Book Editors

Freelance Book Editors for Hire: 23 of the Best in the Publishing Biz

The image of an author is usually that of a hermit, cloistered in their study pounding away at their manuscript. Though that describes the initial writing process well for some, that’s certainly not where it ends. No matter what route you choose to go when publishing – traditional or independent – an editor can help you whip your novel into shape, whether through a developmental edit or a detailed-focused copy edit. If you’re looking to hire a freelance book editor to go over your novel, check out these 23 professionals below.

1. Jeff Hart

Alongside editing, Jeff Hart is an author himself, having published the YA novels Eat, Brains, Love and Undead With Benefits, so he keenly understands the trials and tribulations of writing a book. Being both an editor and an author has given Jeff a unique perspective on both sides of the editorial process. Additionally, he’s worked as a creative consultant and a ghostwriter crafting YA novels for major publishing houses.

Fun Fact: Jeff’s novel Eat, Brains, Love was shortlisted for the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers.

Speciality Genres: Action and adventure, fantasy, literary fiction, middle grade, science fiction, thriller and suspense, young adult

2. Michelle Martire

Michelle Martire has experience across the wide sphere of publishing, having worked at both academic and trade publishers. Currently a portfolio manager at Taylor & Francis, she oversees various academic journals, dealing frequently with authors and editors alike. Over the past eight years, she has committed herself to helping authors hone their craft. For Michelle, freelance editing is a way to get back to what she loves most about writing and editing: tapping into the core of an author’s story.

Fun Fact: During a semester abroad in college, Michelle studied Victorian and Modernist Literature at Oxford University – two of her favorite periods in writing history.

Speciality Genres: Chick lit, literary fiction, romance, young adult fantasy

3. Cynthia C

Cynthia has over 15 years of developmental editing under her belt, and a host of other accomplishments to go along with it. She was the editor-in-chief and founder of the literary magazine, Prick of the Spindle, and the founder of Aqueous Books, a publisher focused on literary fiction. Many of the books she’s edited over the years have been published by Penguin Random House, including The Natural Order of Things by Kevin P. Keating. Cynthia’s vast experience across genres and industries – everything from editing nursing journals to ghostwriting business books – gives her a thorough and detail-oriented eye when it comes to editing fiction.

Fun Fact: For many years, Cynthia was the managing editor of Victoria Magazine, a women’s lifestyle magazine founded by Conde Nast.

Specialty Genres: Contemporary fiction, literary fiction

4. Jesse Coleman

Jesse Coleman started his publishing career as an associate editor at Farrar, Strauss and Giroux where he edited and developed multiple award-winning books, including Secret Historian by Justin Spring, a National Book Award finalist, and HHhH by Laurent Binet, a National Book Critics Circle finalist. One of his goals as an editor is to amplify the voices of those with incredible stories to tell and help them reach the largest possible audience. In an effort to democratize the editing process, Jesse left traditional publishing and co-founded an editorial company that focuses on providing amateur and self-published authors with professional editorial services.

Fun Fact: Other big names Jesse has worked with are two recipients of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Derek Walcott and Mario Vargas Llosa.

Specialty Genres: African American fiction, contemporary fiction, mystery and crime, art, biographies and memoirs, history, and political science and current affairs

5. Lucy Vilankulu

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lucy Vilankulu has over 25 years of editorial experience ranging from fiction to nonfiction. Not everyone can say their portfolio includes paranormal romance and annual reports for ad agencies. For eleven years, Lucy worked with occult publisher Llewellyn Worldwide, which gave her a solid foundation in alternative spirituality and genre fiction like romance and YA. Though she’s worked with many established authors, she’s just as excited to introduce first time authors to the world of publishing.

Fun Fact: Lucy was the editor and director of Minnesota Literature, a monthly publication of literary news, publications, and industry opportunities published continuously from 1974 to 2009.

