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If you’re looking for a selection of the best female book editors, we’ve featured 21 of them in the list below.
1. Jessica Hatch
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Jessica Hatch is a top-tier independent editor who honed her skills at Fox Literary LLC and St. Martin’s Press. Clients praise her collaborative approach and quick work, in part due to her experience as a writer who once even got the attention of Glimmer Train for her own short story.
Jessica performs copy editing and developmental editing services aside from proofreading and query letter reviews. She’s open to nonfiction categories such as memoirs, health, and self-improvement. On the other hand, her preferred fiction genres are women’s fiction, LGBTQ fiction, and historical fiction.
Speaking of historical fiction, Jessica is the editor of Laura Morelli’s award-winning The Gondola Maker. Similarly, she worked on Beth Aldrich’s best-selling thriller Pink Slips.
For more information about Jessica’s service rates, you can message her online.
2. Constance Renfrow
Constance Renfrow is a familiar name among authors in Charlotte, North Carolina — and for a very good reason. For one, she’s a dependable editor who also boasts a Porter House Review Prize for The Urg, her fantastic short story. Second, her master’s degree in fiction from Pacific University ensures that she has a clear grasp of compelling storytelling.
Before becoming a freelancer, she served as an assistant editor and lead editor for Skyhorse Publishing and Three Rooms Press, respectively. Constance currently offers copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessments.
She has edited nonfiction like memoirs and cookbooks, but her expertise lies in literary fiction. Aside from this genre, Constance is also highly experienced in YA fiction, historical fiction, short stories, and LGBTQ fiction, among others.
Two titles in her superb portfolio are Johanna Drucker’s Downdrift and Vaugn C. Hardacker’s thriller The Fisherman.
Interested writers can request a quote with ease.
3. Shana Murph
Situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Shana Murph has worked in the publishing industry for at least two decades. With her bachelor’s degree in English (with a minor in technical writing), she began her career as a developmental editor for Elsevier. Consequently, she honed her editing skills at Perseus Books Group, David C. Cook, and Wolters Kluwer.
Whether you’re looking to be traditionally published or venture into self-publishing, Shana can help you refine your manuscript. She’s excellent at copy-editing, assessing, and proofreading projects, but Shana’s even better at developmental editing.
Shana edits African-American fiction and literary fiction. Likewise, she’s adept at nonfiction projects that focus on topics like medical education, African-American culture, and history.
Some nonfiction titles she edited are Michelle Graff’s The Compassion Fatigued Organization and Drew Westen’s The Political Brain.
For details about her service rates, you can contact Shana here.
4. Andrea Baugher
Andrea Baugher is a veteran editor from Columbus, Ohio. While she started as a technical writer in 2008, she has since worked as an independent copy editor (and proofreader). Zaner-Bloser, Red Line Editorial, Quarasan, McGraw-Hill, Press Box Books, and Teacher Peach can all vouch for her marvelous work ethic.
Her copy-editing and proofreading services apply to a ton of nonfiction categories. She specializes in educational books for kids, but she’s also a worthy editor of biographies and projects about animals, religion, and current issues.
From Lori Fromowitz’s technological Building a Computer (How It’s Done) to Tammy Gagne’s Artificial Organs (Engineering the Human Body), Andrea has shown many times why she’s an in-demand editor.
If you need an outstanding copy editor, consider asking Andrea for a quote.
5. Williamaye Jones
One of the best book editors in Houston, Texas, is Williamaye Jones. Before going to Spalding University to attain her master’s degree in creative writing, she already got a bachelor’s degree in creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Furthermore, Williamaye has been an independent editor since 2003. From HarperCollins to Sterling Publishing, she’s worked with several reputable publishers and has handled more than 1,200 titles.
Given her extensive work experience, Williamaye’s copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessments are available for both fiction and nonfiction. She prefers genres like paranormal romance, crime, and romance in fiction. As for nonfiction, Williamaye loves memoirs and books on well-being and food.
She is the editor of Chloe Neill’s vampire romance The Hunt (A Devil’s Isle Novel) and Lisa Thomas’s Dirty Dining: An Adventurer’s Cookbook.
Feel free to ask Williamaye for a quote.
6. Jessica Lee Anderson
Another solid choice from Texas is Jessica Lee Anderson. Based in Austin City, she’s been an editor for 15 years and has written more than 40 books for young readers. She tells lots of stories, but it doesn’t mean she skimps on quality either — Jessica even won the Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature.
Currently, this editor offers editorial assessments and developmental editing services. You can submit a work of fiction if it’s in the realm of fantasy, middle-grade fiction, picture books, or YA novels. Similarly, Jessica encourages authors of children’s non-fiction to send her an inquiry.
From P. J. Hoover’s dystopian romance Solstice to Christine Marciniak’s Once Upon a Princess, her editing work continues to amaze authors.
For a quote, message Jessica here.
7. Kate Lockwood
San Diego, California, is home to the industrious and keen-eyed Kate Lockwood. Like many others on the list, she’s an editor who also wrote her own books. Thus, Kate knows all about writer struggles, allowing her to quickly identify elements in need of improvement.
