B. Lynn Goodwin

Specialize in “big picture” responses: I tell you what I love because I believe writers work better when they are given honest encouragement. I tell you what trips me up and why. I plant seeds, you nurture them, and your writing blossoms.

David Colin Carr

I will collaborate with you to identify the passion behind your content and your vision for the book, and explore those in the context of the ever-changing publishing industry. Together, we will develop strong structure and polish writing for clear, rich language that preserves your unique voice.

Elaine Silver

Helps realize the greatest potential of your writing by discovering your true intent and translating it to the pages of your book.

Esther Baruch

I help you craft your message, gain credibility, and get that book written. From ghostwriting to proofreading, I’ll make sure your words project a powerful image of you and are carefully chosen and typo-free.

Polishing your words to make you shine.

Joanne Hartman

Joanne is an editor and writer who lives in the east bay. She is a founding editor of Literary Mama and was a columnist for The Jewish News of Northern California. Her writing appears in The East Bay Monthly, five anthologies, and other publications. She is a co-editor of the 2019 award-winning anthology She’s Got This: Essays on Standing Strong and Moving On and edits fiction and memoir which have been published by major houses as well as small indie presses.

Karen Hart

Award-winning writer, editor and novelist, Karen Hart, has more than 30 years of experience helping writers polish and refine their manuscripts, focusing on story elements, plot, characterization, dialogue, voice, setting, word choice and more. Currently, she is the editor-in-chief of a regional business-to-business magazine, and continues to be slightly obsessive-compulsive about all writing endeavors.

Mary Kole

Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance and memoir.

Mark Burstein

Fiction and nonfiction, clients include Chronicle Books, Insight Editions, Harry N. Abrams, Ten Speed, and many authors.

Nicholas Valdez

I am a conceptual and developmental editor with over a decade of experience teaching university writing. Focusing on purpose and audience, I help writers and authors develop their ideas, organize their manuscripts, and improve their expression.

Peg Alford Pursell

I enjoy helping writers navigate the journey, find and focus their vision, and present their work in the best possible light. I'm skilled at developmental editing, manuscript consultation, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. I've critiqued and edited hundreds of manuscripts. Founding editor of Why There Are Words (WTAW) Press.

Shirin Yim Bridges

Shirin Yim Leos (formerly Shirin Yim Bridges) is an award-winning author, publisher, and a successful developmental editor. In the last twelve months alone, her editing clients have secured multiple-book deals from MacMillan, HarperCollins, Penguin, and a simultaneous book-plus-movie deal from Random House and Amblin Entertainment. When not writing and editing, Shirin spends much of her time teaching and coaching writers.

Vicky Mlyniec

Editor and manuscript consultant who works with writers from first time novelists to NYT best selling authors. An award winning writer herself, Vicky provides clear and actionable suggestions to clarify content, strengthen plot, deepen characterization and enhance reader interest. She also enjoys helping with short stories, personal essays and memoir.