Discover your book’s errors, plot holes and other issues before your readers do.
I’m a friendly, experienced editor and proofreader, specialising in books set in France, mysteries and thrillers, historical fiction, memoirs and biographies.
Proofreading and editing is not only my job, but my passion. I take pride in helping self-published authors and publishers produce work of an exceptional standard.
I also offer mentoring sessions to show you the way forward with your author website, and I’m the author of Improve Your Author Website.
My areas of editing expertise
Fiction editing
I edit novels across a wide range of genres but specialise in:
- mysteries and thrillers
- historical fiction
- books set in France
Depending on the level of editing you require, I will check for:
- plot holes
- characterisation
- issues with grammar, spelling and punctuation
- author voice
- word choice and flow
- factual accuracy
- and much more
Nonfiction editing
I edit a broad range of nonfiction but specialise in:
- memoirs and autobiographies
- biographies and historical content
- books with a French connection
Depending on the level of editing you require, I will check for:
- factual accuracy
- author voice
- issues with grammar, spelling and punctuation
- issues with tables and diagrams
- consistency of references
- issues with tables of contents
- and much more
Training and credentials
Editing isn’t a regulated industry. It can be difficult to know which editors you can trust to treat your work with care and produce a high-quality edit.
I’m an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and have an MA in modern languages from the University of Oxford.
I have passed several CIEP courses and have worked on many books for previous clients, covering a diverse range of genres and topics. For a selection of projects I’ve worked on, visit my portfolio.
I also offer a sample editing service so you can see what I can offer before committing to a full edit.
My services for authors and publishers
Line editing
I will carefully work through your manuscript line by line to improve word choice, flow and sentence structure, while taking care to retain your unique author’s voice.
Copyediting
I will check for a broad range of problems, including grammar, spelling and punctuation, flow, style and author voice. I will also carry out a degree of fact-checking.
Proofreading
I will work on your designed, typeset proof, seeking errors that have crept in during revision, plus formatting, layout, page numbering, headers, footers, table of contents and more.
First 10,000 words
An affordable option to discover ways to improve your whole manuscript. You will receive a line edit and/or copyedit, style sheet and editorial report.
Sample edit
Try before you buy! I’ll edit or proofread up to 2,500 words of your choice and a short editorial report containing advice you can apply to your whole book.
Kind words from previous clients
Exceptional talent
Debbie has all the skills of a top-notch editor: a sharp intellect that can sort out all the various angles of any given piece of writing; a keen eye for detail; an excellent communication and work ethic.
Debbie is also punctual, reliable and kind. She also makes the whole process fun and collegial.
World-class editor
Debbie is a world-class editor, so professional and thorough in her work. Our book was all over the place in voice, tone, and development. After she finished, our book was…well…an actual book.
We hired her for line editing but she did way more than that. She made this book come to life.
I can’t recommend her highly enough
I would give Debbie 6 stars if it was possible. She made this ordeal easy for me especially since it was my first book.
She respectfully corrected without being condescending, which made it easier for me to work with her.
I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Improve Your Author Website
Available in paperback, hardback, Kindle, EPUB and PDF
Clear actionable advice to make your author website a marketing powerhouse.
Your website is your most effective promotional tool … if used correctly. Tap its full potential.
This book is packed with practical advice on every aspect of your author website.
Blog posts for authors
- 100 blog posts for editors and writers
My 100th blog post! Browse all 99 of my previous posts for writers and editors, neatly categorised so you can find what you need. - How to self-edit your fiction book (and save money)
What is self-editing? And why should you self-edit your manuscript? Isn’t that doing the editor’s work for them? - Write a short story or flash fiction with prompts (AKA tips for Writing Battle)
If you’re entering Writing Battle, or another writing contest using prompts, check out my system for creating a unique, engaging short story. - How to speak with confidence at events and webinars
Presenting at a conference or webinar can seem daunting, but there are ways to reduce your fear of public speaking. My tips will help calm your nerves. - All you need to know about manuscript assessments for fiction
A manuscript assessment or manuscript evaluation is a valuable editing step for authors with a solid first draft. Find out what is involved and how to arrange one. - MS Word styles for self-publishing authors (how to make your life easier)
Once you discover Word styles, you’ll wonder how you ever did without them! Learn how to use them in your book manuscript to save time and money.