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Are you a romance writer?
Have you written a novel and are looking for romance publishers accepting submissions? Here are 21 for you to take a look at.
If you’re not ready to send your manuscript to a publisher or a literary agent because you still need to get your book edited, below you’ll find 17 top providers of romance novel editing services.
Note: Always due your due diligence before choosing an editor including any of the following to edit your book. Ensure you are happy with the individual’s experience and editing approach.
1. Sherri Shackelford
Since 2012, Sherri Shackelford has been an author whose works have been published by the esteemed HarperCollins. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, she specifically caters to romance novelists. Sherri knows the particular concerns and creative obstacles facing indie and budding authors alike.
Her professional services range from proofreading and editorial assessments to copyediting, query letter reviews, and developmental editing. Do you need help to refine certain characters and plot concepts in your book? Sherri can review your story notes and provide priceless suggestions.
Her portfolio includes M.A. Jewell’s shifter romance Jungle Salvation and Debra Hines’s Call Me Mandy.
You can contact Sherri online to learn more about her availability and rates.
2. Dylan Garity
Based in New York City, Dylan Garity is the editor of hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books, some of which made their way into bestseller lists. He was also the vice president of Button Publishing, Inc. for nearly seven years. This executive-level experience gives him a rare insight into what truly makes a book ready for publication.
Dylan specializes in genre fiction like fantasy and crime fiction. Furthermore, he likes working on literary fiction and virtually any type of novel including middle-grade, YA, and romance. Aside from copyediting, this freelancer conducts book coaching, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessments.
Over the years, Dylan’s editorial portfolio has grown to incorporate the likes of Cristin Harber’s military romance The Protector and Nancy Adams’s contemporary billionaire romance The Beginning of Loss.
Feel free to request Dylan a quote.
3. Katie Wall
Katie Wall’s passion for the literary world emerged early on. In high school, she dipped her toes in fiction writing and editing (to the benefit of her bibliophile peers). English and creative writing were her major pursuits in college. To add, this editor from Vancouver, Washington, has a certification in book coaching.
With a decade of relevant experience, Katie delivers top-notch proofreading, copyediting, book coaching, and developmental editing services. Some of her favorite genres to read and edit are romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. Previously, she worked on Debbie Gilliland’s religious Christian romance To Comfort A King.
Katie is available for inquiries online.
4. Caroline Knecht
Situated in Cleveland, Ohio, Caroline Knecht is one of the go-to editors for romance fiction in all shapes and forms. Equipped with a master’s degree in fiction writing, this university teacher (and former writing coach) knows the foundations of great, attention-grabbing writing like the back of her hand.
Caroline primarily issues developmental editing and copyediting services to authors. She has done them for more than a decade — including for big-time companies like HarperCollins and Skyhorse Publishing. Of course, she is open to editorial assessments.
From rom-coms and contemporary romance to paranormal romance and historical romance, Caroline’s preferred genres will surely attract writers of love stories. Browsing through her portfolio, you can find Susan Liberty’s romantic suspense Bound by Love and Anna Bradley’s More or Less a Countess.
Interested authors can quickly request a quote.
5. Valerie Gray
Valerie Gray earned her education degree at the University of Leeds and completed a course at Ryerson University. Coming from Vancouver, Canada, she has been editing novels for at least two decades. With her top-tier guidance, Valerie consistently elevates the storytelling prowess of new and well-established writers alike.
Her editing experience in fiction covers not only romance and erotic fiction but also literary titles and historical fiction. For example, Valerie edited Robyn Carr’s bestselling women’s romance fiction Virgin River and Bella Andre’s contemporary romance If You Were Mine.
If you’re on the lookout for a professional with proven skills in copyediting, assessments, query letter reviews, and developmental editing, you should certainly message Valerie online.
6. Joseph Nassise
A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Joseph Nassise unfailingly meets the high standards of his clients because he’s a successful author himself. His novels have made waves intentionally and earned the recognition of literary critics. As such, his freelance editing service is incomparable.
Speaking of services, Joseph offers editorial assessments, development edits, and copy edits. He works a lot on genre fiction like sci-fi and horror. Still, he doesn’t mind taking on other facets of fiction — and the same applies to nonfiction.
One of Joseph’s genre specialties is paranormal romance, which you can instantly guess from viewing his portfolio. He is the editor behind novels like Kimbra Swain’s Bless Your Heart and Karpov Kinrade’s I Am the Wild.
Prospective clients can request a quote from Joseph with ease.
7. Rebecca Hughes
Since 2003, Rebecca Hughes has continuously advanced her editing skills to remain competitive in the publishing industry. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Rebecca possesses a unique outlook on New York, Germany, and Japan. This has been unexpectedly advantageous to writers who set their stories in the aforementioned locations.
