"Any editor can add a comma, or cut an unnecessary word. Genevieve helped me find my voice."
Mark Johnston
"Oliver Swaine and the New World" (2012)
"Genevieve is good, really good at her craft. What she actually does is much more comprehensive than editing—I call it magic, a red carpet makeover. She’s Henry Higgins to my Liza Doolittle. She takes my rough draft, waves her magic wand, and miraculously, the typos, the incorrect tenses, the skipped words, the grammatical errors, the rough edges disappear. She makes the wrong words right."
Caroline Hartman
"Summer Rose" and "Sacred Ponies" (2013)
"As a first time novelist, I had no idea what to expect from the editing process. Working with Ms Graham was an absolute joy. I could go on about her incredible skill at making my work sound like an improved version of my own voice, but what is more difficult to quantify is the degree to which she cared about the project. Every step of the way, I could feel her desire to see me succeed. I will always be thankful for her help and would recommend her services to anyone looking to improve and learn."
Denise LeBlanc
"Inheritance" (2013)
"Genevieve Graham made my manuscripts sparkle!
Genevieve is an absolute delight to work with. I was amazed at her ability to transform average stories into masterpieces my readers love. Not only does Genevieve have a way with words, she has a sharp eye for detail. She went above and beyond for me."
CJ Simpson
"She Never Knew," "The Hidden Truth" (2013)
Mark Johnston
"Oliver Swaine and the New World" (2012)
"Genevieve is good, really good at her craft. What she actually does is much more comprehensive than editing—I call it magic, a red carpet makeover. She’s Henry Higgins to my Liza Doolittle. She takes my rough draft, waves her magic wand, and miraculously, the typos, the incorrect tenses, the skipped words, the grammatical errors, the rough edges disappear. She makes the wrong words right."
Caroline Hartman
"Summer Rose" and "Sacred Ponies" (2013)
"As a first time novelist, I had no idea what to expect from the editing process. Working with Ms Graham was an absolute joy. I could go on about her incredible skill at making my work sound like an improved version of my own voice, but what is more difficult to quantify is the degree to which she cared about the project. Every step of the way, I could feel her desire to see me succeed. I will always be thankful for her help and would recommend her services to anyone looking to improve and learn."
Denise LeBlanc
"Inheritance" (2013)
"Genevieve Graham made my manuscripts sparkle!
Genevieve is an absolute delight to work with. I was amazed at her ability to transform average stories into masterpieces my readers love. Not only does Genevieve have a way with words, she has a sharp eye for detail. She went above and beyond for me."
CJ Simpson
"She Never Knew," "The Hidden Truth" (2013)
***** Make it sparkle! *****
Photography by Janice Bray
Here's the thing.
If you are in this writing business for real, you know the "big" publishers won't even bat an eye at your work if you don't have a literary agent.
Getting that agent is practically impossible. Too many writers (myself included - in the beginning) put their heart and soul into a book, then whip off a query letter and send it to any agent who looks even slightly interesting.
They figure if their book is any good at all, agents and publishers will be more than happy to do the dirty work of editing. They'll see something so incredible they'll clear their desk and dig in deep.
Sooooo many things wrong with that approach.
Agents and publishers receive thousands of submissions. Thousands. The ones that shine, the ones that catch their eye will usually have (among other things) immaculate grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Those might make it to the top of the pile. After that, they'll look at your actual story.
Think of it this way: if you're going shopping for the ultimate outfit, do your eyes travel to the pile of rumpled shirts or to the neatly folded items on the shelves?
Give them your best.
I can help you make your manuscript the best it can be.
I can make it sparkle.
Think of it this way: if you're going shopping for the ultimate outfit, do your eyes travel to the pile of rumpled shirts or to the neatly folded items on the shelves?
Give them your best.
I can help you make your manuscript the best it can be.
I can make it sparkle.
Books I have had the honour of editing:
A Few Testimonials
Dear Genevieve
I absolutely, positively, 100%, flapping my arms and hooting with delight LOVE IT. Thank you so much for cleaning up my writing. Not only do I have a proposal I am proud to submit, but I learned a lot from working with you. I am blessed to have encountered you on this stage of my writing journey. Thank you so much for your quick response, your kindness, and your professionalism.
