Mystery, thriller, suspense and crime fiction
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Audio books
Some of my authors have produced audio books of the books I edited or proofread. Visit Audible to listen to samples.
A CASE STUDY FROM THE EDITING STUDIOWorking with a self-publisher
The client: Crime writer Jeff Carson came to me after he’d self-published 10 books on Amazon. He’s a superb world-builder and it was clear right from the get-go that he's a natural when it comes to plotting, pacing and characterization. He asked for my line and copyediting services.
How I helped: I worked on Jeff’s series to fix spelling, punctuation and grammar errors in his narrative and dialogue, impose consistency, and tighten up the flow of his prose. Respecting his authorial style and his characters' voices was key. In addition to the edited files, I supplied a style sheet and editorial report outlining his strengths and areas for improvement. The experience: I’m a passionate self-publishing and indie-author advocate, and editing for a series author like Jeff is a genuine pleasure and privilege. When a new David Wolf book comes into my editing studio, it’s like delving into the lives of old friends. I've been with those core characters as they laugh and love, weep and grieve, fight and flee. A few have even died along the way, and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear. Better still, though, is watching Jeff hone his craft with every new story he writes. |
A CASE STUDY FROM THE EDITING STUDIOWorking with a publisher
The client: Pan Books asked me to work on a new edition of The Rats. The first edition had been published way back in 1974 and it was Herbert’s debut novel. It was an immediate hit that would sell millions in the nearly four decades that followed. The author died in 2013 and the new edition, with a foreword by Neil Gaiman, was published a year later.
How I helped: I proofread the new edition, ensuring that no errors had been introduced at design stage, and eliminating any that had been missed in the earlier editions. Given the number of times that book had been checked over the years, one might imagine it would be spotless. Still, I found a misspelling of the protagonist’s name that had slipped through the net in the myriad previous editions – a good reminder of the importance of prepublication proofreading! The experience: Proofreading for the publisher of this big-name author was an extraordinary experience. I’d grown up on a diet of horror and chiller fiction, and devoured my own copy of The Rats at the tender age of 11. To have that very book in my editing studio 28 years later was an absolute thrill. |
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, metaphysical, supernatural and speculative fiction
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General contemporary and literary fiction
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Arts and entertainment
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Film and TV tie-ins
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Humour and satire
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Historical romance and saga
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Erotica and adult fiction
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War, military history and true crime
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Publisher clients
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I stand against prejudice, discrimination and othering, and strive to provide a safe, inclusive, respectful and supportive service for every writer I work with.
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© 2011–2025 Louise Harnby