She’s worked for publishers like Houghton Mifflin, Hameray Publishing, and Scholastic. And since 2013, Kate has served Silver Dolphin Books as its editorial director.
Copy editing, editorial assessments, and developmental editing are Kate’s major services. Moreover, she focuses on children’s fiction and non-fiction, which is why her portfolio includes works like Alex T. Smith’s How Winston Delivered Christmas and Ian Graham’s award-winning Smithsonian Build the Rocket.
Kate is available for contact online.
8. Alyssa Matesic
Alyssa Matesic studied at New York University, earning a certificate in book publishing and a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature. By 2018, her professional career already included working at Gibson Square Books, Macmillan, The Book Group, and Penguin Random House.
Situated in San Francisco, California, Alyssa has edited hundreds of manuscripts over the years. Whether it was developmental editing or editorial assessments, her services had the author’s purpose, style, and business interests in mind.
Likewise, Alyssa loves editing fiction. She’s open to working on genres from sci-fi and women’s fiction to historical fiction and literary fiction. Two novels in her portfolio include Stephanie Barron’s That Churchill Woman and Catherine Steadman’s best-selling Something in the Water.
Send her a quote for more details.
9. Margaret Diehl
Located in New York, New York, Margaret Diehl holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire. She clearly made the best of her education as she eventually became an acclaimed author (of both fiction and nonfiction) and received the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.
For more than 10 years, Margaret has supported fellow writers in taking their work to the next level. In particular, her copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessment services cover biographies, memoirs, and fiction genres such as fantasy, short stories, and paranormal romance.
Margaret edited Louise Franklin’s Ravenstone and Hala Aylan’s Salt Houses, the latter of which has been awarded as the book of the year by Kirkus Reviews and NPR.
You should definitely contact Margaret if you’re in a creative rut.
10. Bethany Davis
In 2015, Bethany Davis entered Rowman & Littlefield as an assistant acquisitions editor. By 2018, she was the editor-in-chief of The Author Incubator. Today, this freelancer from Denver, Colorado, assists writers right from brainstorming book ideas to getting their manuscripts ready for publishing.
Bethany’s services include proofreading, copy editing, and editorial assessments. Likewise, her editing applies only to nonfiction writing. Her preferred topics include relationships, health, religion, business, memoirs, and self-improvement.
On a related note, two of the business books she edited are Michelle Hoffmann’s The New Management Blueprint and Lina Betancur’s Millionaire Business Culture.
To know more about her service rates, message Bethany online.
11. Kelly Lydick
For the last 15 years, Kelly Lydick has been editing manuscripts across fiction and nonfiction — all while writing her own exquisite selection of stories and musings. Apart from being an editor at Perseus Books for six years, she also provided her skills to International Artist Publishing and Immanence Journal.
Copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessments are her services. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Kelly likes poetry, romance, and mystery & crime in fiction. As for nonfiction, she’s primarily intrigued by travel and business & management.
A couple of entries in her prolific portfolio are Bill Wallace’s Awakening Our Discernment and Arvid Kahl’s entrepreneurial book titled Zero to Sold.
New and veteran writers alike can learn a lot from her editing. Request a quote if you need her guidance.
12. Julie Scheina
Julie Scheina is one of the most experienced and successful editors in all of Washington, DC. For one, she worked as the senior editor of Little, Brown and Company for more than six years. Furthermore, Julie has examined over 200 books, several of which have spent weeks on bestseller lists and received high praise.
Her services apply to fiction. In particular, her strengths are in the developmental editing and editorial assessments of picture books, middle-grade fiction, and YA fantasy. Consequently, Julie’s interested in new adult fiction and those that tackle social issues and family themes.
If you’ve seen Naoko Stoop’s renowned Red Knit Cap Girl and Kelly Barnhill’s Iron Hearted Violet, you know how impeccable Julie’s editing is.
Aspiring authors can determine her rates with a quick message.
13. Skye Loyd
Situated in Seattle, Washington, Skye Loyd is the founder of Edit Guru and has a minor in English from Brigham Young University. If those weren’t enough, she’s a part of the Editorial Freelancers Association and has worked for big publishers of scholarly texts like SAGE and Wiley.
With two decades of experience in editing nonfiction titles about science, education, and history), Skye is surprisingly adept at historical fiction and YA fiction as well. You can’t go wrong with her proofreading, copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessments.
Skye is the editor of Steve Goodhew’s Sustainable Construction Processes. Likewise, she recalibrated the storytelling prowess of Paul A. Broome’s Girls Who Don’t Believe.
If you’re eager to work with her, request a quote.
14. Caroline Macon Fleischer
Caroline Macon Fleischer is a godsend for authors who feel that their stories are unusual or unorthodox. Based in Chicago, Illinois, she loves stories with odd settings, frank dialogues, and compelling characters.
As for her educational background, she has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a master’s degree in writing and publishing — and she’s a recipient of the StoryStudio Stories Matter Award. Caroline also worked for Rose Metal Press and Curbside Splendor Publishing before becoming an independent editor.
