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If you need a list of Catholic book editors, below we’ve featured 19 of the best for your convenience.
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1. Barry Hudock
Award-winning editor Barry Hudock has years of experience working on Catholic literature, among other genres. Based in Albany, Minnesota, He graduated with a BA in English from Gannon University, an STB in Theology from Gregorian University, and an STL in Sacramental Theology from the Catholic University of America. In 2020, he won first place in the Pope Francis Category of the Catholic Press Association Awards.
From 2011 to 2018, Barry worked as a publisher with Liturgical Press. Since that time, he’s been working as an independent editor, developing editing, copy editing, proofreading, and indexing for fiction and non-fiction writing, including biographies, Christian non-fiction, history, short stories, and science fiction. “Overdue: A Dewey Decimal System of Grace” by Valerie Schultz, “Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States” by Massimo Faggioli, and “Desert Dangers and Delights: Stories, Teachings and Sources” by John Michael Talbot are among the books that he’s edited.
Speak to Barry Hudock now.
2. Gina Mushynsky
Based in Syracuse, New York, Gina Mushynsky is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. She completed her undergraduate studies in English at the University of Buffalo. Her focus is Christian and Catholic non-fiction books, including inspirational books and prayer, and inner healing.
Gina’s professional experience includes over six years working at Virtucom Group as an assistant editor, performing checks for grammar and clarity, and optimizing text for SEO. She has worked on books published by Crossroad Publishing, Pearson, Anaiah Press, and 5 Fold Media. Her portfolio includes “Loving for Real: An Honest Book for Youth” by Pierre Herve Grosjean, “well-being the World: The Vision of 20th Century Catholic Authors” by James D. Whitehead and Evelyn Eaton Whitehead, and “Walking on Water: Simple Certainties to Live By” by Anthony de Mello.
Contact Gina Mushynsky to learn more about what she can offer.
3. Natalie Silver
With many years of experience editing for a traditional publishing house, Natalie Silver is an experienced copyeditor who can be an objective voice in your ear as you make adjustments to your manuscript. A specialist in editing non-fiction texts, Natalie provides copyediting and proofreading for books on education, health and well-being, music, religion, and psychology. She works out of her current location in Havertown, Pennsylvania.
Natalie’s expertise becomes apparent from a cursory look at her competencies and work history. She has completed work that’s gone on to be published by the University of Illinois Press, Templeton Press, and others, and is familiar with the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style, and American Psychological Association (APA) Style. After working at Templeton Press as a managing editor for eight years, she decided to start working freelance and has been a self-employed editor since 2013. “Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character” by Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono, “The Big Picture: A Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life” by Christine B. Whelan, and “Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History” by Rodney Stark are some of the books she’s edited.
Rely on Natalie Silver to help refine your writing!
4. Christine McKnight
With her impressive editing portfolio of books on food and drinks, many overlook Christine McKnight’s ability to work on manuscripts from other genres. While the award-winning editor from Chester, Pennsylvania is best known for her work on culinary-related books, she also has experience in other non-fiction categories, including business, Christian non-fiction, parenting, weddings, and health and well-being.
Christine’s professional history started at John Wiley & Sons, Inc, where she worked in different editing positions. All told, she spent about eight years at the company before starting to freelance as an editor in 2012. She’s edited for authors like Rene Laurentin, who wrote “Mary in Scripture, Liturgy, and the Catholic Tradition” and “Living the Days of Lent” by Sister Ellen Dauwer SC. and Sister Mary E. McCormick SC.
Go to Christine McKnight for support on your next book.
5. Erika Zabinski
St. Paul, Minnesota, is home to Erika Zabinski, a professional editor with a background in religious topics. She is proficient in creating standard and specialized indexes, utilizing professional indexing software to make access and usage user-friendly. Her expertise extends to Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and Christian church history, in addition to other non-fiction topics like philosophy, history and geography.