Rabbi Ann White
"The Sacred Art of Dog Walking"
As a non-native speaker, I’ve always had concerns about the authenticity of my language, especially dialogue, even though I’ve been through several rounds of editing my debut novel. I’ve been sincerely amazed at the transformations taking place in the novel—not only concerning the language, but the plot as well—and I’m grateful to Genevieve for the immense amount of work she has done editing "The Beholder." I thought I’d never be able to read my book from beginning to end even after it is completed, but after I’ve read the revised version I feel I can do it again as it has turned into a truly engrossing read. Genevieve is an outstanding editor and I’m really lucky to have had a chance to work with her.
Ivan Amberlake
"The Beholder"
Genevieve Graham just finished editing, Sacred Ponies, my second novel. The fact that I selected her to do the second novel, speaks volumes. She’s good, really good at her craft. What she actually does is much more comprehensive than editing—I call it magic, a red carpet makeover. She’s Henry Higgins to my Liza Doolittle. She takes my rough draft, waves her magic wand, and miraculously, the typos, the incorrect tenses, the skipped words, the grammatical errors, the rough edges disappear. She makes the wrong words right.
That, however, is just the beginning. She takes each paragraph and manicures it, polishes it to a gorgeous finish. My ugly duckling becomes a swan. She questions every storyline, tells me where I’m vague or inconsistent, then advises me to delete precious sentences, even an entire chapter, all of which I loved. I read the finished product and know she’s right Then because one of the characters is part French she sprinkles in good French words. Genevieve is truly amazing. She teaches, makes me feel like an author, and furthermore, she does all this with grace and kindness. I hope soon to give you all the opportunity to read both books that she’s edited: The Heart of Camelann and Sacred Ponies.
Caroline Hartman
"Heart of Carolann" and "Sacred Ponies"
"I came across Genevieve’s editorial services and decided to give it a shot. And what a shot it was! She brought my book alive, helped it explode into the light of a golden summer day. Not only has Genevieve set straight all its growing pains, she structured the story, polished every sentence and made every word shine. She was more than capable of editing my work without changing its essential “voice”. Genevieve is an incredible pro. I gave her my trust, and what I’ve been given back for that trust is enormous."
Hannah Warren
"Casablanca, My Heart" (2011)
I had the pleasure of meeting Genevieve after I had one of my books published with a small press that she was working with. Subsequently I moved over to a larger and more traditional house, but I was convinced that Genevieve's editing was faultless, imaginative, professional and ultimately the finest I had ever witnessed. Realizing this I have asked my agent to write Genevieve’s editing services into all my contracts as a writer is only as good as their editor, and she is one of the greats. I am looking forward to a lifetime of editorial partnership with this talented writer and editor, in addition Genevieve designed my first book cover and over a dozen blog sites have complimented me lavishly on the cover. The compliments and the credits all belong to Genevieve.
Kathleen McKenna
“The Wedding Gift”
Over the past ten years, I’ve worked with a number of editors. Genevieve is by far the best. She asked questions to get my thinking on a number of things, which helped her flesh out scenes or characters to better effect, thus bringing her better in sync with my aims. She excels in offering small but ever-so-important structural changes. A real wordsmith all round. I feel “Walk to Paradise Garden” is now ready for inspection (or … for the world? Maybe just ‘ready’).
John Campbell
"Walk to Paradise Garden"
I am a semi-retired business man with over twenty-five years of experience at the Vice President and President positions in both private and public corporations. During that time I was extremely fortunate to work with a number of highly talented and professional individuals and I most definitely put Genevieve in that select group. Her patience (especially in dealing with me), talent and understanding of an author’s intent and style make her a truly superior editor. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her to any author of any genre who is in need of a world class editor.
Andrew Burans
"The Reluctant Warrior, The Beginning"
I had been struggling to write my novel for years. I knew I had a good story, but I also knew there was something missing. Genevieve knew exactly what that was. She made Willow Pond sparkle just like she promises to do. Besides being a truly gifted editor, Genevieve is a pleasure to work with. She makes the process of editing a novel fun. I'm so happy that I met her and hope to continue to work with her on future projects.
