Lovely words from lovely clients!
Read what some of my author clients have said about my editing and proofreading work.
Thomas R Weaver, thriller writer
I love the clean impact you've brought to my writing – am very happy! (on Artificial Wisdom, indie version)
Dan Flanigan, author of the Peter O'Keefe thrillers
The voyage through your edits is an intellectual and craft adventure, getting me in touch with a different
and often better way to say things.
Peter Foley, thriller writer
I'm just going through the edits now and I'm extraordinarily grateful for the work you've put in on this project. You've seriously improved the writing and enhanced everything about the story. Thank you.
Nic Winter, domestic noir author
I wanted to say a heartfelt and huge thank-you for all of your exceptional hard work. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. You have taken my words and done much more than simply polish them; you have given them (and me) a new purpose.
Daniel Garrett, mystery writer
I’ve worked hard on those opening eight chapters. They’ve been adapted in accordance with your suggestions and edits, and the impact on the beta reading team has been explosive. The raw voice of both the narrator and characters was preserved despite such powerful changes.
Nina FitzPatrick, novelist, dramatist and screenwriter
You are by far the best literary editor I've had. Your interventions are right on target, not to mention that I've learned a lot from your comments. Thank you.
Rich Leder, novelist and screenwriter
Cooking for Cannibals is a better book because of your careful, professional edit. And I'm a better writer. I can’t think of a higher compliment. But that’s the truth of it ... I'm a better writer because you edited my book.
David Unger, mystery author
I’m just now looking at your edits and, as always, they are so very good. Once again, you’ve retained the essence and helped me deliver the prose sharply.
Ram Daryanani, political thriller writer
Excellent! You really have given it a full wash and rinse! The edits and comments show me the extensive page-by-page work you have done. Many thanks for the brilliant editing.
Mark Sippings, fiction writer
Two years ago, I wrote my first book Cold Sunflowers. Having failed to get a publishing deal, I decided to go it alone and become an independent author. Everyone told me I needed a professional editor. I decided on Louise – what a stroke of luck that was.
Louise’s website is full of useful information, most of it free, but it was the edit that turned my book into a success. It was an amazing service. I didn’t think the book needed much work; how wrong I was. With Louise's edits, the book became so much tighter.
My book has well over 100 five-star reviews. Many say it was nice to read a book that has been properly edited. Cold Sunflowers made it to number 45 in the Amazon US charts and was a bestseller in two categories. Dreams do come true but, believe me, you need a professional editor to help them on their way.
Kess Goldland, thriller writer
Louise has the rare ability to refine and polish sentences with a perceptive lightness of touch, revising only where necessary, and somehow, magically, what is left on the page better captures the very essence of exactly what you wanted to say.
Deft and precise in her edit, she enhances what is written so at once it is crisper and more elegant, revealing the writer's voice by making it stronger, clearer and more eloquent. Add that she is a pleasure to work with and clearly loves what she does, and it really does become impossible to find fault with her service.
In short – if you want your writing to be better, then you need to get Louise to edit it. I can't recommend working with her highly enough.
Dare Rogers, crime thriller writer
Louise is a consummate professional and the ideal person to turn to for help with a manuscript. She made my story so much better and offered many insightful suggestions. All of which I accepted. She grasps the mindset of a writer so well; it’s as if she was there when I wrote my story.
She deeply comprehends the creative mind. She uses her expertise in English, combined with an obviously extensive knowledge of the world’s cultures, to hone a story until it's razor sharp, while still allowing the author’s voice to remain dominant.
The most wonderful thing of all was the way she kept my voice intact. I know, I said that before. But an author’s voice is a precious thing to each of us. We spend countless hours mining the dark recesses of the right brain when following our muse, and sacrifice everything for the sake of the story. We often blur the lines between creativity and logical syntax. Louise is the bright light that guides us to our end goal. To be a published author.
Josephine Vaughan, independent author
Thank you so much for the tremendous work you have put into editing my manuscript. Your expertise and observations are hugely valuable. You have instilled encouragement to go forward, and I have enjoyed the journey and learnt a great deal!
Penny LaRaza, fantasy thriller author
Thank you so much for all of your hard work on my manuscript. As a new author I was really nervous going into this part of the process but you have been an absolute joy to work with. Your advice and encouragement is something that I really value and the insight you have provided (I loved the report you sent) makes me excited to jump right in. I hope that we get to work together again soon!
