KATHRYN CLAPPER is a writer’s editor. She is passionate about partnering with both nonfiction and fiction authors to bring their ideas and stories alive. With 10 years of experience editing more than 300 titles and textbooks for major publishers such as National Geographic, Candlewick Press, Scholastic, Prentice Hall, Pearson Longman, and Blackwell-Wiley, Kathryn knows what it takes to convert an idea into a bound book. With every manuscript, she acts as an advocate of the reader while holding true to the author’s style. Her talents do not stop at developmental editing, however. As an eagle-eyed copyeditor and proofreader, she relentlessly perfects details while keeping the big picture in mind.
Kathryn is a certified English teacher with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University (anthropology) and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (teaching and curriculum). Her areas of expertise include literary nonfiction, YA fiction, biography, general interest nonfiction, scholarly works, children’s nonfiction, and instructional content in the humanities and social sciences.
Kathryn offers the following services:
Copyediting and proofreading
Developmental editing
Project management
Nonfiction: literary, scholarly, children’s, textbooks, other instructional content, Web content
Fiction: YA, mass market, literary, historical
Manuscript critiques and writing assistance
Selected List of Books Edited
Diabolical by Cynthia Leitich Smith
(2012)
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
(2012)
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough (2012)
The Lost Boys of Sudan by Jeff Burlingame (2012)
The Holocaust: Escape from Auschwitz by Lila Perl (2012)
Brainworks: The Mind-bending Science of How You See, What You Think, and Who You Are by Michael S. Sweeney (2011)
Indira Gandhi by Sara Schupack (2011)
How Do Earthquakes Happen? by Wil Mara (2011)
The People’s Pharmacy: Quick and Handy Home Remedies by Joe and Terry Graedon (2011)
Hearing Disorders by Doug Colligan (2011)
Face to Face with Manatees by Brian Skerry (2010)
Hillary Clinton by Jean F. Blashfield (2010)
Shakespeare Explained: Twelfth Night by Joseph Sobran (2010)
Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network That Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement by Rick Bowers (2010)
Prentice Hall Literature, Penguin Edition (2010) (contributing editor and writer)
Eva Perón by Lesli Favor (2010)
Tourette Syndrome by Ruth Bjorklund (2010)
Uncovering America: Digging the Vikings by Lois Miner Huey (2010)
Treating the Brain: What the Best Doctors Know by Walter G. Bradley (2009)
Secret Subway: The Fascinating Tale of an Amazing Feat of Engineering by Martin Sandler (2009)
The Origins and Development of the English Language by John Algeo (2009)
Hispanic America: 1990s to 2010 by Steven Otfinoski (2009)
Crime Scene Science by Karen Romano Young and David Goldin (2009)
The Reggae Scene: The Stars, the Fans, the Music by Peter Manuel and Daniel Neely (2009)
Ace Your Creative Writing Project by Dana Meachen Rau (2009)
Population 1.3 Billion: China Becomes a Super Superpower (2009)
Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe by Karen Lange (2009)
Earth in the Hot Seat: Bulletins from a Warming World by Marfé Ferguson Delano (2009)
Practical Food and Beverage Cost Control by Clement Ojugo (2009)
Knockout! A Photobiography of Boxer Joe Louis (2008)
Idaho by Rebecca Stefoff (2008)
Good Reasons by Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer (2008)
TOPICS EDITED
Biography
General Science and Nature
Memoir
Literary Nonfiction
Fiction: YA, mass market, literary, historical
Global Issues
Current Events
Literary Criticism
History
Music
Geography
Language Arts
Archaeology
Anthropology
Environmental Studies
Health and Disease
Neurology
TYPES OF NONFICTION/FUNCTIONAL TEXT EDITED
Mass Market Books
School/Library Books
Textbook Content
Instructional Materials
Web Content
Brochures
Marketing Materials
Annual Reports
Grant Proposals
Feedback
“Thank you for a truly excellent job in editing my nonfiction book. Before retaining your services, I interviewed a number of editors for the job. All of them were highly credentialed editing professionals. However, I was looking for additional qualities in selecting my editor: intellectual integrity, sensitivity, encouragement, and someone that truly enjoys working with writers. I found these qualities and more in working with you. I also found an inspirational guide. You did an outstanding job!” Henry Dahut
“I was looking for an editor who could polish my manuscript, and at the same time leave my voice intact. I found one in Kathryn. I was more than pleased with her work. She is professional, competent, and a creative editor.” H.S. Christmas
