There’s an axiom about editing that holds true: Bad editing is immediately apparent. Good editing is invisible.

A good, or excellent, editor helps produce a book that appears as though it was crafted in a literary immaculate conception. Given that, it can be hard to track down the work of an excellent editor. You can, however, do this by reading through an author’s acknowledgements in the books you love. Many writers will mention, and thank, the editors they worked with therein.

Sometimes we editors even take credit for our own work. And/or seek out testimonials from those we’ve worked with. In my case, I’m doing both. Which is why you’ll find this page split into two sections: Testimonials, and a partial editorial CV.

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Testimonials

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Michael Matheson came through on a tight deadline, while taking over editorial of the final book in a trilogy, and managed to make it feel as if we’d been working together since the beginning of the series. Michael recognized immediately what I wanted to do with my novel, and my series’ finale, and honed the book to make my voice and intent shine through. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Michael again, and would recommend anyone looking for an editor of the fantastic to do the same.

– Chadwick Ginther, author of the Thunder Road Trilogy

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Michael Matheson is a consummate professional: organized, experienced and possessed of an amazing command of the field of genre literature. As an editor, their comments are incisive and insightful but never overbearing. They are capable of attending to the bigger picture in terms of plot and character arcs and equally comfortable at the level of the line where their strong knowledge of formatting, research methods, and style are invaluable. I worked with Michael for several years in my capacity as the managing editor of ChiZine Publications, and they proved themselves a rare talent. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to my friends and colleagues.

– Helen Marshall, Managing Editor of ChiZine Publications (2009-2012) and award-winning author of Hair Side, Flesh Side

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Michael was exceptional. They gave attention to detail and pointed me in the right direction. They provided me with the type of feedback promised, improved flow, clarified meanings, and great alignment with my original idea. Their feedback was so constructive and incredibly detailed. I highly recommend them.

– Essmat Sophie, award-winning author & director
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Michael Matheson handled my project with deft hands, considering developmental, line editing, and proofing concerns in a single review. Michael provided excellent genre insight and kept me from certain category traps I had felt compelled to include, something I can only assume comes from Michael’s broad reading or work with publishers. I would recommend Michael’s editing in a flash.

– Michael F. Stewart, author

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I recently had the pleasure of working with Michael Matheson editing a story of mine for publication. Rarely have I worked with another editor so carefully attuned to the voice and intention of my work. They were incredibly detailed and accurate in every one of their suggestions, and I wouldn’t hesitate to hire them again for any future freelance editorial needs I might have. Highly recommended.

– Andrew Wilmot, editor, and author of The Death Scene Artist

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Editorial CV

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What follows is a partial CV — a small sampling of books I’ve worked on in the last few years, in varying capacities. The material below only covers books currently published that I could find covers for, and omits ghostwriting/anything I’ve signed a NDA for.

(I’ve converted the visual layout previously used here to a list format to
be more mobile and data use friendly.)

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CZP (ChiZine Publications)

(Substantive, line/copy, and/or proofreading, in
various combinations)

Nancy Baker, Cold Hillside
Nancy Baker, The Night Inside
Ellen Datlow, ed., Fearful Symmetries
Gemma Files, The Hexslinger Omnibus
Gemma Files, We Will All Go Down Together
Paul DiFilippo, Wikiworld
Christopher Golden, Tell My Sorrows to the Stones
Lisa L. Hannett, Lament for the Afterlife
Kenneth Mark Hoover, Haxan
Kenneth Mark Hoover, Quaternity
Sandra Kasturi, Samantha Beiko, eds., Imaginarium 2013
Helen Marshall, Gifts for the One Who Comes After
Susie Moloney, Things Withered
David Nickle, The ‘Geisters
Peter Roman, The Mona Lisa Sacrifice
Peter Roman, The Dead Hamlets
Michael Rowe, Wild Fell
Geoff Ryman, The Warrior Who Carried Life
Caitlin Sweet, A Telling of Stars
Caitlin Sweet, The Silences of Home
Rio Youers, Hollow Point

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Farafina Books

(Substantive and line/copy,
co-edited with Chinelo Onwualu)

Lawrence Amaeshi, Sweet Crude Odyssey

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Green Ronin

(Substantive, line/copy, and/or proofreading, in
various combinations)

