Editing Services

— Author and Publisher Testimonials —

“Lucky me, to have discovered Elizabeth White as an editor. She was recommended by a fellow writer of crime fiction, who raved about her in my critique group. Elizabeth did developmental edits for my first novel and its sequel, both of which have now been acquired for publication. Elizabeth’s feedback showed complete mastery of the plots and characters, walking me through plot holes, character inconsistencies, and glitches in the time lines. It seemed that nothing escaped her eagle eye. Elizabeth presented feedback in detailed, clear notes, with suggestions for improvement. The feedback was professional and generous. I always felt that Elizabeth was on my side and had no agenda other than raising the level of my work. She was lovely to work with, an exceptional editor.” — Roselyn Teukolsky (A Reluctant Spy (2024), The Fourth Woman (2025))

“Elizabeth did a fantastic job editing my crime thrillers The Art of Dying and The Burying Point. Not only did her line edits tighten the prose, but her keen insights on story and character were invaluable. She did a great job pointing out my blind spots and crutch words, and her fact-checking and knowledge of law enforcement matters saved me from more than a few embarrassing mistakes. She completed the edits right on schedule and made herself available for follow-up questions. I will definitely use her again, and I highly recommend her to any author looking for a great editor.” — Derik Cavignano (American Fiction Award-winning author of the Ray Hanley series)

“Choosing an editor is tough. It’s supposed to be. You want people on your team who are as passionate about your work as you are. I reached out to several authors whom Elizabeth had worked with, and each one said the same things: she was easy to work with, and that she made their work stronger. It didn’t take much convincing for me to give her a shot. She has edited multiple projects for me, and each time she delivered. She surprised me several times with her comments and level of detail. In short, she knows her stuff, and she made me look like a better writer, something I probably won’t admit outside of this testimonial. If you’re looking for someone to substantiate how wonderful your writing is, move along because that’s not what Elizabeth does. Instead, she’ll provide the critical eye that you need. She’ll ask the right questions and poke holes in your work. And then she’ll help you fix it. And that’s what a damn good editor should do.” — Trace Conger (Shamus Award-winning author. Catch and Release, Five Will Die, Mirage Man, The Prison Guard’s Son)

“I was a novice running blind with a bloated manuscript when I first contacted Elizabeth. I selected her after perusing editors on the Editorial Freelancers Association website and wondered if she’d have an interest in taking me on. Her initial response put me right at ease, and later, when I got the manuscript back, I jumped for joy! Float the Boat had been taking on water with factual errors, plot holes, grammar snafus, and overdramatic characters. Elizabeth spotted the flaws, and her expertise helped me throttle back on the nonsense and make headway on improvement. After pondering her summary letter and reviewing her in-line edits, I knew I had a much-improved manuscript, and as a bonus, a tankful of confidence and enthusiasm. Working with Elizabeth made the difference. She gave me a boost that powered me through substantial changes and, six months later, to the finish line on my now award-winning debut novel.” — Mark Ehrlich (Literary Titan Gold Book Award and PenCraft Book Award-winning author of Float the Boat)

“I’m not the type of person to guarantee much in life, but what I can guarantee is that you will not be disappointed in selecting Elizabeth as your editor. Elizabeth has the amazing ability to not only correct grammatical errors, smooth over clunky writing, fact check things you didn’t even realize needed fact checking, tighten your story, and provide such great constructive feedback that you’ll use it for all of your writing going forward, but she has the uncanny ability to do it all in such a positive and uplifting manner. Elizabeth will immediately become an integral part of your writing team, and your only regret will be that you didn’t use her earlier.” — Morrow Andrews (Cosmic Egg Inc.)

“I consider it a huge bit of luck finding Elizabeth as a developmental editor. Her work on my third thriller was exactly what I needed (and I wish I’d engaged her services while writing the previous ones). She thoroughly digested the story and gave detailed feedback that was insightful and incisive. When she spots a weakness, she offers suggestions, and when she sees something good, she mentions it. No stones unturned. I recommend her as strongly as possible, and I look forward to soliciting her help with the manuscript I’m working on now. Knowing that she’ll be there to help makes the drafting easier.” — Frank Edwards (Jack Forester series)