“It is with great pleasure that I recommend Kathryn Clapper. I have known Kathryn professionally for the past seven years. At Pearson Prentice Hall she worked for me as an editorial project manager of language arts textbooks and support materials. I have always been profoundly impressed by Kathryn’s in-depth knowledge and mastery of all aspects of English language arts pedagogy as well the sense of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and creativity with which she tackles all of her work. Kathryn possesses an extremely conscientious work ethic. She manages her time wisely in order to meet deadlines—without ever compromising quality. Her level of collegiality is top-notch, and her relationships with her colleagues are always professional, a reflection of her superb communication skills. I feel confident that Kathryn’s academic background, experience, sound professionalism, and sincere commitment to quality combine to make her an incredibly valuable asset to any editorial endeavor.” — Anathea Simpkins, former language arts managing editor, Pearson Prentice Hall
"Kathryn is an exceptional editor who brings creativity as well as intelligence to everything she undertakes. Her reliability and high standards of excellence make her an asset on any project. She is an outstanding resource for assessing, developing, and editing manuscripts across all disciplines and reading levels. Additionally, she is always a pleasure to work with in every way." —Dina Rubin, former managing editor, Scholastic Library Publishing
“Kathryn Clapper is a fantastic editor and a joy to work with. As a magazine writer working on my first book, I often turned to Kathryn for guidance; I could always count on her for prompt and thoughtful advice.” —Michael Hauenstein, journalist and nonfiction writer
“I thought my book was ready for the printer. Then Kathryn edited it. After that it was really ready. Print runs are expensive. Once the words are on the page there is no turning back. None of my books go to press without Kathryn giving them a final polish.” — Jim Dongweck, self-published children’s author
“If I were to build my dream editor from scratch—well, I wouldn’t have to, because there’s Kathryn Clapper. She’s everything an author needs and wants: highly skilled, thorough, professional, dependable, kind, and cool under fire. With more than 70 books in print, I’ve worked with plenty of editors in my career, but very few are in Kathryn’s class. I can always trust that in her capable hands my work will shine. She is, simply, the best!” — Trudi Strain Trueit, children's fiction and nonfiction author (Trudi is published by Scholastic, Simon and Schuster, Penguin, and Marshall Cavendish)
“Kathryn was invaluable to us as a managing editor. Her attention to detail allowed us to concentrate on the production and design with the confidence in knowing that all aspects of editorial were being taken care of. Kathryn’s quick turnaround kept long-term projects going at a fast pace that allowed us to turn out large series of quality books in a timely manner. We would/will hire Kathryn again in a heartbeat!” — Mary Francis McGavic, project director, The Creative Spark, a book production studio in Bradenton, FL
“I have worked with Kathryn in a freelance capacity for almost four years. I highly value her copyediting skills, as she has always delivered the highest quality work on a large variety of books. She delivers her work on time (or early!), and I consistently seek to hire Kathryn for new projects because she always seems to go the extra mile and is a top-notch professional. I would highly recommend Kathryn to anyone.” — Joy Bean, editor, Marshall Cavendish
“A book project of any size requires persistence, focus, and clearly stated goals. Kathryn brought each of these qualities to my project and did so with professionalism and enthusiasm. Her skill as both an editor and production facilitator served as an essential guiding light toward our shared success.” — James Holter, nonfiction author
“Kathryn Clapper is a skilled, reliable, and careful copy editor. The nonfiction pieces she has copy edited for The Dana Foundation have benefited significantly from her work. I strongly recommend her.” — Johanna Goldberg, public information officer and editor, The Dana Foundation
“Kathryn Clapper has a knack for polishing words, but she does not stop with this shine. She stretches words to their fullest potential. Not once diluting the meaning of my work, she both simplified and amplified all that I had written, a true partner in the creative process. In the end, Kathryn’s influence made me a better writer.” — Erika Alexia Tsoukanelis, author and journalist
“I have worked with Kathryn Clapper for more than ten years. Her editorial skills are unparalleled whether project managing, copyediting, or proofreading. Kathryn approaches all her projects with enthusiasm and professionalism. No matter the subject matter, she brings insightfulness and intuitiveness to all her work. She is my ‘go-to’ editorial professional!” — Christine Florie, executive editor, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark
“I worked with Kathryn Clapper on a book a while back and found her approach refreshing after a couple of not-so-wonderful experiences with other editors. Entirely professional, she was relaxed and friendly without losing focus on the job at hand, demanding of high standards without making either one of us crazy, and forthright about business matters without being cold. I would work with her again anytime. A thoroughly pleasant professional.” — Stephen Peters, writer/storyteller
