Rosanne Catalano: Childrens book editor

On every job, Rosanne Catalano offers breadth and depth of knowledge as well as a passion for her work.

She will be your ideal reader, looking at your work from the consumer’s point of view and letting you know exactly how to appeal to your market. Thanks to her experience sorting submissions for a publishing house, she can let you know how a publisher sees your manuscript—and how to present your work in its best light.

Rosanne excels at working in your style. She can make your prose stronger, more active and more grammatical while maintaining the unique voice that you have created. She always strives to make the book all yours, only better!

Rosanne Catalano brings a lifetime of experience to every project. An avid reader since the age of four, she began to study the art of writing six years later and continued her training in creative and expository writing over twenty-five years, including courses with Johns Hopkins University.

In college, Rosanne was chosen by the faculty to be one of ten students allowed to tutor their peers on written work. This honor included a year of training in the art of teaching grammar and style, rather than just correcting it. Rosanne also has had the benefit of eight years experience in diverse office environments (a performing arts center, a medical manufacturer, an insurance company and a church, among others), giving her a wide range of knowledge and an understanding of many fields.

Since then, she has worked as a professional freelance editor for nearly ten years.

Rosanne also offers professional-level knowledge of theater and related terms, holds the rank of black belt in wado ryu karatedo, and has a strong background in languages, including study of Latin (five years) and French (four years) and some familiarity with Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, Welsh and Japanese.

ROSANNE CATALANO

Children's/Young Adult
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Christian – Inspirational

Presubmission Editing for novels and short stories ranging from contemporary South Africa to Christian science fiction, written for adults, young adults or children: every level of editing, including proofreading, copyediting and developmental editing. Notable clients include:

Asulon, Bill McGrath, Fantasy Novel, Christian
The Crossroads Gang and the Ghosts of Lone Jack, Lance Noel, Middle Grade Historical Fiction — Winner of the 2010 Arizona Book Award in the Young Adult category!
"Cloud Country", Noah Klocek, Children's Story
"The Duel", A.F. vonWening, Adult Short Fiction
I, Bully, Josepha Kekedi, Young Adult Novel
The Master's Craftsman, Carole Towriss, Young Adult Novel, Christian
"Dream Catcher", Cindy Pitta, Legend
Five Days, David Hitchner, Young Adult Novel
Why Is Crater Lake So Blue?, Michael LaLumiere, Stagger Lee Books, 2007, Adult Fiction
Runaway Lies, Sarah Tregay, Young Adult Novel
"Grandmother Clock and the Moondrops," Estelle Condra, Children's Story
"When the Hurricane Comes," Kathy Unger, Children's Story
Jacy Meets Betsy, Carol Edwards, Majestic Publishing, LLC, 2006, Children's Story, Christian
Touch, Sarah Tregay, Young Adult Novel
Adventures of the Book Battling Kids, Richard Brian Harvell, Waterwood Publishing Group, 2006, Young Adult Novel, Fantasy
"Potato Tall Tale," Estelle Condra, Children's Story
Evolutionary Theory for Christians, Richard Barker, Inspirational
The House of the Jaguar, C. Charis Coyle, Mystecha, 2006, Young Adult Novel, Fantasy
"Lightman," Estelle Condra, Children's Story
"Celina Finds a Dog," Estelle Condra, Children's Story
Journal of Goo-shu, Raymond Kilsby, Young Adult Novel
"Gidden the Small," Greg Corte, Children's Story
"Fever," Estelle Condra, Short story
New Mage, Jim Skretteberg, Young Adult Novel, Fantasy
"Bertha's Heaven," Estelle Condra, Short story
Never Death, Greg Hill, Horror Novel
"Southern Cross," Estelle Condra, Short story
Cry of Angels, Clifton Gilliam, Christian Scifi Novel
Runt the Brave, Daniel Schwabauer, Clear Water Press, 2004, Young Adult Novel, Fantasy
Death of Innocents, Clifton Gilliam, Christian Scifi Novel

In-house Copyediting

Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Heidi, Johanna Spyri, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
White Fang, Jack London, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggins, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Pollyanna, Eleanor Porter, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Book
Guideposts for the Spirit: Stories of Friendship, Ideals Books, 2003, Compilation, Christian

Adaptor

"King George and the Ducky," Dalmatian Press, 2003, Children's Story
(plus assorted VeggieTales and Scooby-Doo books)

Editor

Whispers from the Bay, John Tkac, Southeast Books, 2008, Gold Medal Winner, Florida Book Awards, Young Adult Literature
My Favorite Bible Storybook for Early Readers, Carol Larsen, Dalmatian Press, 2003, Christian

Inclusive Books, Estelle Condra – Work closely with the publisher, editing, copyediting and proofreading adult, young adult and children's stories before publication, including the award–winning book, See the Ocean (2006).

