Sheila Trask

Sheila Trask – Editor

Versatile, collaborative developmental editor experienced in fiction (MG/YA, Romance) and non-fiction (business, psychology, medicine).

Overview

Together, we'll get your story on the page--in your words and your style. I specialize in developmental editing for book-length manuscripts, nonfiction (including medical, business, self-help, and memoir) and fiction (middle grade/YA, mystery, and romance).

My clients appreciate my ability to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully so that together we can create the exact book they are envisioning. My process is very collaborative--we spend a lot of time talking and trading notes. I will advocate for a strong structure to support your message and your reader's experience, while also encouraging you to follow the apparent asides that often turn out to be the most important parts of the creative process. Together, we'll find the gems that make your story truly your own.

I've developed, coached, ghosted, and edited over three dozen books in the past five years, and reviewed dozens more for industry publications. You'll see a sampling of editorial projects linked here, many of them with multiple 5-star reviews on Amazon.

If you're already writing or about to write, I can help you develop your creative ideas and capture your unique voice. If you've already written a draft, I can critique your manuscript and offer suggestions to make it shine.
Either way, I'll ensure you will be heard loud and clear by your desired audience.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Health & Wellbeing Self-Help & Self-Improvement Technology
Fiction
Middle Grade Romance Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Copyediting Certificate, UCSD

Work experience

Author Services Provider

Aug, 2015 — Present

Provide collaborative editing for thought leaders creating non-fiction books. Topics include business, entrepreneurship, psychology, health and wellness, and memoir.

Kirkus Media

Jan, 2014 — Present

Provide promotional copy for genre fiction, including romance, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, and women's fiction. Includes taglines, book descriptions, series descriptions, and author biographies.

Self-employed

Jan, 2013 — Present

Provide manuscript critique, developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and copywriting directly to fiction and non-fiction authors.

New England Culinary Institute

Oct, 2015 — Oct, 2016 (about 1 year)

Reference services, collection development, catalog management, access services, literacy instruction, and student assistant supervision.

Various

Jan, 2013 — Present

Write book reviews, interviews, roundups, and features for fiction and nonfiction titles for publications including BookPage, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The San Francisco Book Review, Foreword Magazine, and BlueInk Reviews.

Portfolio

In the highly-anticipated next installment of the Serafina series, Serafina must confront the darkest threat she's ever encountered at Biltmore Estate. She knows she can face anything with her best friend and closest ally, Braeden Vanderbilt, by her side. But ... read more
Serafina's defeat of the Man in the Black Cloak has brought her out of the shadows and into the daylight realm of her home, Biltmore Estate. Every night she visits her mother in the forest, eager to learn the ways of the cat¬amount. But Serafina finds herself ... read more
This is the story a brave and unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate amidst the splendor of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serafina and her friend Braeden Vanderbilt must work together to... read more
Despite modern pharmaceutical medications and many different psychological therapies, military veterans and survivors of mental and physical trauma from civil society continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Trust Surrender Receive: How MD... read more
Say you have a brilliant app idea. If you don’t have the technical skills to bring it to life, conventional Silicon Valley wisdom demands you get a technical co-founder, pay too much money to an overpriced app agency, or learn to code. These expensive obstacle... read more
The world is facing the greatest healthcare crisis it has ever seen. Chronic disease is shortening our lifespan, destroying our quality of life, bankrupting governments, and threatening the health of future generations. Sadly, conventional medicine, with its f... read more
Many people today feel trapped and unsatisfied with the way their lives are going, but those who do can take heart. Daniel Cleland is living proof that you can have it all—adventure, spiritual health, emotional fulfillment, and business success—if you are open... read more
"I freaking loved it. I NEED book 2 now!!!" - 5 stars"This series keeps getting better and better!" - 5 starsWelcome to the McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series! Vulnerable is the first in a series of closely interrelated books that focus on the McIntyre family ... read more
Longreave

Daniel Barnett

Some secrets aren't kept.Some secrets keep you.When his marriage crumbles, Mark Currier takes up residence in the abandoned seaside hotel where he once worked. But he is not alone. Something creeps the dark halls inside Longreave. Something cold and wet that w... read more

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