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Doing What’s Right for Your Book

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In mid-2026, Google listed me first on its worldwide list of book editors for hire:

First: Book editor for hire

First: Nonfiction book editor for hire

First: Book copyeditor for hire

First: Book proofreader for hire

Second: Book line editor for hire

First: History book editor for hire

Second: Military book editor for hire

First: Sports book editor for hire

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😯Got the AI jitters?😯​

Don’t worry. I’m a real, live human being who edits books with his own brain.*

 

Hi, everyone! If you need an editor for your book manuscript, you’ve come to the right place. Even if I’m not the best match for you, I can put you in touch with someone who is.

 

I love my job because I get to work with a kaleidoscope of authors, each offering unique perspectives, talents, and insights. Some authors are nervous about sharing their manuscript with an editor, but please note that I am open-minded and easygoing and treat everyone with kindness and respect.

 

* I do use AI as a safety net, including Grammarly and a subscription service used by professional editors.

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5.0 Stars on Google Reviews (36 ratings)

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Five Reasons to Consider Me

 

1) According to Google AI, “a 95 percent catch rate is considered a high-quality, professional standard in copyediting.” I typically catch over 99 percent of mistakes and inconsistencies.

 

2) My pricing is very reasonable. My copyediting rate is always lower than what the Editorial Freelancers Association recommends. You’ll find my per-word rates here.

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3) I am a writer myself, authoring over 100 books (mostly juvenile nonfiction). My overall rating on Goodreads (books authored and edited) is 4.25 (4,000 ratings), placing me in the top 2 percent.

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4) I was the first editor endorsed by the Independent Book Publishers Association (3,000 members), as voted by their board of directors.

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5) I have edited hundreds of books and manuscripts, fiction and nonfiction, for such publishers as Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, St. Martin’s Press, Wiley, Total/Sports Illustrated, and the American Library Association. While politically independent, I have proofread documents for:

 

The Kennedy Center * Smithsonian Institution * Microsoft * Visa * City of Hope * AARP * National Humane Society * Wounded Warrior Project * Harvard Graduate School of Education * Citibank * Jane Goodall Society * National Children’s Cancer Society * Democratic Party, including many campaign letters signed by Presidents Obama and Biden * City National Bank * Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) * Environmental Defense Fund * Barack Obama Foundation * National Museum of African American History & Culture * Yosemite National Park

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My Specialties

 

I specialize in copyediting (line editing) and proofreading of all genres—and developmental editing for many genres. Often, I provide both developmental editing and copyediting in the same read. Authors love that because they don’t have to pay for two editors or two rounds of editing.

 

I have been editing professionally since I was a 19-year-old student at the University of Michigan. For 20 years, I served as an editor/senior editor/department manager at Publications International, the largest individually owned book publisher in the United States. I was assigned the most challenging books, such as The Holocaust Chronicle and Civil Rights Chronicle, which sold a combined 500,000 copies. I worked daily with a dozen in-house editors, and we proofread each other’s work, allowing us to learn from each other every day.

 

Since 2013, I have been working mostly with self-publishing/independent authors. I have edited many books in these genres:

 

Fiction: novels (thrillers, crime, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and many more), young adult, children’s, historical fiction

 

Nonfiction: memoirs, autobiographies, history, health/wellness, mental health, business, personal finance, military, politics, sports (baseball, football, basketball, golf…), biographies, social issues, and more

 

How the Process Works

 

If you send me some of your manuscript, I will provide you with a quote, a free sample edit, and free publishing advice. If I don’t think we’re a good match, I will let you know up front and offer you alternatives.

 

I can suggest whether you should try to publish traditionally, work with a hybrid publisher (which is often a pricey option), or self-publish. If you decide to self-publish, I can refer you to colleagues who can design your cover, typeset/format your book’s interior, help you self-publish on Amazon, and assist you with marketing.

 

I accept Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, and personal check.

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I’d be happy to chat with you via email, phone, or Zoom. ​Hope to work with you!

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Dave

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