Everyone has a story…

An adventure novel or collection of short stories, a deeply personal memoir reflecting on a career or life lived large, self-help guides, cookbooks, children’s stories and nonfiction treatises on whaling, cigar labels, human rights, gemstone mining… I’ve edited an ever-expanding number of books on fascinating subjects written by both established and emerging authors across the globe.

If you’re looking for an editorial assessment to see how your manuscript measures up (and how you can improve), want to dive deep with developmental editing or need some help sharpening your spelling and tightening your sentences so you can pitch your book to an agent or publisher, I can help. Check out my reviews on my Reedsy profile (hint: they’re all five stars) and browse below to see a few of my collaborations with authors.

© Janet Gyenes: El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Rum Runner Prohibition

    FICTION: ACTION + ADVENTURE

    As a contract editor for the authors, who had worked in Hollywood for decades but were newly venturing into the print world, I provided developmental editing and copyediting to help shape some of the scenes more sharply, point out potential gaps, and give that last bit of polish pre-publishing.

    Buy Rum Runner Prohibition

  • Stikine Odyssey

    NONFICTION

    As contract editor for a Canadian publishing house, I was privileged to work on Peter Rowlands’ memoir and tribute to the Stikine River, which he started exploring and protecting in 1979, after he first became seduced by its sinuous splendour. Already an excellent writer, Rowlands put his trust in my expertise to help refine some of the book’s structure, ensuring the story was told in the most authentic way.

    Buy Stikine Odyssey

  • Appel: A Canadian in the French Foreign Legion

    MILITARY MEMOIR

    Author Joel Struthers writes in the acknowledgements, “Thank you, Janet Gyenes, for your understanding of the English language and editing skills. We sure spent a lot of time on that.” That time paid off. Working independently with the first-time author, I helped shape a rough manuscript into a salelable book that WLU Press published as part of its military history collection to great success.

    Buy Appel