I am a substantive editor, copyeditor, and proofreader of books, periodicals, and other publications, including award-winning fiction and nonfiction. My happy clients include trade publishers, university presses, literary and academic journals, nonprofits, and authors. I have over twenty years of experience in editing and a master’s degree in publishing. Please see examples of my work here.

While I mostly work in print, I also edit copy for websites, blogs, newsletters, and digital projects. Working in both Canadian and US English, I’m an expert in Chicago style, especially grammar and syntax.

Background

I got involved in editing at a young age when I joined Redwire Magazine and took a copyediting course at Simon Fraser University. Shortly after, I became a freelancer, beginning with PhD dissertations and soon moving on to edited collections. I continued to work during my studies at SFU, where I majored in philosophy, studying the critical analysis and synthesis of complex ideas. This training allows me to help authors in any field strengthen their writing and style.

As part of my graduate studies in SFU’s Master of Publishing program, I enjoyed a work placement at Theytus Books. My thesis, “Gathering Knowledges to Inform Best Practices in Indigenous Publishing,” was subsequently published in ARIEL: A Review of International English Literature. I am honoured that my essay, “Editing Inuit Writing and Working with Inuit Storytellers,” appears in the second edition of Gregory Younging’s Elements of Indigenous Style, an industry standard. While I only edit English content, I am comfortable editing works containing Indigenous and other languages, including fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, dictionaries, and educational materials.

As an editor, I have become known for my ability to approach sensitive and complex subjects with professionalism and clarity. I bring the reader’s viewpoint to support the author’s goals and voice. My cultural perspective as a mixed woman raised by an Iñupiaq mother strongly informs my respect for the storyteller’s autonomy. While I have an expert’s understanding of the rules, I am not here to enforce them. I work to understand the author and use my training to support them to make informed choices.