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Putting your manuscript into someone else’s hands is a scary task. With four years of experience, a BA in English/Literature, and over three hundred edited books, this is where I can help. My pledge is to treat your book with the respect it deserves, working with you to polish your dream into a reality. Everything from proofreads to detailed copy edits, and even money-saving packages, I can give you the best service possible at an affordable price.
Prices & Packages:
Proofreading starts at .0045 a word
Proofreading is done on a final draft and includes line-by-line correction of spelling, grammar, and minor sentence structure issues. Each proofread receives at least two passes before being sent back to the author. This package does not include second edit after author reviews changes.
Package fees are baseline fees. Please be aware that books that need excessive editing outside of the package picked may lead to extra fees. The fees will be discussed with the author before any work is done
Anything under 20,000 words is automatically $100.
Detailed Copy Editing starts at .0060 a word
Copy Editing is done on a final draft and includes detailed, line-by-line editing for sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and, if needed, other issues that do not require major changes, such as plot consistency, character analysis, and style. Each detailed copy edit receives at least two passes before being sent back to the author. This package does not include second edit after author reviews changes.
Package fees are baseline fees. Please be aware that books that need excessive editing outside of the package picked may lead to extra fees. The fees will be discussed with the author before any work is done
Anything under 20,000 words is automatically $125.
Detailed Copy Editing & Proofread Package starts at .0080 a word
(Recommended)
This is the package I recommend most for every author, as well as my best-selling and best-value package. It also includes a free blurb edit ($35 value). The Detailed Copy Editing and Proofread Package combines both services. This package has two different steps. First, Detailed Copy Editing will be done to a manuscript and sent back to the author. The author will then make all the changes they need to based on offered suggestions. Once the author has finished this stage and sent it back, a thorough Proofread will be done on the finished product. Please refer to the above explanations for each service to see what they entail. This is the most cost-effective package if you desire both a detailed copy edit as well as a final proofread after suggested changes have been made. This package gives the most-polished end product. It is the author’s responsibility to supply the blurb at the time of the edit.
Package fees are baseline fees. Please be aware that books that need excessive editing outside of the package picked may lead to extra fees. The fees will be discussed with the author before any work is done
Anything under 20,000 words is automatically $165.
$35 Flat Rate for Blurb Editing & Critique
Need help making your blurb great? Need a fresh pair of eyes to check for errors and readability? This is your option. This is a flat-rate service with a two-day turnaround.
$50 Flat Rate for Small Jobs
Almost anything under 2500 words, such as query letters. (Query letter format)
Experience:
BA from Grand Canyon University in English/Literature.
Graduated with Honors: Cum Laude.
Four Years of Experience.
Editor in chief for Clean Teen Publishing and Crimson Tree Publishing. www.cleanteenpublishing.com and http://www.crimsontreepublishing.com.
I have edited, compiled, and published four anthologies through Indie Style Press, which is a compilation of Editing Services by Cynthia Shepp & Phycel Designs by Rene Folsom, Author.
Apocalypse: An Anthology by Authors & Readers, Paranormal Anthology with a TWIST, Stalkers: A Collection of Thriller Stories, and Stardust: A Futuristic Romance Collection. You can find these on Amazon.
Terms and Conditions:
I occasionally update my Terms and Conditions. It is the client’s responsibility to occasionally glance at them to see if anything has changed.
MANUSCRIPTS must be submitted in Times New Roman, size 12 font, and double spaced. If they are not, I will change them. It makes the editing process cleaner and easier.
I DO NOT edit non-fiction books. However, I will edit non-fiction articles, website material, press releases, and other such subject matter. I am also not familiar with UK grammar. I will edit UK books, but only if they are being completely Americanized. If you want to keep some UK tone, (colour instead of color, sayings, etc) that is fine. You just have to make sure to tell me. However, any and all grammar related issues that I do recognize will be Americanized.
GRAPHIC and/or gratuitous RAPE scenes are not accepted. Books containing them are subject to IMMEDIATE return without refund or completion.
HOWEVER, books that contain rape are not an automatic no. A girl trying to get over being raped, a fade-to-black rape scene that is integral to the story, a book about rape that inspires hope in victims, a crime book that manages to impress the violence without making it graphic and pleasingly sexual, etc… would all be considered and most likely accepted. Please just explain the scenes to me. Erotica books that use rape as something pleasingly sexual, or any book that does, or any book that describes rape in graphic, violent, sexual, scene-by-scene detail, will not be accepted and if in a book I accepted without my knowledge, will be returned with NO REFUND OR COMPLETION. (Rape Clause Added October 20, 2015)
AUTHORS are responsible for getting their books to me by the date agreed upon. If I have not received it within two days of the agreed upon date, I will move on to the next in line, unless I have an email from the author and we agree on other terms.
