You Dream It. I’ll Perfect It.
If you have finished writing a book, an article, or have a great idea you need help flushing out, you’ve come to the right place! I am a professional editor, author, book designer, and writing and publishing coach. I specialize in the wonderful world of children's literature, which includes picture books, early chapter books, middle grade, and all the articles and stories in-between).
I love to help shape and develop stories no matter if you plan to traditionally publish, self-publish, or maybe just refine your skills. Whether it be a novel that has been simmering for twenty years or a short article that needs a little extra TLC, I’m your girl—here to help bring out the best in you and your writing.
*I also take on personal histories, YA, clean fiction, or Christian books on a case-by-case basis.
My personal experience will help you be successful!
I graduated with my minor in editing from Brigham Young University to spy on the publishing industry. Originally, I hoped my spy skills would help me navigate the publishing world for myself, but I discovered I love helping other authors’ dreams come true too!
I’ve played double agent as an acquisitions editor at Cedar Fort Publishing and Media and a traditionally published author. This experience helped me learn how to polish a manuscript and query letter, attract the attention of an editor or agent, and navigate the world of publishing.
After running my own editing business for several years, I jumped into the world of indie publishing and published two picture books myself. Now I mainly help authors navigate the world of indie publishing as their editor, book designer, and publishing guide.
Having edited and designed a host of books and marketing material, I have the skills to help your work achieve its potential. Each work and writer have specific needs that must be addressed individually.
Check out my services below and contact me here for a customized quote!
How do you know if I am the right writing coach or editor for you?
It is so important for you to choose an editor (and book designer) that you feel comfortable with and who understands your goals. It is also important that you choose someone who has experience in your genre. Please contact me to set up a free 15-minute consultation. I want to make sure that my editing and coaching style fits your expectations and that your project is something I am excited to tackle.
Here is a list of genres within children's literature that I love:
I am a firm believer in increasing the amount of clean literature in the world. If your book has lots of language, sexual content, or gore, I will not be a good fit for you.
If you want to test my editing style, email me 3-page edit of your book for a free sample edit! I do not offer this service for articles or children’s picture books, but I do for full-length novels. This will include track changes in Microsoft Word with helpful tips.
MY SERVICES
I offer a range of high-quality publishing services in editing, book design, and marketing.
Editing
Query or Book Proposal Critique
This critique will give you some solid tips to help your query or book proposal stand out and look professional.
Full Developmental Edit
A developmental edit focuses on refining your story to create a compelling and age-appropriate reading experience that resonates with your target audience. It also focuses on what your vision and goals are as the author and helps them come to life.
I focus on the following concepts during a developmental edit:
1. Plot and Structure
My developmental edit includes line edits within the text using track changes in Word and a personalized letter with tips, tricks, and resources to help you perfect your manuscript and master writing for children.
Developmental Edit Review
Sometimes we just need another set of eyes to help us get unstuck on a tricky plot point or give us honest feedback about your story without the cost of a full-fledged developmental edit. If that’s you, this option will help open your eyes to new possibilities and rekindle your love for your story. I will read your manuscript as a mom, reader, and editor and share my thoughts on your overall story—plot, character, target audience plan, themes, and a battle plan to make your story AWESOME.
Want your book to stand out and look professional? Don’t skip a copy edit or proof! These steps are crucial for indie authors.
Copy Edit
You may have a fantastic story, but if grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes riddle your pages, readers will lose trust in your books. When I copy edit a manuscript, I make sure all the grammar, spelling, style, structure, and punctuation are polished! Annihilate those typos!
Proofread
This is the last step of the editorial process. I will read through your text and make sure there are no typographical errors, layout/design errors, or formatting errors.
Editing Combo Package
My most popular editing package! This package is ideal for authors who want to learn about the publishing process and who plan to publish their books, either traditionally or self-publish.
This package includes three rounds of edits to help you make your manuscript reach its full potential.
The first edit focuses on big concepts and the story itself (plot). I will also make sure you have strong characters, dialogue, tension, and age-appropriate language, essentially all the lovely pieces from my developmental edit listed somewhere above. I will send you a letter back with the first edit that includes my thoughts, additional ideas, guided questions (to help you learn what you want), and some helpful resources.
The second edit focuses on your vision. I'll encourage you to have the text broken up by page and what you imagine the illustrations/layout to look like. I'll offer some ideas that I may have too! We’ll also start the hunt for an illustrator by learning what your budget is, the illustration style you love, and methods to find a quality illustrator.
The third edit is a copy edit to check for grammatical and spelling errors.
After three edits, your manuscript should be ready to go to your illustrator with illustration notes already done!
All edits will be done in Microsoft Word using track changes.