“Kathryn was a pleasure to work with from the bookmap to the finished product. She gave helpful suggestions on how to improve the outline for the overall book, and then sharp and concise points when she line edited. She also did a wonderful job making sure the book included fun language for the young audience, but was also packed with information. She knows that the way to write for youth isn't about adding bunches of exclamation points, but instead making sure the text is simply well written.” — Ellen Labrecque, children’s nonfiction author
“On the projects we worked on together, Kathryn’s feedback was thorough, with as much attention to detail as to the overall picture. At the same time, she was positive and affirming in her suggestions and clear in her instructions. She is a friendly and supportive editor who is a pleasure to work with.” — Dana Meachen Rau, author
“Kathryn is a crucial part of the editorial process for most of the books on my list. She copy edits with precision, insight, and grace while improving each manuscript in ways that impress me each time. She addresses her concerns to me and to the author tactfully and knowledgeably. Kathryn’s broad view of the world provides balance and relevance, no matter the topic. I highly recommend her as an editor and a professional.” — Deborah Grahame-Smith, senior editor, nonfiction publisher
“I really enjoyed working with Kathryn Clapper. I found her to be insightful in her comments and suggestions on my manuscript. She had great attention to detail and made sure that the text was clear, concise, and engaging. Kathryn did a wonderful job of shepherding my work through the book production process, from first draft to final pages.” — Wendy Mead, nonfiction author
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kathryn Clapper on children’s book projects. The projects included many different elements, and I valued Kathryn’s organization and attention to detail. She was easy to work with, clear in her expectations, and open to discussion. If given the opportunity, I would be delighted to work with her again.” — Lisa Bullard, children's book author
Submission
Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:
You may send your initial submission to all addresses to make sure it's received.
Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF
attachment preferred). Large files
should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started
(e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).
A sample is required to receive an estimate
for editing services
Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your
project (e.g., footnotes).
(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):
(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):
(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction,
horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):
(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):
(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)
Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation
(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):
(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:
(09) Number of footnotes/references:
(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:
(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:
(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)
(13) Your name:
(14) E-mail addresses:
(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification
regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):
(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):
(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):
(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?
(19) How did you learn about our service?:
(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)
Notes:
No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly
how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)
It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.
Note:Questions about price and turnaround times cannot be given over the phone or via chat.
To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page.
Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours (M-F, 9a-7p central). Expect longer response times if you submitted after U.S. business hours or on weekends.
You may also send your submission to our alternate e-mail addresses if you do not receive a response within three hours M-F:
Help2012 at Airmail.net
editingnetwork at gmail.com
contact at editing-writing.com
You may also leave voice mail for the network coordinator: 469-789-3030. This number is for verification of e-mail submissions only.
Please be as complete as
possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive
the most accurate estimate.
Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your editor or publishing consultant, not with the editing network as a whole or its coordinator.