Rebecca’s detailed approach, from scheduling payments to documenting edits, ensures that both parties receive exactly what they need. Clients can avail of copy edits, developmental edits, and assessments for projects in narrative nonfiction, women’s fiction, new adult fiction, and romance fiction, among others.
Whether in fiction or nonfiction, Rebecca’s preferences revolve around books that deal with matters of the heart. One such title she edited is Michelle Perry’s romantic suspense novel The Three Motives for Murder.
You can message Rebecca to know her availability and rates.
8. Kenneth Zink
Kenneth Zink is an exceptional editor from the scenic hamlet of Port Ewen in New York. His collaborative process recognizes editing as a crucial component for stories to truly find their footing. Consequently, he opens his services to writers whether they want traditional publishing or self-publishing.
This editor balances the need to constructively commend and criticize the literary output of his clients. Kenneth does this with his proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, and editorial assessment services in nonfiction and fiction genres such as mystery, sci-fi, and romance.
Kenneth’s editorial portfolio contains not just Michelle St. James’s gothic romance Ruthless but also Mira Lyn Kelly’s hilarious sports romance Dirty Player.
Writers can always check Kenneth’s client reviews and ask for his service rates online.
9. Maria Lewytzkyj-Milligan
Boasting a portfolio of more than 50 titles, Maria Lewytzkyj-Milligan shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. For her, book editing is a skill (with different subtypes) that she can only master if she continues to work on new projects. Thus, this freelancer from Sebastopol, California, doesn’t take any manuscript for granted.
At present, Maria conducts everything from the usual copyediting and developmental editing services to stylistic editing and structural editing. She tackles sci-fi, historical fiction, and different nonfiction topics. And thanks to her experience in fiction ghostwriting, she is also an adept editor of romance novels.
Request a quote from Maria when you’re ready.
10. Blair Parke
Blair Parke is an author and editor from Orlando, Florida. A bookworm since childhood, she has been an editor for many publishing companies such as The Ghost Publishing, 4 Horseman Publications, and Xulon Press. Now, Blair is opening her freelance services to individual writers in dire need of literary guidance.
Romance is the go-to genre for Blair when it comes to fiction editing. As for nonfiction, she is well-versed in books about motivation, health, and Christian living. Blair produces comprehensive and timely outputs for services like proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing.
Some romance titles under her editorial care include Nick Savage’s erotic romance The Fairlane Incidents and Mimi Francis’s adorable contemporary romance Our Two-Week, One-Night Stand.
Blair is open to new clients and inquiries alike.
11. Alexandra Ott
Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alexandra Ott utilizes her experiences as a published author (by Simon and Schuster, no less) to sharpen her editing capabilities. She studied at the University of Tulsa and learned about editing during her internship and work at Nimrod International Journal and Entangled Publishing.
Alexandra offers all the essential editing services: developmental edits, editorial assessments, copy edits, and proofreading. She specializes in young adult and middle-grade fiction. Still, Alexandra clearly has the talent for genres like romance, fantasy, and dystopian sci-fi.
Alexandra’s peerless editing is apparent in her clients’ projects. These include Alicia Crofton’s new adult romance To My Muse, With Love and Gina Gordon’s spicy contemporary romance Recipe for Temptation.
Romance writers can request a quote with a simple click.
12. Dominic Wakeford
With editorial roles at publishing giants Little, Brown and Company and HarperCollins, Dominic Wakeford has positioned himself as one of London’s high-profile editors. As if his past work stints aren’t enough, he also went to The Publishing Training Centre to learn more about proofreading.
Dominic is proficient in performing structural edits, copy edits, developmental edits, manuscript reviews, and query letter evaluations. Thus, he can help clients with refining their projects to better attract agents and publishers. His preferences cover nonfiction and fiction genres like commercial fiction and romance.
His portfolio is brimming with popular and lauded titles across genres and reader demographics. If you want to know how he deals with romance, check Justin Myers’s contemporary LGBTQ+ romance comedy The Last Romeo.
You cannot go wrong with hiring Dominic as your editor. If you believe the same, message him for pricing and availability.
13. Shannon Cave
Based in Seattle, Washington, Shannon Cave is an author looking to help other writers succeed through her editing services. Her ever-expanding clientele includes first-time authors, best-selling novelists, and self-published writers.
You can expect invaluable feedback when you avail of Shannon’s developmental editing, proofreading, and copyediting services. She is a first-class editor of romance and mystery fiction. However, she’s also no slouch when it comes to fantasy, suspense, women’s fiction, and even business nonfiction.
Shannon’s enthusiasm for love stories is undeniable. A quick gander at her portfolio unveils Mo Fanning’s LGBTQ+ holiday romance Ghosted and Manda Mazanec’s thrilling military romance And There You Were.
If you value the utmost professionalism in an editor, contact Shannon immediately for a quote.
