Stand out from the slush pile and give your novel the chance it deserves.
I’ve worked on a range of award-winning, bestselling novels across genres. Projects I’ve worked on have gone on to become:
Reese Witherspoon picks
Book of the Month selections
New York Times bestsellers
Popular TV shows
and much more
Are you ready to make
your story stand out?
Writing is a solo act.
Editing is a collaboration.
When I set out to be a writer, I never dreamed I would actually have a book published—turns out, my tenth book will be coming out next year.
Over nearly twenty years in the industry, I’ve learned that ushering a novel into the world is a marathon, not a sprint. In takes early mornings and late nights, idea-filled notebooks and an almost obsessive passion for your idea.
But I’ve also learned that when we become enmeshed in our work—they call them book babies for a reason— it’s near impossible to take a step back and see the bigger picture.
That’s where I come in.
Having written across genres and age ranges, from mystery to romance and adult to YA; as well as on my own projects and in development with Alloy/Warner Brothers and options with film studios; I’ve honed my expertise on plot, character, pacing, motivation, stakes and crafting crystal-clear prose.
Editors and readers are hungry for stories that hook them—books they simply can’t put down—but even the most talented writers frequently struggle to unearth the hook, unique premise, or enthralling character that leaves readers wanting more.
Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive developmental edit for a finished novel or help writing a query that leaves agents begging to see your full manuscript, I would love to work with you to uncover the heart of your story and help get it into readers’ hands.
Editorial Services
Collaboration at every stage of the writing, querying and publishing process.
Unlock Your Story: Global Developmental Edit
The first step in any collaboration, a global developmental edit is the best way to make sure your story is working on every level and the one that most closely mirrors the traditional editing process. I’m trained to spot exactly what is holding your story back, from pacing to plot issues to character drive—then work with you to fix it in a way that will dazzle readers and agents. This comprehensive edit includes a 5-10 page global memo, detailed notes within the manuscript to help you know exactly how to work the global notes in on a micro level, as well as an hour-long brainstorming phone call after you've taken everything in, so we can figure out how to solve any outstanding issues together. We’ll work together to unlock your unique hook, tighten pacing, nail down character motivation and most importantly: avoid the pitfalls that can have agents and editors saying no.
Ace Your Revision: Book Coaching
Some clients also elect to add book coaching as they work through the edit, so I can be on-hand to continue to brainstorm solutions and tackle any plot- or character-problems as they come up. Typically what that looks like is phone calls, either on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, depending on the client's schedule and goals with the edit.
Get Ready for Submission: Query Letter Consults
Once you feel you’re ready to submit, I can work with you to craft an agent-hooking query letter that highlights both the strengths of your novel and yourself as a writer—and positions it uniquely in the market with intriguing comps.
Leah is the rare editor who possesses both an extraordinary knack for the structure and mechanics of story, as well as an intuitive understanding of character and motivation. She will get to the heart of your book and help you understand exactly what you need to do to make the vision in your head match what you're putting on the page. She's read every single book I've written, and every one of them is better because of her.
- Danielle Valentine, NYT bestselling author of Two Sides to Every Murder
“Every fiction writer needs an editor like Leah! She has a rare gift for getting to the heart of a query or story and helping you understand how to fix it on both a deep, structural level and within individual scenes and lines. She’s a master at pitching creative solutions to sticky plot problems and always helps me create the strongest and most sellable version of a manuscript possible. I’ve worked with her for every one of my books—I can’t recommend her highly enough!”
—Andrea Bartz, NYT bestselling author of We Were Never Here
“I am indebted to Leah for her role in helping me publish my first book. She has a keen eye for editing, and the thoughtful, critical notes she provided strengthened my novel on both a global and line level. Leah has a gift for recognizing a story’s intentions and providing the tools needed to unlock its full potential. She’s also kind, detail-oriented, and highly skilled in her field. I really can’t recommend her services enough!
-Lindsay Hameroff, author of Till There Was You