Ayshe Gemedzhy, independent author
Louise is a true professional – she’s reliable and knowledgeable, but what makes her stand out and shine is her ability to immerse herself in your story. It’s as if she becomes you – sees through your eyes and recognizes your voice. From the first page till the very last, she respects the magical world you, the author, have created.
I requested samples from several editors prior to Louise. When I reviewed them I felt misunderstood. My voice had disappeared and the narrative sounded nothing like me anymore. They clearly pointed out all my weaknesses by mechanically correcting mistakes in the text, but in doing so they cut out the soul of my story.
When Louise sent me her sample, I saw the art of skilful editing at its best. She was meticulous, but so thoughtful. She eliminated the mistakes, but looked beyond them, too, amending without compromising the voices of the characters or the atmosphere in the scenes.
What I received back is the novel at its best – it’s my story, how I wrote it, but masterfully and brilliantly edited to become a work I can truly be proud of.
Rebecca Milton, fantasy fiction writer
Through all of the changes and feedback I was never once anxious. Where I struggled it wasn't because I felt awful but because you had said such lovely things that I was overwhelmed. That you made all of the changes needed with generosity and care is incredible. This is what I want to spend my life doing, and you have helped me to shed so many of my fears about doing so. It means everything. Thank you.
Jeff Carson, mystery and thriller writer
I hired Louise to copyedit my entire series (ten books). I'd used multiple editors in the past, and every time they'd fallen short of my expectations. So I dipped my toe in and started by hiring her for book one, and from the first day I felt I was working with a level of professional I had never encountered before. Then when she delivered the book back to me, I rushed to book her for the rest of my series.
Not only does she catch errors and/or places that trip up the reader, but also, time after time, she gives a concrete example of how to more clearly communicate the atrocity I’ve put on the page. "Jeff, this is tripping me up because of this … how about trying [sentence X] or [sentence Y]?" This is invaluable to me, and I think my books now have an elevated quality I couldn't have achieved without her.
I like working with people who have strong work ethics, and they don’t get stronger than Louise’s responsiveness, thoroughness, patience, skill, and professionalism. I can’t imagine publishing another work without Louise scouring it first. I wholeheartedly recommend her services ... Just don’t hire her when I need her.
[Hired for copyediting after Jeff had initially published to Amazon.]
I love the clean impact you've brought to my writing – am very happy! (on Artificial Wisdom, indie version)
Dan Flanigan, author of the Peter O'Keefe thrillers
The voyage through your edits is an intellectual and craft adventure, getting me in touch with a different
and often better way to say things.
Peter Foley, thriller writer
I'm just going through the edits now and I'm extraordinarily grateful for the work you've put in on this project. You've seriously improved the writing and enhanced everything about the story. Thank you.
Nic Winter, domestic noir author
I wanted to say a heartfelt and huge thank-you for all of your exceptional hard work. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. You have taken my words and done much more than simply polish them; you have given them (and me) a new purpose.
Daniel Garrett, mystery writer
I’ve worked hard on those opening eight chapters. They’ve been adapted in accordance with your suggestions and edits, and the impact on the beta reading team has been explosive. The raw voice of both the narrator and characters was preserved despite such powerful changes.
Nina FitzPatrick, novelist, dramatist and screenwriter
You are by far the best literary editor I've had. Your interventions are right on target, not to mention that I've learned a lot from your comments. Thank you.
Rich Leder, novelist and screenwriter
Cooking for Cannibals is a better book because of your careful, professional edit. And I'm a better writer. I can’t think of a higher compliment. But that’s the truth of it ... I'm a better writer because you edited my book.
David Unger, mystery author
I’m just now looking at your edits and, as always, they are so very good. Once again, you’ve retained the essence and helped me deliver the prose sharply.
Ram Daryanani, political thriller writer
Excellent! You really have given it a full wash and rinse! The edits and comments show me the extensive page-by-page work you have done. Many thanks for the brilliant editing.
Mark Sippings, fiction writer
Two years ago, I wrote my first book Cold Sunflowers. Having failed to get a publishing deal, I decided to go it alone and become an independent author. Everyone told me I needed a professional editor. I decided on Louise – what a stroke of luck that was.
Louise’s website is full of useful information, most of it free, but it was the edit that turned my book into a success. It was an amazing service. I didn’t think the book needed much work; how wrong I was. With Louise's edits, the book became so much tighter.