14. Adrienne Kisner
As the author of three critically acclaimed novels, Adrienne Kisner holds the secret ingredients to literary success — and she’s ready to share them today with willing authors. Residing in Boston, Massachusetts, she has a master’s degree from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University.
Adrienne offers a comprehensive array of services ranging from developmental editing to proofreading. Even if her own novels cater to the YA demographic, she capably edits fiction for middle-grade readers and adults as well.
Her genres include romance, sci-fi, and Christian fantasy. One noteworthy book in her editorial portfolio is Celyn Kendrick’s Green Hills and Daffodils, a paranormal romance novel.
Do you have questions about her services and pricing? If so, Adrienne is available for contact.
15. Lindsey Alexander
Lindsey Alexander holds a master’s degree in fiction and a certification in copyediting and proofreading. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and worked for three years at the esteemed HarperCollins as an assistant editor. In addition, she is a part of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
This editor has a clear grasp of the English language. She can proofread your writing to suit the language as it’s used in the UK, US, Canada, or Australia. Moreover, Lindsey’s copy edits and developmental edits are available for nonfiction (history, biography, business) and fiction (romance, crime, women’s fiction) projects.
From Rhys Bowen’s historical romance The Venice Sketchbook to Elle Casey’s comedic women’s romance Amber, her editorial projects are sure to garner the attention of novice and established romance authors alike.
Writers can avail of Lindsey’s editing services online.
16. Elizabeth Ridley
With nearly 30 years of relevant experience in the book industry, Elizabeth Ridley possesses knowledge of writing and editing that few can match. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she authored five traditionally published novels and held editorial roles at The Quarto Group and Writer’s Digest.
This seasoned professional makes copy edits, developmental edits, manuscript corrections, and editorial evaluations. Elizabeth is amenable to every genre of fiction, especially literary fiction and contemporary romance. In nonfiction, she prefers pop culture, instructional materials, and sports, among others.
Elizabeth also has plenty of experience in editing romance subgenres other than contemporary romance. Some noteworthy examples include Victorian mystery romance (Anne Stuart’s Never Marry a Viscount) and Scottish medieval romance (Barbara Longley’s The Highlander’s Vow).
Interested authors can immediately request a quote.
17. Tanu Srivastava
Are you looking for an editor specializing in books for young readers? If so, the New York-based Tanu Srivastava is your ideal pick. Previously, she was an assistant editor at HarperCollins and an editorial intern at Penguin Random House and Scholastic.
Like the best editors out there, Tanu employs a collaborative and suggestive approach to her work. She does not force her clients to adhere to all her proposed changes. Tanu specializes in middle-grade and young-adult fiction, but she’s open to adult fiction and any genre like romance, comedy, and mystery.
Her editing portfolio has no scarcity of simultaneously best-selling and acclaimed romance books. You’ll find hits like Michelle Quach’s clever and hilarious YA romance Not Here to Be Liked and Eliot Schrefer’s LGBTQ+ space sci-fi romance The Darkness Outside Us.
There is high demand for Tanu’s quality editing, so you should contact her as early as possible to reserve an appointment.
Some More Top Romance Novel Editing Services
18. Stephanie Taylor
In 2010, Stephanie Taylor from Athens, Alabama, established her own business, Astraea Press. There, she discovered her passion for editing and had the pleasure of working with authors who eventually became bestsellers in the US. To this day, she serves as its chief editor and hopes to give more promising writers their time to shine.
Stephanie specializes in romance and YA fiction. Other than these, she loves composing developmental edits and copy edits, and editorial assessments on fantasy, sci-fi, crime, thriller, mystery, women’s fiction, and Christian fiction.
Romance fiction of all shapes and sizes dominates Stephanie’s portfolio. Some of these projects are Lori Crawford’s Christian suspense romance Royal Opposites and Vivian Roycroft’s Regency romance Scandal on Half Moon Street.
Stephanie will gladly discuss pricing details if you send her a quick message.
19. Sophia Blackwell
Hailing from London, UK, Sophia Blackwell is a standout editor, author, and renowned poet. She started providing editing services in 2010 and has polished titles printed by Oxford University Press and Penguin. As for her academic credentials, Sophia studied language and literature at Oxford University and went to The Publishing Training Centre to learn more about relevant industry skills.
This freelancer follows a detailed procedure for each project. Sophia prepares structural edits, line edits, developmental edits, and copy edits. Writers can ask about book marketing and join her on Zoom calls to clarify and elaborate on her editing remarks.
Sophia works on both fiction (contemporary romance, LGBTQ+ fiction, romantic comedy) and nonfiction (music, memoir, writing). She also gets repeat clients because of her outstanding edits. In particular, she edited two of Frances M. Thompson’s bisexual romantic comedies, namely, Five Sunsets and The Moon Also Rises.
Writers can always ask Sophia online about her rates and availability.