
What sets me apart
I’m an experienced editor and have been working with words for 30+ years. I have edited more than 300 books for indie authors, traditional authors, and publishers. Not only am I a highly trained, UCSD-certified editor, I’m also a published poet and writer with a strong promotional background.
Plenty of people who love to read can call themselves a “freelance editor,” but not all have the proven talent, training, and skill needed to help you build better stories. Book editing takes more than good grades in English and a childhood passion for books (although I can’t deny having both).
I have worked as an editor for independent publishing houses and magazine publishers and as a newspaper reporter. I’ve also worked in book marketing and as a writer and editor at award-winning communications firms in the NYC area.
When you hire me, you get the best of both worlds to help you craft your best work: the skills of a trained, expert editor combined with the creativity of an imaginative writer. Add in my promotional experience, and you have a wealth of talent at your fingertips.
What I edit
I edit fiction, book cover blurbs, book synopses, and query letters. My clients include indie authors, hybrid authors, querying authors, and small presses. I have substantial experience guiding authors through the self-publishing process and am eager to share my knowledge with authors of all stripes: new, emerging, and established.
Many of the books I’ve edited are best sellers and several are award winners and finalists. I edit fiction in the genres listed below:
- Fantasy
- Romance
- Young Adult (YA)
- Science Fiction
- Paranormal
- Dystopian
- Horror
- Speculative Fiction
- LGBTQIA
- Suspense
- New Adult (NA)
- Middle Grade (MG)
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Historical
- Action-Adventure
- Erotica
I also edit memoirs and self-help, how-to, and leadership books.
Where I’ve trained
My training reflects a continued drive to remain up-to-date on subjects related to publishing:
- Bachelor of Arts, English, Rutgers University
- Specialized Certificate in Copyediting, University of California-San Diego (UCSD)
- Introduction to Developmental Editing: the Author-Editor Clinic
- Intermediate Developmental Editing of Fiction, Editorial Freelancers Association
- Advanced Developmental Editing of Fiction, Club Ed
- Editing for Point-of-View and Perspective, Club Ed
- Sensitivity Reading, Editorial Freelancers Association
- Fiction Writing, Level I, Gotham Writers’ Workshop
- Working with Self-Publishing Authors, ACES: The Society for Editing
- Introduction to Professional Academic Editing, Ideas on Fire
- Webinars and social media events for publishing professionals
- ACES: The Society for Editing, 2019 national conference attendee
- ACES: The Society for Editing, 2021 national online conference attendee
- Membership in respected online groups for editing professionals
I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and ACES: The Society for Editing and a co-founder of the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals (AIPP). You can view my CV on LinkedIn here.
Tools I use
- Microsoft Word Track Changes
- Adobe Acrobat
- Google Docs
- Pages
- PowerPoint
- Workfront (ProofHQ)
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
- Garner’s Modern American Usage
- The Copyeditor’s Handbook
- Oxford English Dictionary (online)
- Oxford Canadian Dictionary
- A full library of grammar and fiction craft reference books
More about me
I’m an avid rock and roll fan and wrote song lyrics in my teens before switching to writing poetry and fiction. I once sang lead in a punk band and walked away from a decades-old dream of becoming a rock music journalist because I had to pay the rent. My poetry and short fiction have been traditionally published. I am a tea enthusiast, sushi fanatic, dog lover, and kayaker. Born and raised in the Bronx, I now live in the country, but I haven’t lost my city girl accent or attitude.
I look forward to helping you build better stories.