RUSH jobs, which I very rarely take, will incur a fee. It will depend on length and time given to finish. The start amount is $100, and it goes up from there.
PLEASE be aware that books that need excessive editing outside of the package picked may lead to extra fees. The fees will be discussed with the author before any work is done. If while editing the book, excessive editing outside the package becomes a problem, progress will halt while the author is contacted. This rarely happens. However, I have had a book for proofread that the sample was great, but when I received the book, only the first two chapters were acceptable. The rest needed more of a developmental edit. This is the reason I mainly ask for middle-of-the-book samples.
PAYMENT is accepted up front. An invoice will be sent through PayPal when the manuscript is received. No work will be done until invoice is paid in full. PayPal fees are calculated and added to final bill. A $100 cancellation fee will be charged if the client cancels their time slot less than a week before their date. A $50 cancellation fee will be charged if the client cancels their time slot less than two weeks before their date. This fee is strictly enforced.
HOLIDAYS and holiday weekends DO NOT count toward the estimated amount of time given to edit your manuscript. Those times are spent with my family. We always take a vacation during the week of Thanksgiving and one week in the summer. Please be respectful of those times. If any of those fall during your time period, please be aware of this. Example: If you are given a time period over Christmas, please be aware the holidays will interfere with the edit time. Times given are estimates unless completely firmed up with me by way of a pre-order publication date. Two-week turnarounds are no longer automatically given. Manuscripts are given my complete attention and are turned over in as timely a manner as possible. Sometimes, life happens. Please be patient.
***I am NOT a developmental editor. I am a final-draft editor. If you are a FIRST-TIME author who needs extensive help with plot, character development, and flow, I would recommend you hire a developmental editor to work with you through the different stages of pre-editing before you contact me.***
I reserve the right to refuse any and all manuscripts at my discretion.
Contact Details:
To contact me about availability, questions, or to submit your manuscript, please email me at cynthiashepp@yahoo.com. Please be aware that my schedule fills up quickly. For assurance of a spot, a 4-6 week pre-schedule is necessary. However, do not hesitate to contact me about sooner availability. It is possible that I have open spots.
(Many are not listed due to privacy)
Jason Brant: The Gate, Tartarus, Sheol, The Dark, Devoured, Consumed, Ravaged, Ash, Madness, The Perfect Crime
Marquita Valentine: (NYT and USA Today Best-selling Author) Twice Tempted, Just Desserts, Only For You , True For You, Not Over You, Wish For You, Burn For You, The Request, Be Mine, All the Right Moves, The Deception, Need You Tonight, Love So Hot, Dare Me Once, Love So True, Love So Irrestible, The Forgotten Bride, The Temporary Bride, The Billionaire Bride, Seducing the Billionaire’s Wife, Skin Deep,
Sawyer Bennett: (USA Today Best-selling Author) Off Course, If I Return, Forever Young, Off Chance, Legal Affairs 1-6, On the Rocks, Make it a Double, Confessions of a Litigation God, Sugar on the Edge, Uncivilized, Off Season, With a Twist, Off Duty, Shaken Not Stirred, Wicked Fall, Clash, Crash, Grind, Yield, Love Uncivilized, Wicked Lust
Rene Folsom: Heart You, Voices of the Soul, Eyes of the Soul, Truths of the Soul, Blood of the Soul, Secrets of the Soul, Bind Me, Hearts of the Soul, Shuttered Affections, Exposed Affections, Flatter Me, For Liberty, Adventurous, Tempt, The Wager, Game Changer, Trust, Trapt, The Break, Game On, Promise You,
Shelly Crane: (NYT Best-selling Author) Smash Into You
Tabatha Vargo: (NYT Best-Selling Author) On The Plus Side
Tabatha Vargo & Melissa Andrea: (NYT Best-Selling Authors) The Procedure
Jon Messenger: The Brink of Distinction Trilogy, Card Tricks, Rage
T.L. Frye: The Secret of Magik and Dragons
Rebecca Gober & Courtney Nuckels: Exposing Ele, Surviving Ele, Ending Ele
Magen McMinimy: Blood Claim, Resurrection Stone, Shadowed Memories, Primal Hunger, Immortal Craving, Primal Calling, Immortal Promise, Immortal Blood, Immortal Rapture, Immortal Rising, Wicked Perfection
