I help historical fiction writers feel confident they are on the right track.
Hi, I’m Shauna, book editor and writer
It can be intimidating to share your work with an editor, but it doesn’t have to be that way. When you work with me, I want you to feel motivated to work on your writing and empowered by your new knowledge of how to do that rather than mired in uncertainty about how to move forward. I don’t just point out what isn’t working, I also provide insight into what is working well, along with suggestions for how to improve using concrete examples. My editorial letters include a detailed revision plan to help combat the feeling of overwhelm that so often accompanies feedback.
Writing historical fiction can feel complicated. There’s research to be done, the need to create characters that are authentic but relatable to the modern reader, and anachronisms to weed out. That’s why my approach to editing takes into account the expectations of the historical fiction genre and helps you write a story that is appealing to historical fiction fans. I love to work across all historical time periods and subgenres including mystery, romance, fantasy, biographical, and all the rest.
My Story
From social sciences to historical fiction.
Before I trained as a historical fiction book editor, I was an academic researcher and writer in the social sciences. When writing Organic Food and Farming: A Reference Handbook I most loved learning about the history of the social movement and the personalities involved.
Eventually, I gave myself permission to learn the fiction side of writing and have spent the past few years deepening my understanding of the historical fiction market.
What I am passionate about.
I get genuinely excited about reading a manuscript and finding the threads that don’t connect, the characters that don’t let us see them clearly, and ways we are too protective of those characters. I see poorly written manuscripts as unrealized potential and I get a thrill whenever I get to help unlock the possibilities. Starting a new editing project is like opening a puzzle that needs to be solved through reading and daydreaming (two of my favourite things).
Why work with me?
You want a human editor focused on giving you the personal feedback and attention your manuscript deserves.
I have earned a certificate in developmental editing from Club Ed. I am continuously learning with new courses, webinars, and books.
As a member of the Historical Novel Society I have reviewed over 30 books for the Historical Novels Review magazine and had the pleasure of serving as a first-round judge in the HNSUK 2024 First Chapters Competition. I love to write feature articles for the Historical Novel Society.
I regularly attend the conferences put on by the Historical Novel Society and the History Quill. Come say hi, if you attend!
Life these days.
When I am not editing, writing, or reading, I am usually rambling through the countryside looking to fill my curiosity cabinet and my notebook. I am currently living in the French Alps, along with my husband and two children.