Specialty Genres: African American fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, young adult, biographies and memoirs, health and wellbeing, history, and political science and current affairs

6. Sasha Boyce

With more than a decade of experience editing novels for Penguin Random House and Harper Collins, Sasha Boyce knows what it takes to shape a good book into a great one. Some books in her extensive portfolio include Naomi Novik’s The Last Graduate and Rick Riordan’s Daughter of the Deep. Her degrees in English, editing, and social work allow her to thoroughly examine a story and how well it works on all levels, from macro to micro. Sasha also knows a thing or two about self-help books as she’s currently the lead editor at LiveWell Publishing.

Fun Fact: Sasha began her career when she was just fourteen years old reviewing novels for pocket change.

Specialty Genres: Contemporary fiction, romance, thriller and suspense, young adult fantasy, and self-help and self-improvement

7. Robert Kenney

Based in Rhode Island, Robert Kenney is a developmental editor with twenty years of experience freelancing as an editor and proofreader for ad agencies. In 2014, he decided to leave the world of ads behind to start his own editorial services company. With a focus on fiction and memoir, Robert is committed to helping first-time writers and experienced authors alike create page-turning novels.

Fun Fact: Robert is highly-rated by his clients! His testimonials are glowing: “For any writers still wondering if they need to hire an editor  — you do — and I would highly recommend Robert Kenney for the job. Professional, prompt, talented, eagle-eyed, critical but kind — Robert gave me exactly what I asked for and I can’t wait to implement his top notch suggestions.”

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, dystopian, historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery and crime, romance, science fiction, and short story

8. Carmen Smith

Carmen Smith has ten years of editing experience and an MA in English — and she’s not afraid to use it. She dreams big and wants to help the authors who work with her do the same. Some of her accolades include leading a writing workshop with the National Endowment of the Arts Big Reads program, being the chief editor for world’s largest online HR encyclopedia, and editing Chip Heath’s New York Times bestseller, Making the Numbers Count, which has sold over 3 million copies. Making your content smooth, crisp, and compelling is Carmen’s ultimate goal, and she hopes to make each of her clients a bestseller whether they self-publish or go to traditional publishing.

Fun Fact: Carmen has cycled across the USA, built a tiny house, and sailed the SOC.

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, business and management, health and wellbeing, inspirational, LGBTQ non-fiction, psychology, self-help and self-improvement, and poetry

9. Steven Moore

Steven Moore has over a decade of experience editing books through his own editorial services company, Condor Publishing. The inspiration for his company was Steven’s own struggle trying to find a quality editor while working on his first novel, and since then he has worked to provide self-published authors with everything they require to meet their editing needs. He’s helped Robert J. Power, author of the popular Spark City series, and William Miller, best-selling author of Jake Noble action thriller series, make their books the best they can be.

Fun Fact: Steven has two rescue cats, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and one rescue puppy, Charles Dickens.

Specialty Genres: Action and adventure, dystopian, and epic fantasy

10. Justin Brouckaert

Justin Brouckaert has held a number of different roles in the publishing world, from co-agent to editorial assistant, and his journey to becoming a publishing professional was anything but straightforward. Before becoming an editor he held a variety of jobs, being everything from a journalist to a Burger King employee. His unconventional journey gives him a unique perspective on all the books he helps edit and publish for his clients. Many of the books he’s worked on, like Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton and Fierce Love by Dr. Jacqui Lewis, were published by Big Five publishers.

Fun Fact: Justin writes a newsletter about the publishing world, the writing life, and the search for creative balance, called SUBLURBIA.

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, health and wellbeing, parenting and families, self-help and self-improvement, sex and relationships, sports and outdoors, travel, and literary fiction

11. Caroline Knecht

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Caroline Knecht has over ten years of experience as a developmental and copy editor. While her MFA taught her all the rules of writing, she’s here to teach writers how to break them. One of her focuses as an editor is on developing character, as she feels this is one of the most important aspects of a novel. She especially enjoys working with emerging writers and helping them develop their voice.

Fun Fact: Caroline has worked either freelance or in-house as an editor for Skyhorse Publishing, Kensington, Simon & Schuster, McGraw-Hill, and HarperCollins.