Tanith Morse: Super Dark 2 and Super Dark 3
Rene Folson & Juli Valenti: Adventurous, Bound, Charming
Hans Cummings: Zack Jackson & The Cytherean Academy, Zack Jackson & The Hives of Valtra
Rachael James: Hook, Line, and Garter, Crazy B*tch, Baby B*tch
Erika Kathryn: Audie the Angel and the Angel Army, Audie the Angel: Plague
Phil Taylor: White Picket Prisons, 50 Shades of Phil, The Sneaker Tree
Nicholas Andrews: Festival of the Saints, Babyface Fire
Cheyanne Young: Powered
Shelby Fallon: Stealing Grace, Taking Faith
Ryan Casey: The Painting, The Disappearing
Jennifer Foor: Hustle Him
Andris Bear: Angel Unleashed, Demon Undamned, All Wicked’s Eve, Lover’s Lane, Memory Lane, Dead End Lane, Inked, Daring to Fall
M.L. Ryan: Special Offers, Special Attraction, Special Passage
Nicki Scalise: Prayer for the Dead
Jennifer Clay: The Other Side of Normal
Bart Hopkins: Dead Ends
Michael Loring: Number Eighteen, Say My Name
Dawn Husted: Safe
E.G. Gaddess: Dhampyr Journey
Jim Proctor: Made in the Stars, Veronica Phoenix
G.E. Saturley: The Real Deal
Toni Aleo: (NYT and USA Today Best-Selling Author) Breaking Away, Tangled in the Laces, The Whiskey Prince
Shaun Dowdall: Rebirth (A Thousand Hearts), Second Chance, From Beyond, Chrysalis Blooms 1-2
Kay Bratt: Somewhere Beautiful
Sonya Loveday: The Summer I Fell, End Note, If Ever I Fall
Candace Knoebel: Evernight, Everlost
Sonya Loveday & Candace Knoebel: Love Always, Runaway Heart
Stephanie Summers: Haunting, Awakening
Stephanie Erickson: Unseen, The Dead Room, Unforgiven, Undivided, The Fate
Kyan Yauchler: Homeostasis Lost, Autumn Nation
Katie French: The Brothers, Clay: A Breeder’s Story
Marta Brown: Sun-Kissed Summer
Shelbi Wescott: Virulent Stories
Peter Boland: The Spiral Arm Episodes 2-4
Pete Bauer: Kneel and Pray, Lost and Found
Annalise Nixon: Hard Place 1-6
Anthologies: Apocalypse, Twist, Stalkers, and Stardust
Clean Teen Publishing:
Rebecca Gober & Courtney Nuckels: Exposing Ele, Surviving Ele, Ending Ele
Gabrielle Arrowsmith: Concealed in the Shadows, Released from the Darkness, Reduced to Dust
Cindy Saunders: Double Star
Wonderstruck: Various Authors
B.T. Lyons: Heartkeeper, Heartbound
Jon Messenger: Wind Warrior, Flame Caller, Water Shaper, Earth God
Lauren Nicolle Taylor: The Woodlands, The Wall, The Wounded, The Wanted, The Willful (Woodlands Novella), Nora and Kettle
Jennifer Anne Davis: The Key, Red, War, Cage of Deceit
Holly Kelly: Rising, Descending, Avenging
Melissa J. Cunningham: Reluctant Guardian, The Elementalist, The Celestine Sword
Erica Kiefer: Lingering Echoes, Rumors, Vanishing Act
Kelly Risser: Never Forgotten, Current Impressions, Always Remembered, Sea of Memories
Sherry Ficklin: Haunting Zoe, Queen of Someday, Queen of Tomorrow, Queen of Always, Playing With Fire, In Too Deep
Delsheree Gladden: Wicked Power, Wicked Glory
Neil Harris: The Last Orphan, The Harvest, Enslaved
Amanda Strong: The Awakener, Hidden Monster, Holy and the Fallen, Inner Demons
Michelle K. Pickett: Finding Willow, Unspeakable, Milayna, Milayna’s Angel, The Innocent
K.C. Finn: A Place Halfway
Sandy Goldsworthy: Aftermath, Aftershock
Renee Shearer: The Hunted, The Forsaken
Shannon Maynard: Wicked Luck, Wicked Fate
Tyler Jolley and Sherry D. Ficklin: Prodigal, Riven
Audrey Greathouse: The Neverland Wars
Jennifer Derrick: Broken Fate
Audrey Greathouse: The Neverland Wars
Kendra Saunders: Dating an Alien Pop Star
Crimson Tree Publishing:
Alicia Michaels: Secrets (Bionics 3), Spark (Bionics 4), Flame (Bionics 5), Revolt (Bionics 6), The Resistance
Jon Messenger: Brink of Distinction series, Wolves of the Northern Rift, The Blood Thief of Whitten Hall, The Golem of Solomon’s Way
Peggy Martinez: Sweet Contradiction, Perfect Contradiction, Contradiction Cookbook
Ranae Glass: Chasing Daybreak, Chasing Midnight
June Stevens: Voodoo Moon
References:
Clean Teen and Crimson Tree Publishing:
We have worked with numerous other editors in the past. There hasn’t been one that has stood out from the crowd for us like Cynthia Shepp has. Cynthia’s edits are not only thorough and accurate, but she offers a personal touch by adding simplified grammar lessons along with her edits to help our authors grow. Her professionalism and desire to go the extra mile make her a notch above the rest. We will continue to use Cynthia for our editing services for many years to come!