For a quote on your children’s picture book or article edits, please contact me with your word count, sample, and which editing service you want.
Design
Picture Book Layout
Most illustrators don’t specialize in book layout and typography (design of the text) or in providing the correct format you need for whichever publishing avenue you decide to use. That’s where a book designer and formatter come in, like me!
This service provides a layout for your 32-page book for Amazon KDP. (If you have additional pages or formatting for another platform, we can discuss additional services, easy peasy.)
This picture book layout includes cover typography, back cover design, help/edit with cover blurb, the layout of the book, and formatting for Amazon KDP.
Once I receive all the illustrations and your final manuscript, I’ll work on your cover and send you a first font ideas, then a few page design samples. I’ll also send you a few samples of interior pages. Once you’re happy with the direction we’re going, I’ll finish it up and send the draft to you for review. Once you’ve approved the layout, I’ll finalize everything for Amazon KDP print. I’ll send it back for one more final review, and then your book will be ready to publish!
I love to help shape and develop stories no matter if you plan to traditionally publish, self-publish, or maybe just refine your skills. Whether it be a novel that has been simmering for twenty years or a short article that needs a little extra TLC, I’m your girl—here to help bring out the best in you and your writing.
*I also take on personal histories, YA, clean fiction, or Christian books on a case-by-case basis.
My personal experience will help you be successful!
I graduated with my minor in editing from Brigham Young University to spy on the publishing industry. Originally, I hoped my spy skills would help me navigate the publishing world for myself, but I discovered I love helping other authors’ dreams come true too!
I’ve played double agent as an acquisitions editor at Cedar Fort Publishing and Media and a traditionally published author. This experience helped me learn how to polish a manuscript and query letter, attract the attention of an editor or agent, and navigate the world of publishing.
After running my own editing business for several years, I jumped into the world of indie publishing and published two picture books myself. Now I mainly help authors navigate the world of indie publishing as their editor, book designer, and publishing guide.
Having edited and designed a host of books and marketing material, I have the skills to help your work achieve its potential. Each work and writer have specific needs that must be addressed individually.
Check out my services below and contact me here for a customized quote!
How do you know if I am the right writing coach or editor for you?
It is so important for you to choose an editor (and book designer) that you feel comfortable with and who understands your goals. It is also important that you choose someone who has experience in your genre. Please contact me to set up a free 15-minute consultation. I want to make sure that my editing and coaching style fits your expectations and that your project is something I am excited to tackle.
Here is a list of genres within children's literature that I love:
- Fantasy
- Contemporary fiction
- Historical fiction
- Nonfiction
- Children’s picture books
- Unique and cool blends of genres
- Articles (kind of their own genre)
I am a firm believer in increasing the amount of clean literature in the world. If your book has lots of language, sexual content, or gore, I will not be a good fit for you.
If you want to test my editing style, email me 3-page edit of your book for a free sample edit! I do not offer this service for articles or children’s picture books, but I do for full-length novels. This will include track changes in Microsoft Word with helpful tips.
MY SERVICES
I offer a range of high-quality publishing services in editing, book design, and marketing.
Editing
Query or Book Proposal Critique
This critique will give you some solid tips to help your query or book proposal stand out and look professional.
Full Developmental Edit
A developmental edit focuses on refining your story to create a compelling and age-appropriate reading experience that resonates with your target audience. It also focuses on what your vision and goals are as the author and helps them come to life.
I focus on the following concepts during a developmental edit:
1. Plot and Structure
- Ensure the plot is age-appropriate, engaging, and well-paced.
- Check for a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Confirm that the storyline is cohesive and logical.
- Check that your setting is well developed, if not, help you make necessary changes.
- Make sure characters are relatable, well-defined, consistent throughout the story, and have a character arc and growth. Most people fall in love with a book because of the characters!
- Verify that characters' actions and motivations are believable and age appropriate.
- Make adjustments as needed so your story has dynamic dialogue.
- Assess the language level and vocabulary to ensure it's suitable for your target age group.
- Check for engaging and age-appropriate language that captures the attention of children.
- Confirm that the theme or message of the story is clear and conveyed effectively, without lecturing, AND that you don’t try and stuff too many themes or messages into one story.
- Ensure that the theme is appropriate and meaningful for your intended audience.
- Assess the overall readability and flow of the story, including sentence structure and paragraph transitions.
- Ensure that the text is easy to understand and engaging for young readers.
- Suggest changes to make tighter descriptions or remove them, depending on the illustration potential.
- Check for publishing potential and market share for your book.
My developmental edit includes line edits within the text using track changes in Word and a personalized letter with tips, tricks, and resources to help you perfect your manuscript and master writing for children.