“Elizabeth’s editing skills are truly exceptional. Her perceptive comments and ability to understand my vision for the story help me to trust my voice and instincts. Her suggestions are always spot-on and help to elevate my manuscripts. I also appreciate the support she provides after every edit—answering questions and serving as a springboard for ideas. Her editorial suggestions are so thoughtful that I make a table to organize how to address everything. Elizabeth not only reviews this table, but provides additional insights and encouragement that prepare me to tackle my revision. I highly recommend her services to any author looking to take their work to the next level.” — Ryan Rivers (Bucket List Mysteries series)

“With my first Jeff Taylor mystery, The Lost Coast, I was confident the book was sound, ready to go. However, after I finished a clean draft of #2, The Golden Ceiling, I knew the novel lacked something but couldn’t figure out what. I searched editors online and, luckily, came upon Elizabeth. She zeroed in on several shortcomings in the manuscript, large and small, and the book was published in July of 2022. Before I even finished a first draft of Jeff Taylor #3, Sky Lake, I was already looking forward to getting the manuscript to Elizabeth. She gives you more than suggestions or corrections. She works on character motivation, a key element in any novel but especially in mysteries. She thinks of ways to improve the story line. For me, she twice suggested changing the order of events in ways that clarified aspects of the protagonist. Elizabeth’s insights into story and characters are such that I’ll never send a book to a publisher without first getting her input.” — Scott Lipanovich (Jeff Taylor mystery series)

“After finishing my manuscript for Return of the Prodigal, I waited anxiously for Elizabeth’s edits, fearing the worst and imagining an insurmountable revision process. When I received the manuscript back from her, I opened the document and steeled myself. I was dreading the editing process, but by the time I was ten pages in, I felt as if I was having a conversation with an old friend, one who isn’t afraid to give it to you straight while sprinkling in some much-needed encouragement. I never gave a second thought to who would edit my follow-up book, Revenge of the Prodigal. Here’s the best part—knowing I had Elizabeth backing me up, my writing flowed better. I didn’t agonize as much and resisted micro-editing. The result was a more natural writing style with better pacing. I continue to strive for improvement, and Elizabeth has been indispensable in helping me find my voice. She is invested in my characters but doesn’t hesitate to trim away content that doesn’t drive the story forward. I’m blessed to have found her and would never consider using anyone else.” — Michael Caudo (Nick Di Nobile thriller series)

“My novel Unholy Bargain was under contract with an e-book publisher. The in-house editor had a conflict and quit the project before getting started, which jeopardized the project entirely. I wanted the project to move forward but without sacrificing my vision for the end product. That was when I reached out to Elizabeth. She took on the project and treated it as if her own work. The meticulous attention to detail and care she poured into it far exceeded my expectations. Honestly, the editing process with Elizabeth was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a writer. I once met Lee Child (author of the Jack Reacher series) at a conference, and he said no matter how many books he writes, he never stops learning the craft of writing. That has been a big part of my experience working with Elizabeth, learning more of the craft. Looking back, I am truly grateful the publisher’s in-house editor quit, because that opened the door for me to connect with Elizabeth and work with such phenomenal editor. Unholy Bargain went on to win the 5th Annual Beverly Hills Book Awards in the horror category, and the 2017 Gold Award from eLit Book Awards in the horror category. It was also a finalist in both the International Book Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards in the horror category. I still use Elizabeth’s editorial services to this day and will continue to do so for all my projects.” — Travis Holt (Unholy Bargain)

“Elizabeth and I have worked together on five books, and I’m looking forward to number six. Not only does she know the ins and outs of style, she’s great at working with the tone of my writing, which ensures her feedback is spot-on and helpful. Perhaps what I most appreciate is when Elizabeth adds comments from her perspective as reader or comments on a well-turned phrase. My humor is very dry, and very evident in that of my protagonist. To me, these comments are golden nuggets to savor. They come from the wealth of shared experience, and I look forward to future endeavors. If you work with Elizabeth, you’ll be in great hands.” — Lee Maguire (Broken Minds thriller series)

“I hired Elizabeth to edit my novel Malibu Burns and her work greatly improved the book. Her copy edits were executed with lapidary precision, resulting in a clean manuscript. Her developmental edits identified gaps, errors, and inconsistencies, and demonstrated a clear understanding of the story I was trying to tell. Elizabeth’s support did not end once she delivered her edits; she was there as a sounding board when I considered additional ways to improve the novel. I loved working with her and cannot recommend her strongly enough.” — Mark Richardson (Malibu Burns, The Sun Casts No Shadow, Hunt for the Troll)