Carol Tibaldi
"Willow Pond"
Having just completed my first novel I realised my 'new baby' would need releasing into the hands of an editor. What a scary thought. Who could I trust with something so personal and precious? The answer to that question is Genevieve Graham. Genevieve promised to make my novel 'sparkle', and so she did. Nothing was too much trouble. Every question was answered quickly, even the ones which were probably dumb. Genevieve made the experience both fun and educational and from it came a novel I can be immensely proud of. Should I now be fortunate enough to secure a publishing deal, I know it wouldn't have been possible without Genevieve's amazing skills as an editor. She really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Clive Eaton
"The Pyramid Legacy"
I had the privilege of working with Genevieve on two very different projects. One was an autobiography, another a large translation project that took almost a year to complete before editing. In both cases, Genevieve took what was already acknowledged as pretty good writing and made it better beyond my wildest expectations. Our second project, Thais of Athens by Ivan Yefremov carried with it two major challenges. One, it was a translation: a huge complex historic semi-fiction written by a Russian and translated into English by another (albeit fully bi-lingual) Russian. Two, it included an enormous number of terms, names and geographic locations from all over the Mediterranean and a part of Asia. Genevieve faced those challenges head on, and did everything in her power to gain very clear understanding of every aspect of the narrative.
She is a fantastic author and a fantastic editor. I strongly recommend her editing and proofreading services to any author who is looking to make a good book truly great.
Maria Kuroshchepova
"Thais of Athens"
Genevieve Graham's editorial skills are top notch. She recently edited my novel, Kaya Stormchild, and I found her comments and suggestions sensitive and helpful in every instance. Genevieve takes pains to understand fully where each author is coming from and is dedicated to helping writers achieve their goals. She is also blessed with a warm and encouraging personality, and a good sense of humor. She is a pleasure to work with!
Lael Whitehead
“Kaya Stormchild"
Genevieve Graham's stellar editing skills became truly apparent to me as we worked upon my first book. As with many first novels, there was an excess of ideas - often unrelated and seemingly difficult to coordinate - and I was rather at a loss until Genevieve's superb guidance and expertise came into play. A million 'standard' editors would have stripped the atmosphere from my novel - there's an incredibly fine line between critique and cajoling a writer into writing like oneself; Genevieve displayed the poet's sensibility in allowing my flourishes to remain, while avoiding the fussy traits of 'ordinary' editors. That's a fine art, and shows a deep understanding of writing and editing. It would be wholly true to state that she 'rescued' my book, a feat above and beyond the duty of an editor, and as important in this case as her unparalleled ability in the more fundamental aspects of editing. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any writer, aspiring or established."
Steven Jensen
“Poison of a Smile”
Genevieve's editing service was more than I could ever have expected from an editor. I initially thought editing was simply about grammar, punctuation, etc., but she went above and beyond my hopes. She asks questions along the way (if needed) and stayed in touch with me so I wasn't sitting around, wondering how things were going. She added that extra sparkle to my book and now it shines! Her suggestions were both helpful and wonderful. I'm so glad I was referred to her. She will be the editor for the rest of my books! No words can explain how pleased I am with the service that she has provided! You will not be disappointed with her editing skills and knowledge.
K.C. Hilton
"The Magic of Finkleton" & "90 Miles to Freedom"
A few weeks ago I completed my biography, and like a proud parent, I presented it to a publisher. I was delighted that it was accepted. I was so naive and expected no editing apart from an occasional missed comma would be necessary. I could not have been more wrong. Genevieve Graham contacted me in her role as editor, and gently informed me that edits would be needed. Like any proud parent, I reacted with ... What? Where? And Why? Her response was that as an editor she was responsible for my work being showcased int he absolute best manner possible. She offered suggestions in such a way that my pride was salvaged and she worked with me every step of the way. Frankly, she was quite amazing, given that I am a volatile author. She calmly and firmly showed me how the work could be improved. Each step of the way she remained utterly professional yet warm and comfortable was the way she made me feel. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her Editorial Services. She inspired trust, because she so obviously knew exactly what she was doing. The finished product is still my work, yet now it shines. The professional edge is now present, and it is a work that can be held up for critique and hold its ground perfectly.
Suzannah Burke
"Empty Chairs"
I had the privilege of working with Genevieve recently in her capacity as editor. I was anticipating a nerve wracking experience, but she immediately put me at ease after explaining the whole process fully and clearly. Throughout the editing journey her input, insights and observations were invaluable. Demonstrating ultimate patience and approachability, she guided me through the entire work, pointing out and correcting punctuation and grammatical errors and helping to refine and polish the story. Her responses to even the most trivial of my queries and problems were always prompt and extremely helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Genevieve.