Specialty Genres: Contemporary romance, historical romance, horror, humor and comedy, literary fiction, mystery and crime, paranormal romance, and romantic comedy

12. Larissa Melo Pienkowski

Larissa Melo Pienkowski knows her way around the publishing world. Now a literary agent, she started out her career as an editor at indie presses like Barefoot Books, Dottir Press, and Beacon Press, after graduating with an MA in publishing and writing from Emerson College. Since then Larissa has gone on to work with large publishers like Tor Books, Macmillan, St. Martin’s Press, and many more, editing books like Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell and Flash Fire by TJ Klune. Her undergraduate degree in social work heavily influences her editing as she’s committed to preserving the author’s voice and illuminating diverse experiences with compassion and integrity.

Fun Fact: As an undergraduate at Simmons University, Larissa wrote and performed poetry and edited a number of literary magazines.

Specialty Genres: Coming of age, contemporary fiction, cultural and ethnic, LGBTQ fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, romance, women’s fiction

13. James Powell

Before becoming a freelancer, James Powell was an editor at Boeing for almost twenty years. Now pursuing his lifelong passion for genre fiction, he’s eager to help new writers work through the editing process and create an engaging and enjoyable story. Since then, he has edited novels like Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened by Jason Rodriguez and This Rough Old World by Brandon Barrows. His ultimate goal is to aid authors make a great book while remaining true to their voice and style. James hopes to not only be an editor to his clients, but also a writing coach, cheerleader, and teammate.

Fun Fact: James is also the writer and creator of House of Fear, a series that introduces middle grade readers to the chills and thrills of scary comics.

Specialty Genres: Comics and graphic novels, fantasy, horror, middle grade, mystery and crime, science fiction, and young adult

14. Joe Pierson

With an astounding 30 years of experience editing fiction and nonfiction, Joe Pierson knows everything there is about how to make your book shine. He offers everything from developmental edits to basic grammar and punctuation checks. Having worked with big publishers and self-published authors alike, Joe understands what goes into the process of writing and editing a novel. Whatever you’re looking for, he can help you work through all the tricky details.

Fun Fact: Joe has edited the memoirs of Carl Reiner and Neile Adams McQueen.

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, cooking, food, wine, and spirits, entertainment, sex and relationships, fantasy, literary fiction, and science fiction

15. Kerry Cullen

Having experience as both a literary agent and a publisher, Kerry Cullen can spot a story with potential from 20 paces — and help it achieve that potential. She’s also an author in her own right, and her work has been published in literary magazines like The Indiana Review and The Prairie Schooner. With the perspective of both a writer and an editor, Kerry uses her knowledge to improve novels no matter what genre they are.

Fun Fact: Kerry received her MFA from Columbia University.

Specialty Genres: Contemporary fiction, dystopian, horror, LGBTQ fiction, and short story

16. Travis Moran

Travis Moran has made himself a name in the world of sports publishing, having dedicated much of his writing and editing career to athletics. Currently an editor at TrueHoop, where he develops NBA related features, he’s also interested in helping first-time authors improve their writing and develop their ideas. In the past, Travis has aided best-selling authors and celebrity athletes with their books, working with big names like Buddy Martin and Leo Mazzone. Drawing on his skills as a writing consultant, he provides an imaginative and in-depth analysis of sports-themed stories and truly gets them to the next level.

Fun Fact: Travis is also a decorated international educator and taught writing courses at the Beijing Language and Culture University.

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, history, self-help and self-improvement, sports and outdoors, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, plays and screenplays, and short story.

17. Skye Loyd

For the past 20 years, Skye Loyd has worked with publishers like Wiley, Rowman & Littlefield, and SAGE copyediting books and academic articles. She has an eye for detail and notices everything, from comma splices to awkward turns of phrase. Now, she’s turned her attention to editing novels. Skye strives to make the writing she works on more elegant and bring an author’s unique voice forward so they can be easily understood.

Fun Fact: Skye has a wide background in art, music, and wildlife biology, and earned her bachelor’s degree in conservation biology from Brigham Young University.

Specialty Genres: Action and adventure, historical fiction, young adult, art, earth, space, and environmental science, history, life sciences, and music.