“Elizabeth came highly recommended, and I learned why. She found plot holes and flawed character development that I did not see, even after rereading my manuscript a few (OK, maybe 15) times. What’s most apparent in working with her is she gives her clients and their projects her utmost attention. She truly amazed me with her personalized approach to editing. When it came time to give her feedback, she presented it as a conversation in which I could enter rather than a mere summative opinion piece. She opened herself to answer questions and give suggestions. I really valued that. My novel is to be published in large part because of her work, and my writing is greatly improved because of working with her.” — Jon Bennett (Reading Blue Devils)

“As a self-published author, I realized I had to hire the best I could so my novel could compete with others released by the traditional publishing houses. Quite simply, The Long Way Around had to shine. And with Elizabeth’s help, shine it does. In all departments, she delivered as promised. Elizabeth is easy and comfortable to work with. Her communication style is direct, concise, and refined, which I appreciate immensely. Her edits and suggested revisions were well placed and easily understood. Important aspects such as deadlines and follow-up questions and concerns were handled promptly and in a professional manner. Elizabeth intuitively knew which direction my novel needed to go, and she whipped it into shape without bruising my creative ego. I trusted in Elizabeth’s expertise and abilities, and as a result, I was rewarded with a top-notch novel I am extremely proud to have written.” — Douglas Cavanaugh (The Long Way Around, Into Hell’s Fire)

“I will always get editorial help from Elizabeth, not only because of her help in improving my writing but also for her encouragement. She makes polishing and finalizing fun! My first book had a major structural flaw that I didn’t see because I was a starry-eyed newbie. She convinced me to do a major rewrite and tell one story well instead of two stories badly. Then the serious improvement began. Elizabeth pointed out timeline problems where I was confusing the reader. She showed me where I was overwriting, where I used inconsistent voice, and where characters were flat and cartoonish. Not to mention some fact-checking where I had not realized a couple of things were just not accurate. With her clear and perceptive feedback, my story became simpler. It became tighter. It became much, much better than what I had thought was a final draft. I feel lucky that I chose to work with Elizabeth after seeing all the enthusiastic recommendations from writers I admire. From now on, I won’t ever consider a book finished until I have gotten Elizabeth to look it over and discuss it with me.” — Scott McDonald (Blenders and Bullets)

“I’ve worked on two manuscripts with Elizabeth, both of which were picked up by publishers, and there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be returning to her for my next. How did I find out about her? I studied her references, and since all those good authors were pleased with her, I knew I’d be in safe hands. And I was right. With her legal background and editing skills, Elizabeth is super sharp and astute. Not only will she correct your copy to the standard, but her development skills will catch things you didn’t notice so that the story makes more sense. She’ll let you know what needs to be corrected, offer suggestions for change, and sensibly question details so that the story sounds logical, without distorting your writer’s voice. Take my word for it, you’re in safe hands.” — Khaled Talib (Incognito, Gun Kiss, Smokescreen)

“I brought Elizabeth in for a developmental edit just after I finished my first draft. I didn’t want to spend months revising a manuscript that had major structural flaws. The decision paid off because she identified the problems I might’ve overlooked because I was so close to the project, such as character voice and slow plotting. She knew the tone I was going for and pointed out when I strayed too far from it. The result is a much stronger novel with significant improvements in plot, character, and theme. This is the book I wanted to write, and Elizabeth was instrumental in helping me do it.” — Holly West (Anthony Award-nominated author of the Mistress of Fortune series)

“At some point in the revision process, writers inevitably lose sight of the words they’ve written. The sharp eye and mind of Elizabeth White can help you see your work anew. She tells you where you’ve done your job well, and where you’ve made a mess of things—story notes, line edits, fact checking, you name it. And all this feedback comes with the vibe of a smart friend who gets what you’re doing, as opposed to a ruler-snapping nun who jumps in your face every time you use a comma incorrectly. But it’s not just the editing that makes her services so valuable; it’s also the encouragement of a highly astute reader that makes your vision clearer than ever.” — Jeffery Hess (No Salvation, Cold War Canoe Club, Scotland Ross series)

