Are you an author from New Zealand?
Are you looking for a book publisher for your first or latest book? Here is list of 21 New Zealand publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts.
If you need a literary agent to help you land a publishing contract with a decent publisher, take a look at these 4 literary agencies.
However, before you send out your book to a publishing house, or an agent, make sure it has been professionally edited by an individual such as one of the following 17 top book editors in New Zealand.
Note: Before choosing an editor including any of the following to edit your book, always do adequate due diligence.
1. Barbara Unković
Barbara Unković is both a writer and freelance editor based in New Zealand. She’s earned a Master of Creative Writing with honors from the University of Auckland and has written “The Adriatic Kitchen," winner of the Cookbook award at the 2017 Paris Book Festival. She offers proofreading services for novel-length manuscripts and short story collections.
With nearly thirty writing awards, Barbara knows exactly how to polish up a manuscript and get it ready for submission to either a literary agent or publishing company. If you’re interested in working with Barbara, the best way to contact her is via email. Be sure to provide a bit of information about your manuscript, including its genre, title, approximate word count, and estimated deadline (if applicable) so that she can provide you with an accurate project quote.
2. Adrienne Charlton
Adrienne Charlton is the founder and operator of AM Publishing New Zealand, a book publishing and editing service. Adrienne herself has published roughly 145 books, so she’s no stranger to knowing what makes a great manuscript standout from the competition. She loves to work with projects about classical music, history, archaeology, photography, theater, animals, food and wine, travel, and computers.
Having earned a Diploma in Book Editing, proofreading and Publishing, Adrienne offers a variety of editing services like proofreading, copy editing, full book editing, book design, and manuscript formatting. Rates can vary depending on the type of service requested and the length of your project, but her average rates usually fall between $60 NZD to $75 NZD per hour. You can always contact Adrienne for a more accurate project quote either via email or through her website’s online contact page.
3. Donna Blaber
Donna Blaber is a freelance writer and editor based in New Zealand with over twenty years of experience in the literary world. Donna herself has published more than forty books and has experience as a journalist and travel and lifestyle article writer. She has earned an MA in Creative Writing and is an official member of the New Zealand Society of Authors. She is happy to work on both fiction and nonfiction manuscript projects.
Donna offers editing and proofreading services to help identify and correct issues with spelling, grammar, overall plot structure, continuity, tense, flow, and more. She is happy to provide all interested authors a free, no obligation quote upon receipt of a manuscript sample. If you’re interested in working with Donna, you can contact her through her website’s online contact form.
4. Sue Copsey
Sue Copsey is a freelance editor with an impressive amount of expertise based out of Auckland, New Zealand. With over twenty years of experience as an editor in both the UK and New Zealand, Sue has edited over 150 different titles for a wide range of genres. She specializes in nonfiction titles, educational material, children’s fiction, young adult fiction, and general genre fiction. Sue is also an official member of the New Zealand Society of Authors and the New Zealand Book Council.
Editing services that she offers includes developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and manuscript formatting for ebook and print publication. Her rates for developmental and copy editing begin at $45 NZD per hour, while her rate for proofreading starts at $35 NZD per hour. She notes that these are “at-a-glance" rates, and is more than happy to provide with you with a more accurate project quote depending on your manuscript’s length and level of editing you require. If you’re interested in working with Sue, you can contact her via email.
5. Marlene Ditchfield
Marlene Ditchfield is an independent writer and editor based in Wellington, New Zealand. She has former experience as a journalist and has spent a great deal of time writing about local government and formal correspondence. Marlene is also a published author, so she has a thorough knowledge of what’s expected by literary agents and publishing companies. She is able to work alongside authors to write and edit their manuscripts, as well as offer editing services to those authors with completed manuscripts. If you’re interested in working with Marlene, the best way to reach her is either to call or send her an email for more information.
6. Judy Mohr
Judy Mohr is a freelance writer and editor who founded Black Wolf Editorial Services. She holds a Certificate of Professional Editing and Proofreading from Open Colleges Australia and is an official member of both The New Zealand Society of Authors and Romance Writers New Zealand.
She offers a multitude of editing and writing services, including manuscript assessments, book doctoring, substantive editing, developmental editing, and line editing. She offers a wide range of editing packages that vary in price depending on the length of your manuscript, which you can review here. If you’re interested in working with Judy, you can contact her either via email or through her website’s online contact form.
7. Penelope Todd
Penelope Todd is an independent book editor based in New Zealand who has previous experience working for companies like Longacre Press, Gecko Press, and Rosa Mira Books. She loves to work on fiction and creative nonfiction titles, but is open to accepting manuscripts of any genre and length.
Services that she offers includes manuscript assessments, structural editing, copyediting, and manuscript synopsis and writing sample assessments to prepare writers for submission. If you’re interested in working with Penelope, you can contact her through her website’s online contact form to request more information of a project quote.
8. Mary Egan
Mary Egan is the founder and operator of Mary Egan Publishing, a book publishing and editing service based in New Zealand. She works with her two daughters, Anna and Sophia Egan-Reid, to provide exceptional book editing services to authors. She’s worked on projects like “The Wind at my Back" by Josh Komen, “Lengthening the Shadow" by Dave Burt, and “Donato and the Cartege Blade" by Fiona Jordan.
Services that Mary offers includes project management, copyediting, internal and cover layout and design, manuscript layout and typesetting, proofreading, and publicity and distribution. Her copyediting rates begin between $60 NZD to $80 NZD per hour, while her proofreading rates begin between $40 NZD to $60 NZD per hour. These rates depend on the length of your manuscript, the genre, and the estimated deadline for return (if applicable). If you’re interested in working with Mary, you can use her website’s online contact form or reach her via email for more information or to get started.
