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If you’re an author based in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and are looking for opportunities to submit your book to publishing houses, here are 16 top book publishing companies in Maryland.
If you’re still at the editing stage though, and require an editor near you, take a look at the following 17 top book editors in Maryland.
Note: Finding a good editor takes time. Research some editors with expertise in editing the genre of your book, contact them to find out how they respond to you and to learn about their editing method, request sample edits, and ensure your completely happy before proceeding.
1. Jackson Tucker
Jackson Tucker is a professional editor with years of experience behind him. After getting his start in the publishing industry in New York at companies like iDebate Press and Kevin Anderson and Associates, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he now works as a publisher’s representative for Macmillan. He offers services including copy editing, editorial assessment, proofreading, developmental editing for writers, and help with creating and finessing query letters.
Through his current work at Macmillan, Jackson has become an education specialist, and he continues to love working on books about education, writing, and publishing. In addition to those, however, he’s also capable of editing works including LGBTQ non-fiction and books on political science and current affairs, as well as dystopian fiction or short stories. His portfolio includes titles like “The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch” by Bill Sarpalius, “Speak Up!” by Kate Shuster and John Meany, and “Linear Algebra with Applications” by Jeffrey Holt.
Speak to Jackson Tucker today!
2. Maggie Loughlin
Baltimore, Maryland, is home to Maggie Loughlin, a former English teacher turned writer and editor. Her approach of passing on honest, firm feedback in a sympathetic tone speaks to her background in education, featuring stints teaching in the public school system. Teaching has not only taught her how to connect emotionally with her clients as an editor but has also meant accruing experience in some key technical skills, like fluency in Canadian, British and American English, and familiarity with the MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides.
Maggie provides writers with a reliable third party who can help with developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and even indexing. She prefers to work with genres including coming of age, fantasy, LGBTQ fiction, romance, and women’s fiction, as well as LGBTQ non-fiction material.
Reach out to Maggie Loughlin now.
3. Kim Ledgerwood
Award-winning editor Kim Ledgerwood has been a self-employed editor for over 20 years. She holds a Mobius award for excellence in radio and a number of American Advertising Federation Awards for her work in advertisement. Her freelance business was founded in 2001, after leaving her post at her former workplace, the Tombras Group, as a copywriter and broadcast producer.
Writers can go to Kim for help with picture books, short stories, or women’s fiction. She also has experience with non-fiction genres like biographical books, business, management, health and well-being, and true crime books. “Room for Rent,” by Anton J.S. Keating, “Renew & Flourish” by Maria Vigo McMacken, and “Retire in Peace: How to Achieve the Retirement You Deserve” by M Andrew Riddle, are a few samples of her work that represent the eclectic diversity her work represents.
Speak to Kim Ledgerwood for more information.
4. Pnu Mead
A published author, professional editor, and a passionate family member, Pnu, or Purnima, Mead provides copy editing services for writers of children’s books. Her diverse professional background and range of interests – with experience in film production, teaching, and writing prose and script – Pnu is an enthusiastic individual who is eager to connect with writers.
Since 2009, Pnu has been working as a self-employed writer and editor, developing screenplays for her range of books, Bibia Books. For a writer who is eager to work with an editor with equal amounts passion and drive, Pnu is a perfect fit. For an idea of her vision and style of writing, her samples of writing, including “Bibia Meets Gripper” will give you a good idea of her approach.
Take a look and see if working alongside Pnu Mead is something that might interest you!
5. Joseph Ross Angelella
Author of the acclaimed “Zombie: A Novel,” Joseph Ross Angelella is a professional writer and editor. With an MFA in fiction writing from Bennington College, he offers freelance developmental editing and editorial assessment services to contemporary fiction, horror mystery, and young adult fiction authors for the last twelve years.