“Whether you’re putting your stuff out there on your own or sending it out into the world of agents and publishers, you need to have your work as close to perfect as humanly possible. I’ve worked with Elizabeth on over a dozen published books. Each time, I found her to be extremely professional, timely and she provided a great knowledge of the genre of crime fiction, as well as fixed my grammatical travesties. I could go with any number of people to correct my spelling, but Elizabeth gives my writing a bit more that I feel really helps push it to its final stage.” — Mike McCrary (Someone Savage, For You, Remo Cobb series)

“When I decided to self-publish a series of crime fiction novelettes, I knew I needed the right editing partner. It was important to me that these music-themed books were fast-paced and punchy, which is something that Elizabeth understood right away. Her feedback is always insightful and she’s made many suggestions that have smoothed out the rough edges of my early drafts. Most importantly, she’s a strong and thoughtful communicator who knows how to help writers improve their manuscripts. I can’t recommend her highly enough.” — S.W. Lauden (Power Pop Heist series, Greg Salem Mystery series, Tommy and Shayna Crime Caper series)

“If writing a book is like birthing a child then Elizabeth White is a fantastic midwife. While you are huffing and puffing and pushing and fretting, she manages to help make the process seem painless and adventuresome. She’s helped birth two of my babies, cleaning them up and making them pretty for the world. She won’t name your child (tell you what to do). She won’t tell you it’s ugly (be unnecessarily critical). She will give you lots of encouragement for growth and suggestions for betterment. She has my highest recommendation.” — Theolyn Brock (Lake City: Stories from a Country-Ass Town, Island X)

“Finding Elizabeth was a wonderful discovery. Searching for the right editor for my crime fiction had become a time consuming, often frustrating experience, and I am glad it’s over. Reading some of the crime fiction Elizabeth edited and polished convinced me to trust her with my manuscript and I will forever be grateful. Her insights into issues of structure, language, and context were equally matched by her professionalism, timeliness, and friendliness. Her suggestions consistently improved my book, and her concern for making the manuscript the best it could be was genuine and heartfelt. I recommend Elizabeth without reservation. She is a treasure and I will certainly use her for my future projects.” — Mark Gummere (When the Past Comes Calling — Lucky Lucas series)

“Elizabeth helped push my manuscript to the next level. Not only did she find the grammatical and spelling mistakes, but she helped me with the developmental edit as well. It all paid off for me because Roundfire Books picked up my manuscript and published it. Elizabeth has an excellent sense of narrative and offers kind wisdom on how to make a manuscript more interesting for a reader. Sometimes it’s difficult for a writer to have an objective view about their work. Elizabeth will help you catch the plot holes and point out your ‘darlings’ in a thoughtful, professional way.” — Roderick Vincent (The Cause)

“After getting feedback from other editors, authors, and casual readers, I realized there was a specific invaluable, and fairly unique, skill that Elizabeth has to help any manuscript achieve its utmost potential. It’s easy enough to find someone to edit your grammar and spelling, and it is also possible to get other authors to dictate what your manuscript ‘should be.’ It is, however, exceedingly rare to find someone who has both the editorial knowledge and storytelling sense coupled with the necessary humility to focus on making your book what you want it to be. I was extremely impressed with Elizabeth’s ability to deduce what I was ‘going for’ in my book and then tailor all aspects of her editing and suggestions to target this goal. In hiring Elizabeth you’re not just paying for someone to be the robotic grammar Nazi you could probably use editing software for, nor are you getting advice from a know-it-all peer that wants you to write an entirely different book more similar to theirs. You are instead hiring a true team member, one who has the skill and instincts to help you achieve your goal. At any stage of your manuscript, whenever you’re ready to start bringing your vision into reality I highly recommend Elizabeth’s services.” — James R. Duncan (Blood Republic)

“She’s VERY insightful, and whatever she says about my books—good or bad—I always feel like she nailed it. I’d recommend her for anything, but especially if you’re looking for an editor for mystery/crime/thriller fiction.” — Jeff Strand (Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Twentieth Anniversary Screening; Autumn Bleeds Into Winter; I Have a Bad Feeling About This)

