industries. I am also an award-winning author of both adult and children's books, traditionally and self-published. (My adult fiction is published under the pseudonym Olivia Hayfield.) As an editor, I work with local (NZ/Australia) and overseas authors and publishers, and specialise in children's (picture books/MG/JF/non-fiction), YA, non-fiction, and commercial adult fiction. I have also edited sci-fi, fantasy, and crime/thrillers. Free sample edits provided.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Historical Fiction Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Picture Books Young Adult
Languages
English (AUS) English (NZ) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • Storylines Notable Book Award (2016) for The Ghosts of Tarawera (author and editor)
  • CLNZ award for Best Book or Series in Secondary Publishing, for Life Processes, Ecology and Evolution (Pearson, 2012): Development editor and editor
  • Storylines Notable Book award for Our Children Aotearoa (Pearson, 2011): Development editor, editor, author and photographer

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2013 — Present

I offer a range of services from structural and development editing through to a light copy edit or proofread. I have worked on most genres, and specialise in children's, YA, commercial adult fiction, and non-fiction (adult/children's). I'm passionate about all things bookish, and obsessive when it comes to getting spelling, punctuation, grammar, consistency and clarity right. But I'm kind! If I spot a gaping plot hole or decide your protagonist really wouldn't say that, we'll sort it out together. If I think your book isn't yet ready for editing or publishing, I'll explain why, and we'll take it from there. I love to work with new talent as well as well-established authors, and can also advise on where to next - submit to an agent or publisher? Enter a competition? Self-publish?

Pearson

Dec, 1995 — Aug, 2013 (over 17 years)

Full-time freelance project manager and editor, working mainly on highly illustrated junior, high school and tertiary education titles.

Dorling Kindersley (London, UK)

Feb, 1991 — Oct, 1995 (over 4 years)

Project editor and senior editor working mainly on children's illustrated non-fiction (7-12s).

Portfolio

The Telegram

Philippa Werry

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Flight of the Fantail

Matuku, Steph

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Write Way for Love (Moonshine Romances)

Dean, Brooklyn

Made with Reedsy
Meet Me in Moonshine: a novella (Moonshine Romances)

Dean, Brooklyn

Made with Reedsy
Bloom: A Young Adult Friends to Lovers Romance

James, Bellebird

Made with Reedsy
The Art of Loving Libby Green

James, Bellebird

Born in Blood (Vampire Queens Book 1)

Stedman, Rachel L.

Made with Reedsy
The Lady Carey (Royal Court Series)

Bailey, Anne R

FEARFUL

Nava, Christian

The Rogue and the Peasant (The Fairy Godmother Tales)

Martin, Amberley

Copy Editing
Nothing Bad Happens Here

Nikki Crutchley

"She looked away from his face and took in the clear spring night, full of stars. Her last thoughts were of her mother. Would she finally care, when one day they found her body, and a policema... read more
Copy Editing
Broken Silence

Helen Vivienne Fletcher

A stranger just put Kelsey’s boyfriend in a coma. The worst part? She asked him to do it.Seventeen-year-old Kelsey is dealing with a lot – an abusive boyfriend, a gravely ill mother, an absent... read more
Copy Editing
Sally Bangle: Unexpected Detective

Melinda Szymanik

A junior mystery for 8 to 12 year olds. What really happened to Sally's Dad lost at sea 7 years before? What were they really up to on that mysterious polar expedition? And why has her Mum sud... read more
Copy Editing
What Love Is: A young woman's salvation relies on the love of an Anzac soldier

D C Grant

Seventeen and pregnant, Gina has some tough decisions to make - should she marry the father of her baby? The former bad boy Bevan, on home detention for robbery, swears he has mended his ways ... read more
Copy Editing
Three Times Dead

D C Grant

What do you do when you have an out of body experience? If you're like Bevan, you start looking for answers to that age old question - is there life after death? But Bevan's search brings him ... read more
Copy Editing
Samoan Heroes (Pasifika Heroes Book 1)

David Riley

Samoan Heroes presents inspirational stories of achievers who have Samoan ancestry. It includes legends like Sinālemalama and Tigilau; historical figures such as Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III and... read more
Copy Editing
Symphony Smythe Wants a Pet (Short & Sweet Reads Book 2)

Christine Hurst

What’s a girl to do when she really really wants a pet, but her parents say no? Use her imagination, that’s what! And Symphony Smythe has an imagination like no other. Soon she has furry, feat... read more
Developmental Editing
Serendipity (Foothold Book 3)

Dennis Ingram

Adversity. Fear. Survival.The inhabitants of Serendipity have survived the dramatic events that followed the arrival of humankind’s second starship, the Inspiration. David Miller’s beloved Gra... read more
Copy Editing
The Seasoning (Foothold Book 2)

Dennis Ingram

Surprise. Adversity. Hope.Sixteen years have passed since the eight crew of the Starship Hope arrived in the Tau Ceti system and established a colony on the fifth planet from the star, a plane... read more
Copy Editing
Huia Short Stories 11: Contemporary Maori Fiction

Here are the best short stories and novel extracts from the 2015 Pikihuia Awards for Maori writers as judged by Witi Ihimaera, Sir Wira Gardiner and Poia Rewi. The book contains the stories fr... read more
Copy Editing
Orion Rising

Chard Andrews

A.D. 2080 It has been sixty years since the wars. Most of the Earth is an uninhabitable wasteland. The remaining human population is crammed into Australia, New Zealand, and the ruins of the I... read more
Copy Editing
Searching for Summer

Elizabeth Ascot

I open the packet. Out falls a pile of aerograms, letters and postcards from me to my family at home in New Zealand. I pick up the nearest and look at the date. Fifty years ago. Impossible.It’... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Stories on the Four Winds: Nga Hau e Wha

