Kelly Barrales-Saylor is a talented and thoughtful editor with over five years of professional publishing experience. Her love for books and words began as a child and inspired her to pursue a career in publishing. Kelly’s professional career began at Sourcebooks, Inc., a leading independent trade publisher, as a Production Editor/Typesetter for Sphinx Publishing (an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.). She worked on more than 100 self-help legal books for Sphinx, performing such duties as proofreading, copyediting, indexing, scheduling, cover design, and typesetting. Eventually Kelly moved to the trade side of Sourcebooks, Inc., and worked on a variety of books—fiction, business, health, parenting, event planning/weddings, humor, and gift. One of her favorites (and most rewarding challenge) was the acclaimed biography of E. E. Cummings by Christopher Sawyer-Laucanno, which received a starred review from both Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

Brian Downing has over twenty years experience in writing and editing for the general public, the business world, and educators. He has written two books, several articles, and numerous reviews; and edited or otherwise helped produce seven other books (fiction and nonfiction) as well as several business and book proposals. His services include resumé and CV writing, proposal writing, manuscript editing (fiction and non-fiction), and ghost writing.

Editorial Contributions
“War and the State in Early Modern Europe.” in Theda Skocpol, ed., Democracy, Revolution, and History . (Festschrift for Barrington Moore, Jr.) Cornell University Press, 1998.
Taxation and State Formation.” in The Encyclopedia of Social History , Peter N. Stearns, ed. Garland, 1994.
The Military Revolution and Political Change: Origins of Democracy and Autocracy in Early Modern Europe . Princeton University Press, 1992 (paperback, 1993)
“Medieval Origins of Constitutional Government in the West.” Theory and Society 18 (1989): 213-47.
“Constitutionalism, Warfare, and Political Change in Early Modern Europe.” Theory and Society 17 (1988): 7-56

Linda, a wordsmith with a lifelong passion for words and language, has had a diverse career in corporate administration and management. An intellectually assertive, dynamic Scorpio, she has worked as a publicity manager for a publisher of series nonfiction books for young readers and a technical writer in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Recent editing projects include a TIME magazine electronic archive project and selected sections of the 2005 edition of Peterson’s Master the GRE CAT. She thoroughly enjoys working in the creative arena, LOVES proofreading and editing, and considers herself an “author groupie.”

Linda enjoys reading, browsing bookstores, and composing novella length e-mails to appreciative friends. When her nose isn’t in a book, she can be found at an arts cinema watching an independent or foreign film, tooling about the local country roads with Penelope, her Mini Cooper, or creating a new culinary masterpiece in her tiny kitchen.

Kelly Barrales-Saylor is a talented and thoughtful editor with over five years of professional publishing experience. Her love for books and words began as a child and inspired her to pursue a career in publishing. Kelly’s professional career began at Sourcebooks, Inc., a leading independent trade publisher, as a Production Editor/Typesetter for Sphinx Publishing (an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.). She worked on more than 100 self-help legal books for Sphinx, performing such duties as proofreading, copyediting, indexing, scheduling, cover design, and typesetting. Eventually Kelly moved to the trade side of Sourcebooks, Inc., and worked on a variety of books—fiction, business, health, parenting, event planning/weddings, humor, and gift. One of her favorites (and most rewarding challenge) was the acclaimed biography of E. E. Cummings by Christopher Sawyer-Laucanno, which received a starred review from both Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

In addition to her love for books, Kelly has a passion for good food and good wine, enjoys philosophical discussion, and loves all aspects of the arts—from film to theater to music to painting. When she’s not reading, you can find Kelly trying to make the world a better place by being a good listener to her friends and family and by spreading positive karma.

Brian has over twenty years experience in writing and editing for the general public, the business world, and educators from primary school through academia. He has edited over thirty books (fiction and nonfiction) as well as several business and book proposals. His services include manuscript editing as well as business and book proposals.

An exceptionally versatile editor, Brian has helped produce books on many subjects, including politics, history, military matters, philosophy, religion, mental health, science fiction, teaching, and romance. Clients are very pleased with his talent for polishing text while keeping to their voice and intent.

Linda, a wordsmith with a lifelong passion for words and language, has had a diverse career in corporate administration and management.   An intellectually assertive, dynamic Scorpio, she has worked as a publicity manager for a publisher of series nonfiction books for young readers and a technical writer in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.  Recent editing projects include a TIME magazine electronic archive project and selected sections of the 2005 edition of Peterson’s Master the GRE CAT.  She thoroughly enjoys working in the creative arena, LOVES proofreading and editing, and considers herself an “author groupie.”

Linda enjoys reading, browsing bookstores, and composing novella length e-mails to appreciative friends.  When her nose isn’t in a book, she can be found at an arts cinema watching an independent or foreign film, tooling about the local country roads with Penelope, her Mini Cooper, or creating a new culinary masterpiece in her tiny kitchen.

When a good editor has done their job, the writing shines through, not the editing. Ms. Gaetz is a thoughtful, authentic wordsmith whose goal is to amplify your voice, not her own. Kim graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters degree in Creative Writing. Her editing credits include a wide variety of genres including: Spiritual, Self-help, Business, Biography, Text, and works of Fiction for adults, young adults and children, as well as marketing and promotional materials for various clients and non-profit organizations.

A down-to-earth lover of words her entire life, Kim considers herself a Generation X success story. An avid writer and diarist in her own right, Kim is the author of a memoir book and numerous published articles, and is well known for her sense of wit and sense of irony, mirroring that of her favorite author, Dorothy Parker. Her personal interests vary greatly; from carefully toiling in her flower garden, to researching tattoo history and folklore.

Marly Cornell is a writer, editor and artist who worked for 30 years in the corporate non-profit sector in health care, behavioral services, mental health law, and physician recruitment. Cornell’s expertise includes developmental and substantive editing as well as copyediting and proofreading for books, articles, newsletters and promotional materials. Subjects of prime interest to Marly are health care, human behavior and psychology, ethics, philosophy, social justice, art, animal issues, spirituality and faith.

After teaching writing, literature, and cinema at a college prep high school in suburban Chicago for 36 years, Ken decided to retire and pursue a new career in editing and writing. These years of guiding student writers has sharpened his ability at spotting and helping correct the errors authors eventually face. Coupled with his literature background from University of Illinois, Ken has a sharp “ear” for the language and is adept at leading authors to finding their own special voices.

Marna Poole has been an editor of fiction and nonfiction manuscripts for nearly a dozen years. Her editing philosophy is simple—make the author look good. Marna’s expertise includes all types of editing, from basic line edits to developmental and substantive editing to ghostwriting. She is skilled at polishing a manuscript until it shines, even as she ensures that the author’s voice remains true.

She has worked with most genres of fiction—contemporary, mystery, horror, science fiction, young adult and children’s, romance, and historical—as well as such nonfiction topics as alternative healing, general health and well-being, education, self-help, parenting, kids projects, and women’s issues.

Her background also includes nine years as a K-8 educator, five years as the content manager of an alternative medicine Web site, and a few relatively unproductive (albeit extremely enjoyable) years as a singer in local coffeehouses and clubs.

In her spare time, Marna enjoys reading, playing the piano, trivia games, visiting the beach, and walking her dogs. In summer, she morphs into her true identity: mermaid (at least, she does so on the afternoons she spends swimming underwater).