Developmental Edit Review
Sometimes we just need another set of eyes to help us get unstuck on a tricky plot point or give us honest feedback about your story without the cost of a full-fledged developmental edit. If that’s you, this option will help open your eyes to new possibilities and rekindle your love for your story. I will read your manuscript as a mom, reader, and editor and share my thoughts on your overall story—plot, character, target audience plan, themes, and a battle plan to make your story AWESOME.
Want your book to stand out and look professional? Don’t skip a copy edit or proof! These steps are crucial for indie authors.
Copy Edit
You may have a fantastic story, but if grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes riddle your pages, readers will lose trust in your books. When I copy edit a manuscript, I make sure all the grammar, spelling, style, structure, and punctuation are polished! Annihilate those typos!
Proofread
This is the last step of the editorial process. I will read through your text and make sure there are no typographical errors, layout/design errors, or formatting errors.
Editing Combo Package
My most popular editing package! This package is ideal for authors who want to learn about the publishing process and who plan to publish their books, either traditionally or self-publish.
This package includes three rounds of edits to help you make your manuscript reach its full potential.
The first edit focuses on big concepts and the story itself (plot). I will also make sure you have strong characters, dialogue, tension, and age-appropriate language, essentially all the lovely pieces from my developmental edit listed somewhere above. I will send you a letter back with the first edit that includes my thoughts, additional ideas, guided questions (to help you learn what you want), and some helpful resources.
The second edit focuses on your vision. I'll encourage you to have the text broken up by page and what you imagine the illustrations/layout to look like. I'll offer some ideas that I may have too! We’ll also start the hunt for an illustrator by learning what your budget is, the illustration style you love, and methods to find a quality illustrator.
The third edit is a copy edit to check for grammatical and spelling errors.
After three edits, your manuscript should be ready to go to your illustrator with illustration notes already done!
All edits will be done in Microsoft Word using track changes.
For a quote on your children’s picture book or article edits, please contact me with your word count, sample, and which editing service you want.
Design
Picture Book Layout
Most illustrators don’t specialize in book layout and typography (design of the text) or in providing the correct format you need for whichever publishing avenue you decide to use. That’s where a book designer and formatter come in, like me!
This service provides a layout for your 32-page book for Amazon KDP. (If you have additional pages or formatting for another platform, we can discuss additional services, easy peasy.)
This picture book layout includes cover typography, back cover design, help/edit with cover blurb, the layout of the book, and formatting for Amazon KDP.
Once I receive all the illustrations and your final manuscript, I’ll work on your cover and send you a first font ideas, then a few page design samples. I’ll also send you a few samples of interior pages. Once you’re happy with the direction we’re going, I’ll finish it up and send the draft to you for review. Once you’ve approved the layout, I’ll finalize everything for Amazon KDP print. I’ll send it back for one more final review, and then your book will be ready to publish!
Amazon Publishing Package—Formatting, Marketing Research, and Upload
I’ll fill out all the required information for your book to be uploaded on your Amazon KDP account. Providing a high-quality product is very important to me. I will fix any issues and resubmit.
I research keywords and categories for Amazon using Publisher Rocket. I’ll send a document of my research if you want to play with keyword options for Amazon Ads or even move categories around for marketing and experimenting. This also includes a revamp of the cover blurb for the product description on Amazon, if necessary.
*I do NOT provide an ISBN unless requested. Please purchase ISBNs through myidentifiers.com or you can purchase an ISBN through me for $60 each. Every format needs its own ISBN—hardback, paperback, ebook (though if you want to save money a bit, Amazon doesn’t require ebooks to have an ISBN). Spring Willow Books will be listed as the publisher if you purchase an ISBN from me.
You can use Amazon’s free ISBN, but the ISBN cannot be used on other platforms.
I can also fill out the information on myidentifiers.com for the ISBNs you purchased for $15.
E-book Formatting, Research, and Upload
I can also do the Amazon KDP e-book formatting and upload. I will send you additional keywords specific to e-books.
IngramSpark Upload Add On
IngramSpark has both hardback and paperback versions available for children’s book authors. I fill out all the information for you, upload it, and submit it. I have to redesign the cover to match IngramSpark’s requirements.
I can also do most other publishing platform uploads for you.
If you plan to use a press, let me know! I’ll need to get in contact with them to know their formatting requirements.
MARKETING RESOURCES
Book Mockup
I can provide you with a simple image to advertise your book. It is a mockup of your book with a cover and an interior spread example.
Book Launch Advertisement
I can design a page you can either print or post on social media that includes your book mockup, info about your book, and your book description/tagline.
Sales Sheet
This sheet can be a great resource to take to retailers to see if they want to carry your book. It will include a mockup of your book, specs, book description, a bit about you as the author, and important features of things taught in the story. It is to help convince others that your book needs to be in their lives!