Marquita Valentine:
I highly recommend working with Cynthia for all of your editing needs. She always goes the extra mile, and catches things that most others wouldn’t in a manuscript. I find her prices reasonable and her work exceptional. I plan to continue to work with Cynthia on future projects. (New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author)
Jason Brant:
For anyone reading this and thinking about hiring Cynthia Shepp, let me tell you to stop waffling around and do it. That’s a decision you won’t regret. Her quality of work is so spectacular that she is now my full time editor. My prose is stronger, my characters more believable, and my stories more plausible because of the fantastic work she has done.
Timely, accurate, professional, and affordable – what more could you ask for?
Jon Messenger:
Like most independent authors, I spent a significant amount of time looking for a quality editor. I tried companies that didn’t live up to my expectation. I found numerous editors who charged far more than Cynthia did but, when compared side-by-side, Cynthia’s editing work was of a far higher quality.
If you’re looking for an editor, you won’t find a better quality for a better price and a quicker turn around. Cynthia is absolutely dedicated to providing the highest quality editorial services. Her editing was so impressive that I’ve even hired her to re-edit novels that I’ve already published, just because she makes my work that much better.
If you’re still on the fence or searching for an editor, hire Cynthia. You won’t be disappointed.
Sawyer Bennett:
Cynthia just finished a manuscript for me and I cannot even begin to describe how thrilled I am by her work. It was thorough and professionally executed. Her insight into my work was invaluable. I will be using Cynthia for all of my future editing work. I cannot sing her praises loud enough. (USA Today Best-Selling Author)
Tanith Morse:
Let me start by saying that I have worked with a LOT of editors and Cynthia is hands down the best ever. Not only is she first rate at spotting all those little typos and continuity errors that all authors dread but her turn around time is nothing short of miraculous. Throughout working with Cynthia she was always a consummate professional, always keeping me up to date with her progress and, wait for it … she actually delivered the project THREE days earlier than agreed. Cynthia is a truly marvelous editor and I cannot recommend her highly enough. If you are an Indie author concerned about finding a diamond in all the murky waters of sub par editors I can wholeheartedly say that Cynthia is the real deal. A truly first rate editor that I will be recommending to all my friends.
Phil Taylor:
I recently received my first manuscript edited by Cynthia Shepp. I was blown away by the quality of her work. Her editing increased the quality of my writing immeasurably. Her rates gave me an incredible return on my investment and she was fast as well. I could not be more satisfied. I plan to use her again and have no hesitation at all recommending her to others. Thank you, Cynthia!
Hans Cummings:
I’ve worked with other editors before Cynthia, but she is the one I will be going back to. Her feedback was extremely helpful and her communication was great. There are many comments already left here which sum up my feelings for working with her, so I’ll just say: they’re right!
Cheyanne Young:
Cynthia is a fabulous editor with a really quick turnaround time. She promised dates to me and they were met with no problem. One thing I really liked about her editing was that she would include the reason why she changed some of my grammar errors, thus enabling me to learn from my mistakes and not make them again. I found that super helpful and it was a way of going above and beyond when editing my novel. I can’t wait to have her edit all of my future novels.
Shaun Dowdall:
Cynthia was recommended to myself by my cover designer and I must say I was more than impressed by the quality and efficiency of her work! I would definitely recommend her services for editing and I hope to work with her again once my second draft is complete! Wonderful job on my blurb. Thank you very much.
Rachel James:
I recently hired Cynthia Shepp to edit my manuscript and to critique my blurb. I was positively thrilled with the results. Not only is Cynthia professional, timely, and affordable, she was also very much committed to bringing out the best in both. I have learned so much from the experience, and I truly believe she has helped me become a better writer. For anyone looking for an editor, I cannot recommend her strongly enough. We have already begun discussing my next project, and I am very much looking forward to working with her in the future. Cynthia, you are fabulous!