“I cannot say enough good things about working with Elizabeth. It’s never an easy process deciding who to trust with the final polish of the work you’ve slaved over for years, but finding Elizabeth to edit my debut supernatural thriller put all my anxieties to rest. She is not only an amazing talent with a great eye for detail and tone, but provides a perfect mix of professionalism, passion and care throughout what is often a grueling process. For every four and five star review my book has received, and for every time someone has remarked about its strong writing, I know I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Elizabeth for her impeccable touch. There aren’t many certainties in life, but knowing you’ll be happy you decided to work with Elizabeth is definitely one of them.” — Stephen Paul (The Perfect Game)

“Having worked with several editors from publishing companies, I know how much value a good editor can bring to a novel. When I finished the first draft of my book The Butcher, I knew it needed something more. Elizabeth made some key suggestions to make the story much better, and her wordsmithing improved the manuscript dramatically. If you want to take your novel to the next level, take your novel to Elizabeth.” — Dan Ames (John Rockne thriller series, Mary Cooper mystery series)

“Memory escapes me as to how I connected with Elizabeth, but I am so glad I did. First, and foremost, the moment Elizabeth and I started working together on my first novel, she eased my nerves and treated me as if I had already penned several. Besides educating me on the entire process, Elizabeth pointed out timelines to keep in check, historical facts that needed to be observed, possible conflicts, repetition, grammar and punctuation mistakes, British vs American English issues (I’m American but had lived in the UK for 14 years), etc. Simply said, I couldn’t have written my novel without her and would hire her in a nanosecond the next time around.” — E.J.Moran (Shadow Crimes)

“Writing a novel is hard work and not for the faint of heart. However, with Elizabeth on your team you can rest assured that your work has been examined and dissected carefully by a professional of the highest order. I have received many compliments on my ‘fine writing,’ and I know these compliments are a direct result of Elizabeth’s magic touch. You’ll not find a more gifted editor.” — Florence Love Karsner (Dr. Molly McCormick series, Highland Healer series)

“I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Elizabeth on projects ranging from flash fiction and short stories to a full-length novel. Each time my expectations were surpassed. Elizabeth’s professional critiques not only improved each work, but also my writing in general. She goes beyond the prose, fact checking and providing insightful commentary on plot, character and the like. I very much look forward to continued work with Elizabeth, and I highly recommend her editing services to other writers.” — Christopher Irvin (Burn Cards, Federales, Anthony Award-nominated Safe Inside the Violence)

“A few pertinent facts; I am dyslexic as hell. I have a strong sense of my voice as an author and don’t like it being f’d with. Elizabeth covered my ass. When line editing, she was amazing at discerning grammatical errors from choices of style. Her fact checking was invaluable, and she was also a great help in tracking inconsistencies. All that, and yet her greatest strength is her editorial vision. I wouldn’t send out a ms without passing it by her first, she is that good.” — Josh Stallings (Anthony Award-nominated Young Americans and All the Wild Children, Moses McGuire series)

“It can be a cold, hard world out there for writers who choose to go it alone without the professional supports a publisher can provide. Finding the right person to tackle your work can be critical in such a situation. I was lucky enough to find Elizabeth willing and able to give my self-published work a much-needed boost, pointing out things to fix I never thought to (or could) notice. You don’t have to work in a vacuum or lose the benefit of an expert eye, because Elizabeth is there to help you up your game.” — Sam Hawken (Walk Away, The Night Charter, CWA Dagger Awards-nominated The Dead Women of Juárez and Juárez Dance)

“I have only brilliant things to say about Elizabeth—she has my recommendation 110%. With my book One Hundred Years of Vicissitude, Elizabeth took on the challenge of an unsung, newbie author, gave some fantastic advice and feedback, and the book was subsequently picked up and published by Perfect Edge Books. I trust her opinion and believe she truly does have her finger on the pulse of cutting edge contemporary literature, as well as a good crime romp.” — Andrez Bergen (One Hundred Years of Vicissitude, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?, Depth Charging Ice Planet Goth)

“Elizabeth’s frontward and backward understanding of crime fiction—especially emerging trends—coupled with her ability to analyze and articulate fine points, makes her a reviewer I trust without pause. Her gift for authentically engaging in online discussions across a variety of social media platforms is a welcome addition to a town square often filled with shouters and hucksters.” — Ben LeRoy (Publisher, Tyrus Books and Bleak House Books; Editor, Crooked Lane Books)

“I’ve found Elizabeth to care deeply about books and to provide thoughtful and inspired analysis of what she reads. It has been a pleasure working with her.” — Lou Aronica (Publisher, The Story Plant)