In addition to his career as a self-employed editor and writer, Joseph has held various positions within the writing industry. From his days teaching writing at Gotham Writing Workshop in New York City to his current job as a senior lecturer at the University of Maryland, Joseph’s credentials and commendations as an author do not come without cause. “Travels with the Doggie Lama” by Lily Tanzer, “Who done it?” by Jon Scieszka, and “Returning Souls” by Ernestine B. Columbo are a few titles you may want to take a look at to sample Joseph’s editing work.
Consult Joseph Ross Angelella about your own book today!
6. Denise Mespelli
Denise Mespelli works out of Annapolis, Maryland as a self-employed editor, proofreader, and transcriptionist. A certified teacher with post-graduate credentials from Notre Dame of Maryland University, she brings the same passion to editing that she does to the classroom. After teaching at Lumen Christi High School from 2012 to 2016, Denise has been working as a freelancer for about five years to date.
The literary professional offers copy editing and proofreading services to writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction books and historical fiction and books on home and garden, parenting, and political science. Her insightful editing can be seen in “Why Lean Transformation Fails: Common challenges to adopting new leadership and management system” by Steven Leuschel.
Reach out to Denise Mespelli to start a conversation.
7. Audra Russell
Bringing together her skills in journalism and education, Audra Russell is passionate about working with others to improve their writing. The professional editor holds undergraduate academic credentials in journalism and a Master’s of Science in Education to back up her natural talent as a communicator.
Audra offers proofreading services for both fiction and non-fiction literature. She’s interested in reviewing African-American fiction, contemporary fiction, romance, and urban fantasy books, as well as non-fiction books about agriculture, biographies, home & garden, and writing. With over four years of experience in her craft, writers can trust that Audra Russell is someone they can rely on.
Start a conversation with Audra Russell today.
8. Anna Brailow
Well-versed in Canadian, American, and British English, Anna Brailow is a trained editor with academic credentials in writing and literature. With a Master’s of Arts in Literature from American University, in addition to completing her undergraduate studies in writing and communication from Transylvania University, Anna is the owner of The Urban Writers, a professional editing and revision service.
Through The Urban Writers, Anna has been delivering developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading since 2020. She works on anthologies, classics, coming of age fiction, cultural and ethnic fiction, and fantasy, as well as non-fiction genres like biographies and books on education and health.
Learn more about Anna Brailow and her service here.
9. Kerin Forsyth
With over 20 years of experience working freelance as a copy editor, Kerin Forsyth is someone that you can rely on to provide you with accurate, clear edits on your next writing project. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the publishing professional specializes in editing non-fiction books on education, new age, and technology.
Rave reviews from past clients speak to Kerin’s ability to deliver top-quality edits that are meaningful and contribute to the writing process. Her many years of experience mean that writers will benefit from technical correction and advice on stylistic changes and how to approach the publishing process from someone with quite a bit of experience in this process. “Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self” by Robert Waggoner, “Beginning & Intermediate Algebra” by Elayn Martin-Gay, and “Business Driven Information Systems” by Paige Baltzan and Amy Philips are a few titles that demonstrate the strength of Kerin’s work.
If you write non-fiction, you’re going to want to make time to speak to Kerin Forsyth.
10. Diana Joiner
Maryland’s Diana Joiner is a professor editor and writer who focuses on non-fiction books such as career guides, books on travel, and inspirational material. Diana has been offering both proofreading and copy-editing as a freelancer since 2014, the personal turning point in her career when she moved away from a career of teaching and dedicated herself to editing instead.
Although she’s continued her own freelance business, Diana has also been successful at working with companies as well, holding positions as a copywriter with the fashion website South Moon Under and as a content writer for Primitives by Kathy. Her portfolio includes her editorial contributions to books by Monika Kanokova, including “My Creative (Side) Business: The insightful guide to turning your side projects into a full-time creative business (Insightful Guides for Freelancers)” and “This Year Will Be Different: The insightful guide to becoming a freelancer.”
Share your literary vision with Diana Joiner and let her show you how she can elevate it to a new level.