Dalmatian Press – Worked as Editor of My Favorite Bible Storybook for Young Readers; Copyeditor for several Dalmatian Press Adapted Classics, My Favorite Bible Storybook for Toddlers, the Home Learning Tools Series and various Coloring and Activity Books for major licenses; Writer for author biographies for Classics, Scooby–Doo Books to Color, Power Rangers Wild Force Never Give Up, VeggieTales Coloring and Activity Books, Strawberry Shortcake Coloring and Activity Books

Gale Group – Work as a Final Editor for the Shakespearean Criticism series, (ten entries), Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (four entries), Literary Criticism 1400–1800 (four entries), Feminism in Literature (five entries)

Ideals Publications, Ideals Children's Books and Candy Cane Press – Worked as copyeditor for several children's books and adult compilations.

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT:

From These Roots Worked as assistant editor of the Reformed/Presbyterian Edition of Cook Ministries' Bible–In–Life curriculum, revised, edited, wrote, and consulted on content for quarterly teacher's manual.

First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, in Children's Education and Congregational Care for over two years. Duties included desktop publishing.

Medical Device Technologies. As senior customers service representative, gained extensive technical knowledge, assisted customers, maintained and ran reports from database with over 3,000 customers, handled international orders up to $100,000, and trained new employees in all these areas.

Lenfest Center for Performing Arts. Ran box office for entire season, filling subscriptions to series, developing and maintaining a subscription database, providing customer service and accounting for over thirty shows.

Camp Arrowhead. As a counselor, I took complete responsibility for up to ten campers (eight to fifteen years old) at outdoor Episcopal summer camp. Planned activities, maintained safety, and taught outdoor living.

EDUCATION:

Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA, June 1994

Bachelor of Arts with majors in English and Theater, magna cum laude

Honors Thesis: Narrative Challenges to the Hero in Celtic Myth and Modern Fantasy

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Writing Center Tutor, Washington & Lee University, 1993–94

One of ten students chosen by the faculty and paid to tutor peers in creative and expository writing. Training focused on teaching the writing process as well as correcting work.

Johns Hopkins University CTY Award, 1985

Perfect score, Test of Standard Written English. Three college–level writing courses in 1985–87.

Feedback

"I couldn't be happier than I am with Rosanne. She was the perfect fit to edit my book, and amazingly insightful."
--Cathy Finn

"Working with Rosanne was a pleasure from beginning to end. Her editing hit the mark and helped me tremendously. She went above and beyond. I finished my first novel and I’m planning on consulting Rosanne earlier on the second book."
--Sue Carter Stout

"This edit was far more than I could have asked for. It is smart, insightful, and forward, but never loses sight of the story. In an old Walt Disney term, it 'pluses' the story. Thank you so much."
--Noah Klocek, Cloud Country

"I cannot say enough about how great working with you was. You read my work, could see my intent and did not try to comprise its integrity. Your willingness to not get in the way of the story and your professionalism helped make my book just as I had envisioned it! I would highly recommend you to anyone that has a special piece of work needing a special editor. Again, thanks!"
--Cindy Pitta, Dream Catcher

"Your work has not only stood up to scrutiny, but I know that without your enlightenment I would have never gotten to where I am today."
--John Tkac, Whispers from the Bay

"You did a terrific job editing my manuscript. Your comments were insightful and in many places pointed to problems I would not have discovered on my own, no matter how many rewrites I did. Also, you finished the job on time. I appreciate your professionalism and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to others."
--Daniel Schwabauer, Runt the Brave (Clearwater Press, 2004, Ben Franklin Award, 2005)

"I am very happy with your editing. Even though I don't always agree with your comments, I can tell that you are a critical thinker. The grammatical changes were just what I needed as well. I was also very impressed with your intelligence (i.e. the genetics, the gull-wing, etc.). YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF!!"
--Clif Gilliam, Death of Innocents and Cry of Angels

"I think it's amazing how much difference the editing makes to the feel of the story."
--Jim Skretteberg, New Mage

"I'm so happy you finished the work on time, and it looks so good and so well edited. I really appreciate your suggestions and the help with the developmental editing. I thank you again for helping me. You did a superb job! I'm so grateful. I have no regrets for choosing you."
--Jay Kedal, I, Bully

"Rosanne, you are truly amazing! Your work is just outstanding, and I couldn’t have chosen a better person to edit my book. I was so excited to read the finished product and your recommendations were right on point." Thank you, Kim Flewellen

"Rosanne is not only a gifted editor, she also provides a wealth of topical knowledge, which made her my novel’s secret weapon. My partnership with Rosanne helped me become the writer I wanted to be. I thought I was pretty good before I met her. Ha! Nowhere close. Now I not only have an editor in my corner for all my future endeavors, but I’ve made a valuable friend. Thanks, Rosanne!" MG Buehrlen

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates
2010@Book-Editing.com
Help2010@Airmail.net
Contact@Editing-Writing.com

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)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

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.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

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.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Price quotes and time estimates for individual editors cannot be given over the phone or via chat. This is a network of freelance editors with varying prices and work schedules (see our FAQ). 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. It is possible that your submission was not received. You may also page the network coordinator by leaving voicemail or sending a fax to 469-789-3030.

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 freelance editor / proofreader / writer, not with the freelance network as a whole or its coordinator.