Jillian Brookes-Ward
“Saving Nathaniel"
I have a very irritating habit of using too many words ending in 'ing'. Genevieve has the patience of a saint and not only sorted out my awful gerunds and frequent pleonasms but also immediately understood my writing style and where I was trying to go with Simon's Choice and edited in accordance. I have absolutely no doubt that Simon's Choice is a far better book today, thanks to Genevieve's help. I'd recommend her sensitive and insightful approach to editing to anybody.
Charlotte Castle
“Simon's Choice”
I have come to learn that a true test of a manuscript is not how many times it was rejected, but how hard you have persisted in your quest to make it sparkle. Genevieve's skillful and talented edit helped me realize that my success had been blocked by my ignorance. Genevieve’s hands made my book sparkle.
Elijah Yamslaw
"The 419 Code"
************************
Re: Professional Critique:
Everything Genevieve outlined in the critique made sense and her comments were said in a gentle but very constructive way...should the occasion arise again, it will be Genevieve to whom I shall turn.
Margaret Callow
"The Spirit of the Butterfly"
I absolutely, positively, 100%, flapping my arms and hooting with delight LOVE IT. Thank you so much for cleaning up my writing. Not only do I have a proposal I am proud to submit, but I learned a lot from working with you. I am blessed to have encountered you on this stage of my writing journey. Thank you so much for your quick response, your kindness, and your professionalism.
Rabbi Ann White
"The Sacred Art of Dog Walking"
As a non-native speaker, I’ve always had concerns about the authenticity of my language, especially dialogue, even though I’ve been through several rounds of editing my debut novel. I’ve been sincerely amazed at the transformations taking place in the novel—not only concerning the language, but the plot as well—and I’m grateful to Genevieve for the immense amount of work she has done editing "The Beholder." I thought I’d never be able to read my book from beginning to end even after it is completed, but after I’ve read the revised version I feel I can do it again as it has turned into a truly engrossing read. Genevieve is an outstanding editor and I’m really lucky to have had a chance to work with her.
Ivan Amberlake
"The Beholder"
Genevieve Graham just finished editing, Sacred Ponies, my second novel. The fact that I selected her to do the second novel, speaks volumes. She’s good, really good at her craft. What she actually does is much more comprehensive than editing—I call it magic, a red carpet makeover. She’s Henry Higgins to my Liza Doolittle. She takes my rough draft, waves her magic wand, and miraculously, the typos, the incorrect tenses, the skipped words, the grammatical errors, the rough edges disappear. She makes the wrong words right.
That, however, is just the beginning. She takes each paragraph and manicures it, polishes it to a gorgeous finish. My ugly duckling becomes a swan. She questions every storyline, tells me where I’m vague or inconsistent, then advises me to delete precious sentences, even an entire chapter, all of which I loved. I read the finished product and know she’s right Then because one of the characters is part French she sprinkles in good French words. Genevieve is truly amazing. She teaches, makes me feel like an author, and furthermore, she does all this with grace and kindness. I hope soon to give you all the opportunity to read both books that she’s edited: The Heart of Camelann and Sacred Ponies.
Caroline Hartman
"Heart of Carolann" and "Sacred Ponies"
"I came across Genevieve’s editorial services and decided to give it a shot. And what a shot it was! She brought my book alive, helped it explode into the light of a golden summer day. Not only has Genevieve set straight all its growing pains, she structured the story, polished every sentence and made every word shine. She was more than capable of editing my work without changing its essential “voice”. Genevieve is an incredible pro. I gave her my trust, and what I’ve been given back for that trust is enormous."
Hannah Warren
"Casablanca, My Heart" (2011)
I had the pleasure of meeting Genevieve after I had one of my books published with a small press that she was working with. Subsequently I moved over to a larger and more traditional house, but I was convinced that Genevieve's editing was faultless, imaginative, professional and ultimately the finest I had ever witnessed. Realizing this I have asked my agent to write Genevieve’s editing services into all my contracts as a writer is only as good as their editor, and she is one of the greats. I am looking forward to a lifetime of editorial partnership with this talented writer and editor, in addition Genevieve designed my first book cover and over a dozen blog sites have complimented me lavishly on the cover. The compliments and the credits all belong to Genevieve.
Kathleen McKenna
“The Wedding Gift”
Over the past ten years, I’ve worked with a number of editors. Genevieve is by far the best. She asked questions to get my thinking on a number of things, which helped her flesh out scenes or characters to better effect, thus bringing her better in sync with my aims. She excels in offering small but ever-so-important structural changes. A real wordsmith all round. I feel “Walk to Paradise Garden” is now ready for inspection (or … for the world? Maybe just ‘ready’).