11. Elizabeth Koozmin
Elizabeth Koozmin has won multiple awards for books she’s worked on, including the Geoscience Information Society Best Guidebook Award in 2006 and 2010. With an academic background that includes a Master’s degree in Geographic and Cartographic Science and professional background of over 39 years working for the U.S. Geological Survey, she is an unrivaled authority when it comes to publishing non-fiction books on environmental sciences and geography.
Elizabeth’s offered services as an editor and writer for the last three years, since 2018, as a freelancer under the name of Catoctin Editorial Services. Whether you are looking for copy editing, editorial assessment, or developmental editing, Elizabeth comes highly recommended by past clients and is backed by an impressive portfolio of successfully completed projects. “Geology of the National Region Field Trip Guidebook Circular 1264” by Scott Southworth and William Burton, “Coal” by Stanley P. Schweinfurth and “Unbridled Spirit: The Untold Story of the 2018 Extraordinary Palio in Siena, Italy” by Thomas W Paradis are a few titles that demonstrate her ability.
Speak to Elizabeth Koozmin for more information.
12. Sabrina Leroe
With contributions that have been successfully published by reputable organizations such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Harvard University Press, Sabrina Leroe is an experienced editor who is worth working with on non-fiction material. She can deliver top-quality proofreading and copy editing for biographies, books on business, computers, philosophy or physics and chemistry, in addition to other non-fiction like Christian non-fiction.
Sabrina has been self-employed as an editor since 2014 and has worked with a wide range of authors, NPOs, and companies. She contributed to Ikechuku Chigewe’s “Chronicles: The Journey of A Legal American Immigrant,” “Eros and Illness” by David B. Morris, and the academic guide “Java to Python” by Igor Vishnevskiy.
Trust Sabrina Leroe to take your book one step closer to publication.
13. Amani Salahudeen
Writer, editor, designer, and much more, Amani Salahudeen is a talented publishing professional with an eye for details and years of experience in the field. She offers copy editing, proofreading and query letter reviews for coming of age fiction, cultural and ethnic fiction, and epic fantasy, as well as non-fiction biographies and memoirs.
Amani has experience writing professionally for companies like The Tempest, Muslim Girl, and Fansided, where she currently works as a contributing writer. Her experience as a writer as well as an editor allows her to provide insightful comments and accurate estimates as to word count and scheduling. “We Free The Stars” by Hafsah Faizal, “Rise of Knight and Sword” by Miriam Wade, and “Love from A to Z” by S.K. Ali are a few works that Amani Salahudeen has contributed to as a professional editor.
Look to Amani Salahudeen for your next work in progress.
14. Paula Williamson
From Annapolis, Maryland, Paula Williamson is a professional editor who is currently employed at Rowman & Littlefield as an associate production editor. She specializes in doing copy editing and proofreading for books on history, music, and true crime. In addition to her academic experience majoring in English, her varied interests have made her a quick study on topics that may be new to her, allowing her to understand and edit books of just about any genre.
Paula’s experience with academic writing will be attractive to writers who require an understanding of the Chicago Manual of Style in their editors. Additionally, she has professional-level familiarity with the different nuances of British and American English. To check out some of her work, be sure to pick up some of the books in her portfolio, such as “The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, The Secret Service, and the Fight Over America’s Premier Law Enforcement Agency” by Willard M. Oliver, and “Listening to Mendelssohn: An Owner’s Manual” by David Hurwitz.
Paula Williamson will give you a fresh perspective on your writing – speak to her now!
15. Tim Lewthwaite
Award-winning writer Tim Lewthwaite is also a professional editor with a long history of excellence. He’s written dozens of books over a career spanning more than two decades. At the same time, he has developed his reputation as an editor with an incredible focus on detail and nuance while respecting the original writer’s vision and tone.
Tim holds a post-graduate degree in writing and has won multiple awards for his own writing, including “HORN,” the book that was a finalist for the Indie Excellence Award. He’s worked as the director of publications and brand for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2004. His freelance editing services, in copy editing and proofreading, focus on action, adventure and thriller fiction, and non-fiction books on nature and writing.