Her main offerings are copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessments. She deals with memoirs and biographies in nonfiction. Under fiction, Caroline’s choice genres include women’s fiction and literary fiction.
In her portfolio, you’ll discover Anthony Michael Morena’s one-of-a-kind The Voyager Record and Kelcey Parker’s historical fiction Liliane’s Balcony.
Writers can ask for rates and appointments by contacting Caroline here.
15. Elizabeth Thurmond
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Elizabeth Thurmond was an editor for not only Disney Publishing Worldwide and Belkin International but also Dreamspinner Press and Luna Station Quarterly. Currently, she’s a freelancer and is one of the copy editors of Hallmark Books.
Elizabeth provides proofreading and copy-editing services on a wide variety of categories in fiction. Some of her preferred genres are sci-fi, romance, urban fantasy, YA fiction, and mystery & crime.
Interestingly, she’s also edited historical fiction like Elia Kazan’s America, America and Eoin Colfer’s huge fantasy hit Artemis Fowl.
Prospective clients can ascertain Elizabeth’s rates and availability with a quick inquiry.
16. Lindsay Conner
In 2005, Lindsay Conner began her career as a production editor for Wiley Publishing. During her stay of more than seven years in the company, she developed her skills in not only editing but also in teamwork and time management. Overall, Lindsay now boasts well over 15 years of relevant experience.
Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this editor specializes in nonfiction titles about travel and DIY & crafts. If you have a project in either field, you can request her editorial assessment, proofreading, developmental editing, and copy-editing services.
Aside from travel guides like Ashley Niedringhaus’s Frommer’s Thailand, Lindsay also edited William R. Pogue’s biography But for the Grace of God.
Request a quote to begin working with Lindsay.
17. Julie Cantrell
Julie Cantrell loves writing — and people clearly love her for it too. From appearing on bestseller lists to receiving Christy Awards and Carol Awards, this established author has mastered the art of storytelling. Now, this Houston-based author, book coach, and editor is offering her high-caliber assistance to you.
For over two decades, Julie has worked with individual clients and publishers of all sizes. From ClearSky to Zondervan and HarperCollins, her editorial assessments and developmental editing continue to be in high demand.
Julie works on both fiction and nonfiction. However, her preferred genres are literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and memoirs, among others. A couple of books in her portfolio are Chris Field’s A Billion Hours of Good and Sarah Elisabeth Lawyer’s historical fiction Touch My Tears.
You can contact Julie for further inquiries.
18. Ashley Strosnider
With a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of South Carolina, Ashley Strosnider began her journey in the publishing industry. Since then, she’s been in organizations such as Milkweed Editions, CreateSpace, Publishers Weekly, History Press, and Prairie Schooner.
Ashley’s copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessments cover fiction and nonfiction. In particular, this editor from Nashville, Tennessee, loves working on literary fiction, romance, and short stories. On the side of nonfiction, Ashley is highly familiar with business books and memoirs.
To see the quality of her editing, check Helen J. Darling’s Terms and Conditions and Kim Hooper’s Tiny.
Ashley usually prepares projects months ahead, so you should message her immediately to ask about the earliest available slots.
19. Alex Messina-Schultheis
Alex Messina-Schultheis lives in Chicago, Illinois, and studied basic manuscript editing at the University of Chicago. She’s an expert in examining books for young readers and has provided her skills to Cottage Door Press, Albert Whitman & Company, and PBS Kids.
As you may expect, Alex offers copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessment services to children’s nonfiction, picture books, YA fiction, and middle-grade fiction. Still, she’s open to editing adult books as well, particularly holiday fiction, romance novels, and nonfiction titles about relationships.
Some of the books she helped develop include Megan E. Bryant’s Glow and Nancy Churnin’s The Queen and the First Christmas Tree.
You can ask Alex about her editing services here.
20. Jain Lemos
For the past 16 years, Jain Lemos has shaped the book industry for the better, one manuscript at a time. Based in Dallas, Texas, she loves working with everyone from newbie writers to companies like Chronicle Books, National Geographic, and HarperCollins.
Although Jain is mainly a developmental editor, she also offers one of the best copy edits and editorial assessments in the entire state. Thanks to her unmatched research skills, she edits nonfiction projects like no one else.
From biographies to cookbooks and self-help books, Jain is there to help — and she’s well-equipped to handle historical fiction too. A couple of edited books under her belt are Thomas R. Hummel’s A Journey Through Literary America and Deborah Chud’s The Gourmet Prescription.
Feel free to contact Jain to set an appointment.
21. Tiffany Tyer
Situated in Fort Worth, Texas, Tiffany Tyer went to UC Berkeley and earned a certification for finishing the Professional Sequence in Editing. Since then, she’s established herself in the publishing industry by working for Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Entangled Publishing.
Tiffany conducts copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessments on nonfiction books about travel and health. However, her top category is romance fiction and its subgenres like historical romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance.
From Melanie Martins’s billionaire romance Blossom in Winter to Stacy Wise’s Maybe Someone Like You, Tiffany’s editing skills never falter.
Message Tiffany online if you want her to check your love story manuscript.