My book has well over 100 five-star reviews. Many say it was nice to read a book that has been properly edited. Cold Sunflowers made it to number 45 in the Amazon US charts and was a bestseller in two categories. Dreams do come true but, believe me, you need a professional editor to help them on their way.
Kess Goldland, thriller writer
Louise has the rare ability to refine and polish sentences with a perceptive lightness of touch, revising only where necessary, and somehow, magically, what is left on the page better captures the very essence of exactly what you wanted to say.
Deft and precise in her edit, she enhances what is written so at once it is crisper and more elegant, revealing the writer's voice by making it stronger, clearer and more eloquent. Add that she is a pleasure to work with and clearly loves what she does, and it really does become impossible to find fault with her service.
In short – if you want your writing to be better, then you need to get Louise to edit it. I can't recommend working with her highly enough.
Dare Rogers, crime thriller writer
Louise is a consummate professional and the ideal person to turn to for help with a manuscript. She made my story so much better and offered many insightful suggestions. All of which I accepted. She grasps the mindset of a writer so well; it’s as if she was there when I wrote my story.
She deeply comprehends the creative mind. She uses her expertise in English, combined with an obviously extensive knowledge of the world’s cultures, to hone a story until it's razor sharp, while still allowing the author’s voice to remain dominant.
The most wonderful thing of all was the way she kept my voice intact. I know, I said that before. But an author’s voice is a precious thing to each of us. We spend countless hours mining the dark recesses of the right brain when following our muse, and sacrifice everything for the sake of the story. We often blur the lines between creativity and logical syntax. Louise is the bright light that guides us to our end goal. To be a published author.
Josephine Vaughan, independent author
Thank you so much for the tremendous work you have put into editing my manuscript. Your expertise and observations are hugely valuable. You have instilled encouragement to go forward, and I have enjoyed the journey and learnt a great deal!
Penny LaRaza, fantasy thriller author
Thank you so much for all of your hard work on my manuscript. As a new author I was really nervous going into this part of the process but you have been an absolute joy to work with. Your advice and encouragement is something that I really value and the insight you have provided (I loved the report you sent) makes me excited to jump right in. I hope that we get to work together again soon!
Ayshe Gemedzhy, independent author
Louise is a true professional – she’s reliable and knowledgeable, but what makes her stand out and shine is her ability to immerse herself in your story. It’s as if she becomes you – sees through your eyes and recognizes your voice. From the first page till the very last, she respects the magical world you, the author, have created.
I requested samples from several editors prior to Louise. When I reviewed them I felt misunderstood. My voice had disappeared and the narrative sounded nothing like me anymore. They clearly pointed out all my weaknesses by mechanically correcting mistakes in the text, but in doing so they cut out the soul of my story.
When Louise sent me her sample, I saw the art of skilful editing at its best. She was meticulous, but so thoughtful. She eliminated the mistakes, but looked beyond them, too, amending without compromising the voices of the characters or the atmosphere in the scenes.
What I received back is the novel at its best – it’s my story, how I wrote it, but masterfully and brilliantly edited to become a work I can truly be proud of.
Rebecca Milton, fantasy fiction writer
Through all of the changes and feedback I was never once anxious. Where I struggled it wasn't because I felt awful but because you had said such lovely things that I was overwhelmed. That you made all of the changes needed with generosity and care is incredible. This is what I want to spend my life doing, and you have helped me to shed so many of my fears about doing so. It means everything. Thank you.
Jeff Carson, mystery and thriller writer
I hired Louise to copyedit my entire series (ten books). I'd used multiple editors in the past, and every time they'd fallen short of my expectations. So I dipped my toe in and started by hiring her for book one, and from the first day I felt I was working with a level of professional I had never encountered before. Then when she delivered the book back to me, I rushed to book her for the rest of my series.
Not only does she catch errors and/or places that trip up the reader, but also, time after time, she gives a concrete example of how to more clearly communicate the atrocity I’ve put on the page. "Jeff, this is tripping me up because of this … how about trying [sentence X] or [sentence Y]?" This is invaluable to me, and I think my books now have an elevated quality I couldn't have achieved without her.
I like working with people who have strong work ethics, and they don’t get stronger than Louise’s responsiveness, thoroughness, patience, skill, and professionalism. I can’t imagine publishing another work without Louise scouring it first. I wholeheartedly recommend her services ... Just don’t hire her when I need her.
[Hired for copyediting after Jeff had initially published to Amazon.]
Fancy working with me?
If you'd like to discuss a line editing, copyediting or proofreading project, get in touch so we can have a chat.
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