Erikas has been an independent editor and indexer for about six years. She has edited books that have been gone through reputable publishers such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Brill. A number of titles that she has edited are “Verbum Domini and the Complementarity of Exegesis and Theology (Catholic Theological Formation Series (CTF))” by Scott Carl, “The Cambridge Companion to the Council of Nicaea (Cambridge Companions to Religion)” by Young Richard Kim, and “The Cambridge Companion to Augustine’s City of God (Cambridge Companions to Religion)” by Fr. David Vincent Meconi S.J.
Erika Zabinski is a professional that you can rely on for your next work in progress.
6. Jen Weers
Jen Weers is a professional indexer and editor from St. Paul, Minnesota. She is a member of the American Society for Indexing (ASI) and has expertise in indexing for texts related to business, management, cooking, education, health, religion, and spirituality. Since 2013, she’s been an independent editor and indexer, a role that she holds to this day.
Past clients wholeheartedly recommend Jen’s work, commenting on her professionalism, positivity and clear communication. For writers who are working with a vast amount of material that might seem daunting to organize and then revise, Jen is a professional who will help you bring all those ideas into a cohesive unit that will seem much more manageable. “Neighbors: Christians and Muslims Building Community” by Deanna Ferree Womack and “The Conformity: Manifestation, Proclamation, Exaltation” by Bartholomew of Pisa, Christopher Stace, and William J. Short are a few books that Jen Weers has edited.
Speak to Jen Weers for additional details on the professional services that she provides.
8. James MacGuire
A former board member of the Anglosphere Society, James MacGuire currently serves as managing editor of the Catholic Herald, a respected publication of the Catholic faith in America. The New York-based editor is also a freelance editor who places a particular focus on developmental editing. He enjoys taking the original writing of authors and showing them new and innovative ways to improve it.
James has years of previous experience working in different fields, most notably Fortune 500 companies and print, TV, and digital media companies. His vast and varied experience in communications make him the perfect person to provide feedback for writers looking to get input on their work. He’s also written a number of titles himself, including “The Catholic William F. Buckley, Jr.: Portsmouth Review,” “Worlds Within Worlds: A Father’s Poems and Prayers,” and “Out of Time: Surviving the Sixties.”
Speak to James MacGuire and see how his unique set of expertise might be helpful for you!
9. Trinity McFadden
Local to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trinity McFadden has worked in publishing for over a decade, proofreading and copyediting biographies, Christian non-fiction, and books on political science and self-improvement, among others. She’s helped books successfully publish with HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Baker Publishing Group and has experience working in text written according to the Chicago Manual, Associated Press or Christian Writer’s Manual styles.
Trinity’s professional background traces back to 2007 when she started freelancing as an editor and proofreader. To date, she’s been working as an independent for over fourteen years. At the same time, she’s had experience working at professional publishing companies, including the Baker Publishing Group, SpartanNash, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Her portfolio includes “Rome’s Audacious Claim: Should Every Christian Be Subject to the Pope?” by Paul Pavao, “Making Hard Work A Habit & Success A Hobby” by Clay Schurwon, and “Broken Vision” by Terall Greene.
Go to Trinity McFadden to work with someone who can give your book professional feedback that you will benefit from.
10. Jessica Routhier
South Portland, Maine is home to professional editor Jessica Routhier. A specialist in art and museum publications, Jessica has worked as a freelance editor, writer, and proofreader for over two decades. Her competencies include developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and indexing for books on art, religion, and spirituality, in Canadian English or American English.
Along with her years of experience as a freelancer, Jessica has also benefited from working as an editor at traditional companies, such as L.L. Bean and Panorama, Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art. Her experience shows in the books she’s helped edit, from “Transmitting the Spirit: Religious Conversion, Media, and Urban Violence in Brazil” by Martijin Oosterbaan, to “In No Strange Land: The Embodied Mysticism of Saint Philip Neri” by Jonathan Robinson.
Let Jessica Routhier what your book is about and how you might benefit from her expertise!