Tim Lewthwaite will be able to bring your books on nature and wildlife to a new level with his invaluable input.
16. Katherine Sharpe
You would be hard-pressed to find a more qualified editor in the state of Maryland than Katherine Sharpe. She holds a Master’s degree in English literature from Cornell University and an MFA in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. In addition, she has years of experience working as a copy editor for companies and publications like The Hopkins Review, She Writes Press, ReadyMade Magazine and the Seed Media Group.
Along with the previously mentioned positions that Katherine’s held in the past, she’s also been a freelance writer for over 14 years, editing and publishing her own work. Her experience working within a company structure and as a freelance allows her to provide valuable input to authors looking for direction on how to proceed with her book. She edits mainly for non-fiction, on subjects including biographies, cooking, health, humanities, and self-help, as well as literary fiction and short stories. “The Liability of Love” by Susan Shoenberger, “Motherlines: Love, Longing and Liberation” by Patricia Reis, and “The Legacy of Us: A Novel” by Kristin Contino are a few examples of the level of work that Katherine Sharpe is capable of delivering.
Reach out yourself and start a conversation with Katherine Sharpe today.
17. Rebecca Coleman
Rebecca Coleman started freelancing as an editor in 2003 and has not looked back. The Annapolis, Maryland-based professional works on non-fiction books on sex, relationships, and travel, as well as novels categorized as contemporary fiction, LGBTQ fiction, literary fiction, new adult, romance, or women’s fiction.
She’s experienced in the entire publication process and offers developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and query letter reviews to authors looking for an experienced editor. Writers will particularly appreciate the experienced, level-headed manner in which she approaches her process, evidence of someone who has worked with as many writers as Rebecca. For proof of what she can help you accomplish, take a look at some of the books in her portfolio, like “The Dreamers of Gotham” by Jenny Mercer, “Key Weirder” by Robert Tacoma and “Goddess Fire,” a book by Meg Westley.
Just like all the other writers that she’s helped succeed, Rebecca Coleman is here and ready to get your book to where it needs to be.
Some More Top Book Editors in Maryland
18. Ethan Goffman
A professional editor specializing in non-fiction literature on earth and environmental sciences, humanities, nature, political science, and transportation, Ethan Goffman is always excited to look over a new manuscript. Ethan has been a self-employed environmental and transportation writer since 2003 while editing for organizations like CSA, ProQuest, and Mobility Lab.
Along with his professional background, Ethan also holds a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University. His editing services extend to developmental and copy editing, editorial assessment, and reviewing on query letters. His experience and personable demeanor make him a perfect fit for an author looking for a new perspective and a supportive voice. “The Poetry of Louise Glück: A Thematic Introduction” by Daniel Morris and “Liberia’s Political Economy: An Examination of Public Institutional Quality” by Stephen H. Gobewole are a few examples of books that have benefited from a once-over from Ethan.
Speak to Ethan Coffman now!
19. Renee Stockdale-Homick
Renee Stockdale-Homick has experience working in the publishing world as a writer, editor, content manager, and project coordinator. After serving as the editor for the American Association for the Advancement of Science for over four years, Renee left the company in favor of self-employment in 2019. She has been providing independent developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading services as an independent ever since.
Renee’s editing is for authors of a variety of genres, from books on economics, history, and political science, to children’s non-fiction and middle-grade fiction. From being a project coordinator to being a content manager with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, her professional background is hard to find in another editor, particularly for writers in the niche fields that are Renee’s specialties. “Big Brain Book: How It Works and All Its Quirks” by Leanne Boucher Gill, Ph.D., “Summer Lifeguards” by Elizabeth Doyle Carey, and “Sociology through Literature: A Study of Kaaroor’s Stories” by S. Devadas Pillai are some of the published books that make up her lengthy portfolio.
Find out more about Renee Stockdale-Homick!
Have you worked with any other book editors in Maryland? Please tell us about your experiences below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.