18. Samantha Zaboski

Samantha Zaboski has held various roles in the publishing industry, from a publicist at a university press to a reader at a literary agency. During her time at a literary agency, she edited and helped bring to market numerous books including The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry and The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato. Now, Samantha is ready to help authors turn their manuscripts into published novels. As an editor, she focuses on strengthening story while maintaining voice and is keen to equip authors with tactics to master voice, plot structure, pacing, and character development.

Fun Fact: Skye is also a reviewer at Shelf Awareness where she reviews adult, YA, children’s fiction, and nonfiction books.

Specialty Genres: Fantasy, literary fiction, science fiction, thriller and suspense, and young adult

19. Madeleine Nakamura

Madeleine Nakamura has eight years of editorial experience, having worked at newspapers, literary journals, tech companies, and publishing houses. For two years, she was the lead assistant editor for Red Hen Press, one of the largest independent presses in the United States with a focus in publishing literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. During her time there, Madeleine edited Your Nostalgia is Killing Me by John Weir, winner of the Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction. As an editor, she has an eye for detail that will help authors get their work from good to truly excellent.

Fun Fact: Madeleine is also an author whose debut fantasy novel, Cursebreakers, is upcoming in fall 2023 from Canis Major Books, an imprint of Red Hen Press.

Specialty Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ fiction, literary fiction, and science fiction

20. Lauren Humphries-Brooks

Since 2015, Lauren Humphries-Brooks has worked as a freelance fiction and non-fiction editor. She has worked with publishers like Tor, St. Martin’s Press, Kirkus, and Prometheus, and has a varied list of clients from award-winning authors to writers new to the publishing process. Her diverse portfolio includes Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells, Corrections in Ink by Keri Blakinger, and The Expert System’s Brother by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Lauren believes every writer has a worthwhile story, and she wants to help them make it something they can be proud of.

Fun Fact: For three years, Lauren was an academic writing instructor at Hamilton College where she taught academic and creative writing to international and multilingual students.

Specialty Genres: Biographies and memoirs, fantasy, literary fiction, mystery and crime, romance, science fiction, and women’s fiction.

21. Geoff Smith

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Geoff Smith is an accomplished editor with a wealth of experience. For six years, he was a supervising editor at Scholastic where he worked on hundreds of books across genres. When editing, Geoff looks to improve big picture issues like story arcs and characterization without losing sight of any grammatical and stylistic errors. His main focus is making an author’s prose vivid and concise.

Fun Fact: Geoff has dozens of glowing reviews on Reedsy. One client writes, “I loved Geoff’s work and I’m so happy we chose to work with each other. He did what a good editor should do — take a writer who’s in shorts and a T-shirt and put him in a fine suit. It’s still the writer, but he looks freakin’ awesome!”

Specialty Genres: Action and adventure, fantasy, LGBTQ fiction, mystery and crime, science fiction, thriller and suspense, young adult, biographies and memoirs, history, and true crime

22. Jessica Powers

Jessica Powers’s experience in publishing truly runs the gamut. Over the course of seventeen years she’s been everything from an editor to a publicist to a marketer, worked at an independent publisher focused on multicultural and bilingual books for children and adults, and even started her own publishing company. She’s also an author in her own right with nine published books under her belt, including The Confessional. Now focusing on editing, Jessica is passionate about helping other writers use their stories to bring people together and engage hearts, minds, and spirits.

Fun Fact: Jessica was named one of Publisher Weekly’s Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in the publishing industry for 2019.

Specialty Genres: Children’s, coming of age, literary fiction, mystery and crime, women’s fiction, young adult

23. Becky Wallace

Like many authors on this list, Becky is both an accomplished writer and editor, and she has twelve years of traditional publishing experience. She loves making manuscripts sparkle by increasing tension, fleshing out characters, closing plot holes, and making the pacing perfect. As an editor, she’s worked on books like Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie and Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson. Alongside her editing work, Becky is the author of four award-winning YA novels, and she’s ready to help others publish their own stories.

Fun Fact: Becky’s novel, The Storyspinner, won the Bank Street’s Best Children Book of the Year award.

Specialty Genres: Chick lit, contemporary fiction, epic fantasy, middle grade, middle grade fantasy, romance, urban fantasy, young adult

We hope you’ve found this list helpful and wish you luck in your search for a book editor!