11. Sarah Seddon
Bolton, in the United Kingdom, is home to Sarah Seddon, who delivers copyediting and developmental editing for non-fiction books like biographies and Christian non-fiction, in addition to children’s books, comics, and short stories. She holds an undergraduate degree in literature and a postgraduate degree in inclusive education.
Sarah worked for a number of years in education, first as a Skills for Life and Work Tutor at Bolton College and then as a Skills for Life Officer at Alliance Learning. She changed her professional direction in 2014 and since then has been working as publications manager for Don Bosco Publications. Written works that Sarah has edited include “A Salesian Way of Life” by David O’Malley, “An Advent Journey: An exploration of the Gospel readings for the weekdays of Advent” and “Walking with Luke: Thematic Studies in the Lukan Narrative with Reflections, both by Michael T Winstanley.
You can speak with Sarah Seddon and learn more about what she services she delivers by going here.
12. Misti Moyer
Equipped with her Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing and certification in Proofreading and Copyediting 101, Misti Moyer is ready to support authors from her location in Austin, Texas. The Texas native offers copyediting and proofreading services for authors of Christian non-fiction. Misti prides herself on her command of the English language, mastery of English grammar, and ability to structure English phrases to increase coherence.
Misti has been a freelance copyeditor and proofreader since 2018. In addition to her expertise in Christian non-fiction, she’s comfortable editing biographies, romance novels, and books on business. She edited the “In School With Jesus: Connecting Teachers and Students in the Bible Each Day” series, as well as “Uncorked: The Life Story of Jon I. Cork” by Stephen A Salaycik, and “Confluence: John Gottschalk’s Life of Duty, Service, and the Business of News” by George Ayoub.
Speak to Misti Moyer about your manuscript and how she might be able to help you.
13. Ellen Gable Hrkach
Along with years of accumulated knowledge and experience, Ellen Gable Hrkach has received high commendations for her writing and editing. The Canadian editor and writer, from Pakenham, Ontario, was the recipient of the RHS Alumni Hall of Fame Award in 2018 and the 2010 gold medallist in the category of religion fiction at the IPPY Award for her book “In Name Only.”
Ellen’s editing services extend to copyediting, developmental editing, and proofreading. From young adult and women’s fiction to Christian non-fiction and books on education and biographies, she has completed countless edits that have successfully improved their quality. “A Subtle Grace” by Ellen Gable, “The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections,” a CatholicMom.com book, and “Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary” by Sarah Reinhard are a number of titles that Ellen Gable Hrkach has contributed to as an editor.
Connect with Ellen Gable Hrkach today.
14. John L. Barger
In 1983, John L. Barger helped found Sophia Institute Press in Manchester, New Hampshire. He’s well-versed in editing, including copyediting and developmental editing, he’s been instrumental in getting more than 500 Christian books published. To this day, John works at Sophia Institute Press, which maintains its standards as one of the area’s most reputable publishers.
One thing that sets John’s service as an editor apart is his all-rounded understanding of the publishing world. He’s able to provide writers with his insight on what makes a book successful, be it Christian non-fiction, or books on business, biographies, education, or philosophy. “Conquering Coronavirus: How Faith Can Put Your Fears to Rest” by Teresa Tomeo, “Faith and Fury: The Rise of Catholicism During the Civil War” by Fr. Charles Connor, and “How Catholic Art Saved the Faith: The Triumph of Beauty and Truth in Counter-Reformation Art” by Elizabeth Lev are among the hundreds of books that he’s edited and helped publish.
Speak to John L. Barger for details!
15. Carol Nicotera-Ward
Washington, D.C., in the state of Maryland, is home to Carol Nicotera-Ward, a copywriter with a keen eye for grammatical inconsistencies and linguistic issues. She offers independent copyediting and proofreading services, after ending a fifteen-year-long career at WedMD where she served as copy chief. She’s certified in both editing and management skills, and writers will benefit from both of those skill sets as they work with Carol.