Mutants & Masterminds Deluxe Gamemaster’s Guide
Mutants & Masterminds Astounding Adventures: Nothing to Fear
Abzu’s Bounty Adventure Path for The Expanse RPG
Time Traveler’s Codex, A Mutants & Masterminds Supplement

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Harlequin

(Proofreading and some sensitivity reading)

Annabeth Albert, Arctic Heat (Carina)
Maggie K. Black, Amish Hideout (Love Inspired Suspense)
Chloe Blake & Nana Prah, A Taste of Passion & Ambitious
Seduction (Double Novel, Kimani Romance)
Karen Booth, Between Marriage and Merger (Harlequin Desire)
Jo Ann Brown, An Amish Proposal (Live Inspired)
Kerri Carpenter, Bidding on the Bachelor (Harlequin Special Edition)
Janice Carter, For Love of a Dog (Harlequin Heartwarming)
Marie Celine, Lights, Camera, Murder (Worldwide Mystery)
Janie Crouch, Constant Risk (Harlequin Intrigue)
Patricia Johns, Her Lawman Protector (Harlequin Heartwarming)
Alex R. Kahler, Runebinder (Harlequin Teen)
Susan Krinard & Jane Kindred, Twilight Crosssing & Bewitching
the Dragon (Double Novel, Nocturne)
Angelina M. Lopez, Lush Money (Carina)
Tracy Madison, Their Christmas Angel (Harlequin Special Edition)
Michelle Major, Romancing the Wallflower (Harlequin Special Edition)
Nina Milne, Whisked Away by Her Millionaire Boss (Harlequin Romance)
Tara Randel, Trusting Her Heart (Harlequin Heartwarming)
Terri Reed, Guardian (Love Inspired Suspense)
Michelle Sagara, Cast in Fury (Luna)
Karen Rose Smith, The Nanny Clause (Harlequin Special Edition)
Tyler Anne Snell, Reining in Trouble (Harlequin Intrigue)
Alison Stone, Plain Jeopardy (Love Inspired Suspense)
Erin Watt, When It’s Real (Harlequin Teen)
Jeannie Watt, Her Mountain Sanctuary (Harlequin Super Romance)
Aidan Wayne, Play it Again (Carina)
Gina Wilkins, The Way to a Soldier’s Heart (Harlequin Super Romance)
Teri Wilson, How to Rescue a Family (Harlequin Special Edition)

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Ravenstone

(Substantive and line/copy)

Chadwick Ginther, Too Far Gone

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Transnational Press London

(Substantive and line/copy)

Essmat Sophie, Dancing Amid Fire, Rising Above Ruins

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Indie

(Substantive and line/copy, some proofreading,
and/or critique)

Andrew C. Broderick, The Cosmic Bullet: The Enigma Series Part One
Andrew C. Broderick, Fireball: The Enigma Series Part Two
Andrew C. Broderick, Destination Earth: The Enigma Series Part Three
Andrew C. Broderick, Sanctuary: The Enigma Series Part Four
Andrew C. Broderick, Missing: The Lost Colony Series Part One
Andrew C. Broderick, Hunted: The Lost Colony Series Part Two
Andrew C. Broderick, Eden: The Lost Colony Series Part Three
Andrew C. Broderick, The God Chamber: The Lost Colony Series Part Four
Michael B. Hinton & Sherry Melancon, Afflicted: Book One of the RTX Chronicles
Dep Kirkland, Lawyer Games: After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Angela Meadon, Strong Medicine
Veronica Sicoe, The Deep Link: The Ascendancy Trilogy Book 1
Veronica Sicoe, The Prime Rift: The Ascendancy Trilogy Book 2
Erec Stebbins, The Anonymous Signal (Intel 1)
Erec Stebbins, The Nash Criterion (Intel 1)
Erec Stebbins, Androcide (Intel 1)
Erec Stebbins, Metal: Hard Time Book 1
Erec Stebbins, Longhorn: Hard Time Book 2
Erec Stebbins, Cult: Hard Time Book 3
Erec Stebbins, Trune: Hard Time Book 4
Erec Stebbins, Synth: Hard Time Book 5
Michael F. Stewart, Counting Wolves

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