Andris Bear:
Cynthia is fabulous–efficient, professional, and affordable. She met my high expectations on a tight schedule and was delightful to work with. She explains her reasons behind every suggestion (which is a big value to the flighty, anal retentive, worrywarts such as myself). I cannot recommend her enough and will definitely hire her again!
S.L. Dearing:
I have been fortunate enough to have three of my short stories chosen to be in Cynthia’s Anthologies and through the course of being chosen I have also had the opportunity to be exposed to her editing abilities. She is exactly what a writer is looking for in an editor! She is thorough, detailed, knowledgeable and interactive. She is looking to make your manuscript the best it can be not only when it comes to correcting the grammar and punctuation, but also the flow and content. She is definitely my first choice when my next novel is finished and I have complete confidence in her ability to make me shine!
Tara Moeller:
Best. Editor. Ever. Seriously. She is fast, good, and friendly. She does an excellent job, without taking your voice out of your work.
M.L. Ryan:
If you are thinking of hiring an editor, you can’t do better than Cynthia. A consummate professional, she is thorough, prompt, and a joy to work with. I can’t envision trusting my future manuscripts to anyone else, and you shouldn’t either!
Jim Proctor:
Cynthia edited a short story for me, and I was thrilled with the results. I had thought that the story was well written, having carefully gone over it numerous times. Cynthia’s edits amazed me. She made my work shine. She made rough sections flow beautifully. She suggested changes that made the story better without changing my meaning. Her comments explaining various issues throughout the story were very clear and extremely helpful. I was blown away. Her work is impeccable and her prices are very reasonable. I will never publish another book or story without hiring Cynthia to edit it.
Carrie Avery Moriarty:
Cynthia was great in editing my short story. She was concise in her changes, never making the story deviate from the original, and helped me present a better finished project. If she was unsure of my intentions, she asked for clarification. This was helpful because I was able to see where a reader would question what I had written. I couldn’t ask for a better editor for my work.
Kay Bratt:
When it comes to editing, Cynthia Shepp is one of the best. I’m first and foremost a storyteller, and I’ll admit my weakness is grammar and its plethora of rules. However, with Cynthia on the job, I can rest easy knowing that her attention to detail will give my manuscript that professional touch it needs. (Bestselling author of The Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters.)
Pete Bauer:
Cynthia Shepp’s skills are top-notch. She has an extensive knowledge about the genre and age range for which my book was intended and gave clear, concise guidance on areas of concern. She has an eagle eye when it comes to finding punctuation, spelling or grammatical mistakes. No matter how many times I’ve read my book or had it read by others, Cynthia was able to spot the places we missed.
Best of all, Cynthia is a dream to work with. She was clear in her communication and remained true to her word on expectations and process, delivering her services in a timely manner. I spent a lot of time researching editors and her previous/current clients were all unified in their satisfaction. Like them, I couldn’t be happier.
Marta Brown
I cannot thank Cynthia enough! She is an amazing editor who goes above and beyond for her clients. She is a real find. Quick, kind, and a consummate professional. You will not be disappointed!
Stephanie Erickson
I have worked with Cynthia Shepp on my last four books, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon. As a perfectionist, I require two things from my editorial team: Accuracy and reliability.
Cynthia does an amazing job editing. One of the most consistent compliments my books get is that they are well edited. That is thanks to Cynthia’s critical eye and firm grasp of grammatical rules. Not only will she make a change, but she cites why the change was made, and even includes online links so you can see—and understand—for yourself.
Second, with such a tight publishing schedule, I have to have someone reliable, and Cynthia is just that. She tells you upfront when she can have your project done, and then she delivers on or before that date. That quality is priceless to me, and it helps me meet all my deadlines.
I highly recommend Cynthia for all your editing needs. Seriously, she’s amazing. Stop reading this now and get in touch with her. I mean it.
A.G. Henley
Cynthia did an excellent job proofreading my novel, The Fire Sisters. She was timely, professional, detailed, and always available for questions. She even taught me a few tips and tricks to make my next manuscript better. I highly recommend her! (author of The Scourge, a 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist)
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Contact: cynthiashepp@yahoo.com
(No Refunds… No Exceptions.)
I always recommend that authors send the manuscript to betas after editing. No manuscript will ever be 100% perfect. Betas can help find those stray errors before publication. They are a valuable asset.
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