If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, read on. I might be able to help.
Having a high-quality, well-written book is essential in today's marketplace, more so than maybe ever before. Why? With self-publishing a booming industry, there are more books available to readers than ever before, which also means there are a lot of low-quality books too. You don't want to be one of those. Having a poorly written self-published novel can be career suicide. If readers find your book and see glaring mistakes, you'll be discounted as a writer. With so many other books and writers to choose from, a reader will just move on to the next. Don't you do the same thing? I do.
I want to help. I've self-published two books myself, so I understand what you're going through. You, as the writer and publisher, are responsible for writing the book, editing, preparing cover art services, marketing, distribution, and everything else that comes with the business of books. It can be a lot. Editorial services are expensive. As an independent author, you may not have $2,000 or $3,000 or more to spend on a good editor for your book, right? I know I didn't. But you still need an editor—everyone does. Your mom doesn't count. You need someone objective, someone who won't be afraid to give you honest feedback, someone who's been there and done that. That could be me.
It's an important question. You won't (and shouldn't) trust your work with just anyone. Having a poorly edited book may be worse than having a non-edited book. Why? Because a poorly edited book cost something! Non-edited didn't. So not only are you making a bad first impression on your readers, but you threw money away, too. We're in this business to make money, not throw it away, am I right? Carry on.
I'm the author of nine novels and am an active member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Organization. My first two novels, DECEPTION and OPERATION SALAZAR (now STOLEN MERCY), were self-published. I know what the experience is like. My third novel, AMBER ALERT (now TAKEN: A MOTHER'S SECRET), was published by a mid-size press named Solstice Publishing, as was my fourth, PLUM SPRINGS (Moonshine Cove Publishing), and my fifth, THE GREEN HOUSE (Black Rose Writing). With each, I worked hands-on with editors to get the book ready for publication. I've been represented by Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group and am currently (as of October 2023) represented by Steve Schwartz from the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. PLUM SPRINGS won the 2019 New Hampshire Writers' Project Readers' Choice Award for Fiction. THE GREEN HOUSE won the 2021 New Hampshire Writers' Project Literary Award for Fiction, was a Bronze Medalist in the Adult Fiction E-Book category for the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards), was a finalist for the 2021 Montaigne Medal (Eric Hoffer Awards) for most thought-provoking book, was a finalist in the Fiction category for the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and was a finalist in the Mystery category for the 2020 Book Excellence Awards, and was a Finalist in Literary Fiction for the 2020 American Fiction Awards. I'm also an acquisition reviewer for Black Rose Writing, so I know what to look for, what's good and what isn't, and what's marketable—I make recommendations for manuscripts to be published, or not.
Outside of my fiction, I work as a writer and editor for a private company. Educationally, I hold a bachelor's degree in communications, and the degree was a specialized curriculum that heavily consisted of both professional and creative writing. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the program. Bottom line, writing, editing, and revising is what I do. It's in my blood. It's my passion. It's what I'm good at.
UPDATE JUNE 2019: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he signed a two-book deal recently, which includes an advance paid by the publisher.
UPDATE MAY 2020: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a contract offer from his dream publisher.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2020: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he signed a three-book deal.
UPDATE JANUARY 2021: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a publishing deal.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2021: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a publishing deal.
UPDATE MARCH 2021: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a publishing deal.
UPDATE MARCH 2022: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a publishing deal.
UPDATE JUNE 2024: I've been notified by one of the authors I've helped that he received a publishing deal.
My goal here is to not have you break the bank. I understand how expensive editing can be, but every book really needs it. I get just as frustrated as the next person when I'm reading a book and find error after error, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. No one is perfect—trust me. I find mistakes in just about every book I read, including the A-List authors. I've founded errors in Harlan Coben novels, David Baldacci novels, and plenty others (including mine, even after publication!). So it happens. Editors are only human. But we want to eliminate as many mistakes as we can, so they don't take away from your work. That's what I want to help you do.
I think you'll find my services to be significantly less expensive than other editorial services. Why? Because I'm tailoring this to self-publishers, and I know, from experience, that self-publishers may not always have that much money to put into their books. But this is still my business, however, so I can't offer my time for free (I do have my own writing career, on top of a full-day day job and a family life too). We need more high-quality fiction.
Manuscript Proofreading and Line Editing
Upon payment being received, I will proofread your manuscript (fiction only) and provide line editing critique (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Your manuscript can be at any stage in the process—while the manuscript is in process, after the first draft is completed, just before publication, or anywhere in between. This service will be provided for one read-through only. For multiple reads, a discounted rate is available.
A PayPal invoice will be sent upon the receipt of the manuscript (page count will determine the price). Proofreading and line editing will begin upon receipt of payment. All prices assume standard page formatting: 12 point font, double spaced, 1" margins all around.
One-time payment via PayPal: $2.00 per page
Two payments via PayPal: (50% deposit, 50% due at completion—the edited manuscript won't be returned until the remaining 50% is received): $2.25 per page
Three payments via PayPal: (1/3 deposit, 1/3 due at mid point, 1/3 due at completion—editing stops until all payments are met; the fully edited manuscript won't be returned until the entire balance is received in full): $2.50 per page
Additional reads: 50% off standard rate
Contact me HERE to inquire about this service.
Partial Story/Developmental Edit and Critique
Upon deposit being received, I will provide a comprehensive edit and critique of your partial manuscript (fiction only). In addition to line editing (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.), I will offer up a story critique as well, including voice, character development, plotting, dialogue, pacing, setting, etc. It's your choice how much you want to send to me for feedback and critique, as it's a per page fee.
A PayPal invoice will be sent upon the receipt of the manuscript (page count will determine the price). Editing will begin upon receipt of payment. All prices assume standard page formatting: 12 point font, double spaced, 1" margins all around.
One-time payment via PayPal: $3.00 per page
Two payments via PayPal: (50% deposit, 50% due at completion—the edited manuscript won't be returned until the remaining 50% is received): $3.25 per page
Three payments via PayPal: (1/3 deposit, 1/3 due at mid point, 1/3 due at completion—editing stops until all payments are met; the fully edited manuscript won't be returned until the entire balance is received in full): $3.50 per page
Additional reads of the same pages: 50% off standard rate
Contact me HERE to inquire about this service.
Full Story/Developmental Edit and Critique
Upon deposit being received, I will provide a comprehensive edit and critique of your full manuscript (fiction only). In addition to line editing (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.), I will offer up a story critique as well, including voice, character development, plotting, dialogue, pacing, setting, etc. Your manuscript must be complete before editing will begin.
A PayPal invoice will be sent prior to the start of editing. Editing will begin upon receipt of the deposit.
One-Time Edit Flat Fee: $900 ($300 deposit, $300 due at mid point, $300 due upon completion—editing stops until all payments are met; the fully edited manuscript won't be returned until the entire balance is received in full); good for one edit
Two-Time Edit Flat Fee: $1,500 ($500 deposit, $500 due at completion of first edit, $500 due upon completion of second edit—editing stops until all payments are met; the fully edited manuscript won't be returned until the entire balance is received in full); good for two edits
Three-Time Edit Flat Fee: $2,000 ($800 deposit, $800 due at completion of first edit, $400 due upon final acceptance by the author—editing stops until all payments are met; the fully edited manuscript won't be returned until the entire balance is received in full); good for unlimited edits
Contact me HERE to inquire about this service.
Tailored Full Story/Development Edit and Critique
Have a different need? Want a full story critique but not proofreading and line editing? Is Word giving you trouble and you need your manuscript formatted? Something else? Let's open up a dialogue and find an editorial package and rate that fits your budget.
Contact me HERE to inquire about this service.