9. Matthew Fulton
Matthew Fulton is the founder and editor of The Book Editor, an editing service based out of Auckland, New Zealand. He is able to assist with proofreading and book editing for children’s books, and the self-publishing author of both fiction and nonfiction. Matthew is even able to assist with the self-publishing process, book market and sales strategy, and offers writing mentorships.
He offers his proofreading services for $40 NZD per hour, basic editing services for $45 NZD per hour, and comprehensive editing for $60 NZD per hour. Matthew is happy to provide a free sample edit of the first 1000 words of your manuscript to see if your styles are compatible. For more information about his editing packages, or to express your interest in working with him, you can reach Matthew via email.
10. Laura Williamson
Laura Williamson is a freelance editor who work with Drill Press, an writing and editing service based in Wanaka, New Zealand. She previously worked as the Deputy Editor for On Magazine and has previous experience teaching English and journalism. She’s even written several of her own original books, a testament to her knowledge of the publishing industry. Laura prefers to work on nonfiction titles.
Services that she offers includes proofreading, copyediting, and structural editing. Her stand rate begins at $60 NZD per hour, but rates can vary depending on how extensive edits are and the length of your manuscript. For a more accurate project quote, you can always reach out to Laura via email.
11. Barbara Else
Barbara Else is one of the founding editors of TFS Literary Agency and Manuscript Assessment Service. She is a freelance book editor and writing mentor whose clients have gone on to win several awards and achievements like the Wattie Book Awards, the New Zealand Post Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Awards, and the Julius Vogel Award for Science Fiction. Barbara herself is one of New Zealand’s bestselling novelists and is an official member of the New Zealand Association of Manuscript Assessors.
She specializes in manuscript assessments, which is a special type of editing service that will help point out the general problems of a project so that writers can rework them. Manuscript assessments can help provide helpful feedback on your writing strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to fix them before seeking more extensive editing. This saves writers a lot of time and money by changing problem areas in advance. If you’re interested in working with Barbara, you can contact her via email.
12. Marja Stack
Marja Stack is the founder and editor at Clearlingo Editing and Proofreading, which is based in South Canterbury, New Zealand. Marja is an official member of the Institute of Professional Editors and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. She’s worked on fiction and nonfiction projects like “A Step Beyond" by John Molik, “Kiwi-as Toilets" by Jo Knox, and “Basil" by Mark Spencer.
She is able to work on projects of all types of genres and is able to provide her services to clients around the world. Editing services that she offers includes copyediting and proofreading. Her rates vary depending on manuscript length and the type of editing service you need. Marja is happy to provide you with a sample edit of your first 500 words and is able to provide you with a free project quote upon receipt of your full manuscript. You can contact Marja via email or through her website’s online contact form.
13. Maureen Lee
Maureen Lee is a freelance book editor and owner of Cushion Editing Services, based out of New Zealand. She has an extensive amount of experience working as a full-time editor for the New Zealand Parliament and has worked with companies like Huia Publishers. She’s capable of editing both fiction and nonfiction, and has a particular soft spot for children’s books.
Services that she offers includes copyediting, proofreading, fact checking, and manuscript formatting. If you’re interested in working with Maureen, you can contact her via email or through her website’s online contact form to request a free project quote or for more information about her services.
14. Nikki Crutchley
Nikki Crutchley is a freelance editor and founder of Crucial Corrections, an editing service based out of Cambridge, New Zealand. She has earned a Diploma in Publishing, Editing and Proofreading from the New Zealand Institute of Business Studies and has worked published her own writing with Flash Frontier, Mayhem Literary Journal, and Flash Fiction Magazine.
Nikki is able to work on both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts, regardless of genre or length. She offers proofreading and copyediting services to identify and correct any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and more. Her proofreading rate starts at $40 NZD per hour, and her proofreading and copyediting duo package starts at rate of $50 NZD per hour. If you’re interested in working with Nikki, you can contact her via email or through her website’s online contact form.
15. Caroline Martin
Caroline Martin is a freelance author, editor, and founder of Meerkat Editing Services based in New Zealand. With over twenty years of experience in the literary world, Caroline loves to work on books about history, travel, animal tales, and especially loves topics about Africa. Services that she offers include proofreading, manuscript assessments, writing mentorships, ghostwriting, and substantive structural editing. She offers competitive rates and highly encourages you to reach out to her for a project quote. If you’re interested in working with Caroline, you can contact her via her website’s online contact form or by telephone.
16. Lesley Marshall
Lesley Marshall is a freelance editor and owner of Editline, an editing service based out of New Zealand. She is an official member of the New Zealand Association of Manuscript Assessors and has nearly 25 years of experience working with both fiction and nonfiction projects. Services that she offers includes manuscript assessments and full manuscript edits. She especially loves to work with children’s fiction, short stories, and thriller novels. Lesley also considers herself a specialist in the editing realm of romantic fiction. If you’re interested in working with Lesley, you can send her an email to request more information and a free project quote.
17. Helen Bradford
Helen Bradford is a freelance editor and business writer based out of Wellington, New Zealand. She is an Accredited Editor (AE) with the Australian Institute of Professional Editors. Helen has roughly 25 years of experience as both a writer and editor, and has worked with companies like Voluntary Service Overseas, the United Nations, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
She prefers to work with nonfiction texts, but welcomes inquiries from all authors. Services that she offers includes structural editing, copyediting, and proofreading. For a project quote or more information, the best way to reach Helen is through her website’s online contact form or via telephone.
Are you aware of any other book editors in New Zealand? Tell us about them in the comments section below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.
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