Brian Bargh

This collection brings together twenty short stories from eighteen of New Zealand’s accomplished writers. They explore the dark and dangerous milieu of our comfortable existence. There is humo... read more
Copy Editing
Robyn Hood: Outlaw Princess

John Reynolds

* A modern take on a classic story* Robyn is transported back in time to Sherwood Forest* Based on a full-length musical of the same nameRobyn Howard is a teenage schoolgirl. She lives with he... read more
Copy Editing
Twice Born: Young Adult Arthurian Fantasy

TJ Green

A missing witch, a long-buried tale of infatuation and revenge, and a powerful spell. After a year of regrets, Tom is back in the Other with King Arthur. He joins his friends in the search for... read more
Copy Editing
Tom's Inheritance: Young Adult Arthurian Fantasy

TJ Green

The Fey, the Lady of the Lake, and a summons to wake King Arthur. Tom's life will never be the same again. An exciting fantasy adventure full of magic and danger. Tom's life is pretty ordinary... read more
Copy Editing
Chittens to the Rescue (The Chitten Adventures Book 3)

Julie Scott

Once again, Milly McGinty is in a mess of trouble. Papa Griffin is being held prisoner and Milly and the chittens are his only hope of rescue. But Milly is stuck in school camp, and with the w... read more
Copy Editing
The Prankster and the Ghost

R. L. Stedman

‘The school will be good for you, Tayla,' said the inspector. 'You’ll have children your own age to play with.’‘Dead children.’‘Well, yes. True. But you can't have everything' Stuck in a hospi... read more
Copy Editing
Symphony Smythe and the Baked Bean Birthday party (Short & Sweet Reads Book 1)

Christine Hurst

Symphony Smythe just wants a normal birthday party. One with ice cream, cake and fizzy drinks. But her mum and dad have other, healthier ideas – and a menu that includes raw broccoli.Can Symph... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Emotional Challenges of Immigration:: Strategies and stories of those who stayed

Ellie Baker

Immigrants make up 3.15% of the world’s population, that’s 216 million people. How do you successfully progress from emigration to being a long term immigrant? You may not have moved countries... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Bravest Guy: A True Story of Overcoming Impossible Odds

Harry Wedewer

As a U.S. Army infantryman in World War II, Don Wedewer was twice wounded in four days. On both occasions he was left for dead. Now, at 19. he was a double amputee and blind with seemingly no ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Jin's Great Escape

Maria Artho

This is the true story of Jin a cheeky, adventurous otter who escaped from Auckland zoo.For several weeks, New Zealand was gripped by otter fever as Jin was spotted in the suburbs, on beaches,... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Speed: JS 1 A Jason Shaw Mystery (Jason Shaw Mystery Series) (Volume 1)

D C Grant

Jason Shaw, the fourteen year old son of a Seattle police detective, struggles to understand the mystery of the high speed car crash that killed his mother and left his father in a coma. With ... read more
Copy Editing
Foothold: The Story of Mankind's First Expedition to the Stars

Dennis Ingram

Adventure. Adversity. Hope.A starship with eight people is launched into the unknown for the epic adventure of a lifetime.In the second half of the 21st century, Earth is struggling under the ... read more
Copy Editing
Upon A Time

R. L. Stedman

Fairy tales reborn! Inside this enchanting collection you'll find stories that are not-quite familiar. An assassin with a midnight deadline; a shoe store owned by Princeton Charming; a sleepin... read more
Copy Editing
Drive

Scott Butler

Toby Dresden is a taxi driver who dreams of fulfilling his mother's legacy. When a rival threatens to steal his work, he finds himself desperate and with no way to fund its development. A chan... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Blade NZ: Travelling New Zealand...On Rollerblades (Adventure Travel the Length of New Zealand)

Matt Earle

A hilarious and heartwarming road trip through one of the most beautiful countries in the world - New Zealand "Many people talk about doing something crazy and adventurous, yet most never foll... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Under the Himalayan Sky: Establishing Sagarmatha National Park

Margaret Jefferies

Back Cover Text) In the 1970s, the Nepalese government established an agreement with New Zealand for help in setting up a national park in the Mt Everest region of the Himalayas. Bruce Jeff er... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Bold Ship Phenomenal

Sarah Johnson

A rollicking adventure of bottles, ships, piracy and a pig.Shortlisted for the 2013 Kobo/NZ Authors E-publishing Prize.From the author of the Storylines Joy Cowley Award-winning Wooden Arms.Ma... read more
Copy Editing

Sue has 24 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Anne B.

Anne B.

Jan, 2024

Pinned
It was amazing to work with her. She's very understanding and her work is excellent.
Sue C.
Thank you - it's such a pleasure to work on your wonderful books!
A.Destarny N.

A.Destarny N.

Apr, 2023

Pinned
Sue was amazing to work with. Not only did she pick up all the small details that I completely missed but she finished the project way ahead of the schedule which I was super grateful for! Would love to work with her again in the future and could not recommend her enough.
Sam R.

Sam R.

Aug, 2022

Pinned
I can't recommend Sue highly enough. She has a keen eye and puts the time in to research unusual words, phrases or references - there was a lot of French in mine, which she always corrected perfectly, often when I didn't realise it needed correcting! She is the perfect combination of diligence and tact - she won't hesitate to point out things she feels need changing to improve your work but d...
Read more
Carmen A.

Carmen A.

Sep, 2023

Sue is a brilliant editor. She offers suggestions that improve your stories. I hired her for copy editing and proof-reading and she was a pleasure to work with. You won't be disappointed.
Sue C.
Thanks so much Carmen! I love working with you on your delightful stories.
Anne B.

Anne B.

Jun, 2023

It was lovely working with her!

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