Carol has been responsible for editing both fiction and non-fiction, from humor and thrillers, to books on religion, medicine, and humanities. Her own writing ability allows her to empathize with authors, while her command of English grammar allows her to offer writers critical reviews of their work. Literature that she’s edited includes “College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family” by Steven Roy Goodman, Ph.D. and Andrea Leiman, and “John of Old, John of New: The Awakening of an Apostle” by Sharon Prince.
Connect with Carol Nicotera-Ward and tell her about your manuscript!
16. Cathy Dee
Certified editor and publisher Cathy Dee is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and looks to work alongside authors towards improving their writing. With almost three decades of experience editing for Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., there’s no question that Cathy’s professional experience will benefit any author who works with her. She’s also active on social media and is involved in app development, which is a benefit for any writer who might be interested in moving in less traditional routes of publishing or promoting their work.
Cathy’s editing services includes copyediting, editorial assessments, proofreading and reviewing query letters. She works on books about action and romance, as well as non-fiction books on religion and spirituality. She’s helped bring a number of books to publication, including “Sisters in Crisis: The Tragic Unraveling of Women’s Religious Communities” by Ann Carey, “Catholic Almanac’s Guide to the Church” by Matthew Bunson, and “Catholic Book of the Dead” by Ann Ball.
Working with Cathy Dee is an experience that will be enriching for you as a writer and one that will result in an improved finished product!
17. Maureen Shelley
Local to Tweed Heads, New South Wales in Australia, Maureen Shelley is a professional writer, editor and publisher with over two decades of experience in the industry. She is a managing editor of the Small Publishers of Australia, and has been working there since 2012. Prior to her shift to publishing and editing, Maureen also worked as a journalist and copyeditor with News Corp for twelve years.
Maureen’s focus is squarely on non-fiction literature, including books on business, Christian non-fiction, computers, economics, and law. She’s comfortable providing expert-level proofreading, editorial assessments, developmental editing, and copyediting to literature written in Australian English. “CHATSWOOD CATHOLIC CEMETERY” by Joan Newman Antarakis, “Hope in 60 Seconds” by Agnew Graham, and “Rest in print” by Mitchell Filby are a few titles that Maureen Shelley has helped to edit and bring to publication.
Rely on Maureen Shelley for your next manuscript!
18. Nikki Thompson
For over a decade, Nikki Thompson has been working in the publishing industry in multiple roles, from writer, designer, marketer, and copyeditor. Today, she specializes as a freelance editor and can be contacted through online freelance platforms such as Fiverr.
Based in Perham, Minnesota, she has experience delivering copyediting and proofreading to clients. She has edited books on business, design, and parenting, as well as biographies and self-help material in the past. From 2012 to 2013, Nikki worked as a copyeditor at Liturgical Press, gaining valuable experience in working with Catholic texts as well. Her portfolio includes books like “The Crown of Monks” by Smaragdus of Saint-Mihiel, “Hope Sings, So Beautiful: Graced Encounters Across the Color Line” by Christopher Pramuk, and “When the Gospel Grows Feet” by Thomas M. Kelly.
Nikki Thompson is excited to speak with you and learn more about how she can assist your next work in progress!
19. Ola Czajkowski
Ola Czajkowski is an experienced children’s book editor based in Hawthorne, New Jersey, in the United States. She graduated with a major in English from Gettysburg College and served as children’s book editor for Paulist Press from 2016 to 2020. She’s now freelancing and providing a level of excellence that would benefit any author, providing clear corrections and advice on alterations and adjustments to improve the text.
Ola’s focus is largely on developmental editing and editorial assessments. She is an incredibly creative individual and, aside from her professional experience in children’s literature, has a personal interest in science fiction, fiction, and LGBTQ+ literature. If you’re interested in looking at some of the books she’s edited in the past, take a look at “The Parables of Jesus” by Marie Aubinais and Clotilde Perrin, “Ignatius of Loyola” by Pedro Rodriguez-Ponga SJ, and “My Time With God” by Cecilie Fodor and Gustavo Mazali.
Speak to Ola Czajkowski, an experienced editor of Catholic children’s books in the United States.