John Campbell
"Walk to Paradise Garden"
I am a semi-retired business man with over twenty-five years of experience at the Vice President and President positions in both private and public corporations. During that time I was extremely fortunate to work with a number of highly talented and professional individuals and I most definitely put Genevieve in that select group. Her patience (especially in dealing with me), talent and understanding of an author’s intent and style make her a truly superior editor. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her to any author of any genre who is in need of a world class editor.
Andrew Burans
"The Reluctant Warrior, The Beginning"
I had been struggling to write my novel for years. I knew I had a good story, but I also knew there was something missing. Genevieve knew exactly what that was. She made Willow Pond sparkle just like she promises to do. Besides being a truly gifted editor, Genevieve is a pleasure to work with. She makes the process of editing a novel fun. I'm so happy that I met her and hope to continue to work with her on future projects.
Carol Tibaldi
"Willow Pond"
Having just completed my first novel I realised my 'new baby' would need releasing into the hands of an editor. What a scary thought. Who could I trust with something so personal and precious? The answer to that question is Genevieve Graham. Genevieve promised to make my novel 'sparkle', and so she did. Nothing was too much trouble. Every question was answered quickly, even the ones which were probably dumb. Genevieve made the experience both fun and educational and from it came a novel I can be immensely proud of. Should I now be fortunate enough to secure a publishing deal, I know it wouldn't have been possible without Genevieve's amazing skills as an editor. She really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Clive Eaton
"The Pyramid Legacy"
I had the privilege of working with Genevieve on two very different projects. One was an autobiography, another a large translation project that took almost a year to complete before editing. In both cases, Genevieve took what was already acknowledged as pretty good writing and made it better beyond my wildest expectations. Our second project, Thais of Athens by Ivan Yefremov carried with it two major challenges. One, it was a translation: a huge complex historic semi-fiction written by a Russian and translated into English by another (albeit fully bi-lingual) Russian. Two, it included an enormous number of terms, names and geographic locations from all over the Mediterranean and a part of Asia. Genevieve faced those challenges head on, and did everything in her power to gain very clear understanding of every aspect of the narrative.
She is a fantastic author and a fantastic editor. I strongly recommend her editing and proofreading services to any author who is looking to make a good book truly great.
Maria Kuroshchepova
"Thais of Athens"
Genevieve Graham's editorial skills are top notch. She recently edited my novel, Kaya Stormchild, and I found her comments and suggestions sensitive and helpful in every instance. Genevieve takes pains to understand fully where each author is coming from and is dedicated to helping writers achieve their goals. She is also blessed with a warm and encouraging personality, and a good sense of humor. She is a pleasure to work with!
Lael Whitehead
“Kaya Stormchild"
Genevieve Graham's stellar editing skills became truly apparent to me as we worked upon my first book. As with many first novels, there was an excess of ideas - often unrelated and seemingly difficult to coordinate - and I was rather at a loss until Genevieve's superb guidance and expertise came into play. A million 'standard' editors would have stripped the atmosphere from my novel - there's an incredibly fine line between critique and cajoling a writer into writing like oneself; Genevieve displayed the poet's sensibility in allowing my flourishes to remain, while avoiding the fussy traits of 'ordinary' editors. That's a fine art, and shows a deep understanding of writing and editing. It would be wholly true to state that she 'rescued' my book, a feat above and beyond the duty of an editor, and as important in this case as her unparalleled ability in the more fundamental aspects of editing. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any writer, aspiring or established."
Steven Jensen
“Poison of a Smile”
Genevieve's editing service was more than I could ever have expected from an editor. I initially thought editing was simply about grammar, punctuation, etc., but she went above and beyond my hopes. She asks questions along the way (if needed) and stayed in touch with me so I wasn't sitting around, wondering how things were going. She added that extra sparkle to my book and now it shines! Her suggestions were both helpful and wonderful. I'm so glad I was referred to her. She will be the editor for the rest of my books! No words can explain how pleased I am with the service that she has provided! You will not be disappointed with her editing skills and knowledge.
K.C. Hilton
"The Magic of Finkleton" & "90 Miles to Freedom"
A few weeks ago I completed my biography, and like a proud parent, I presented it to a publisher. I was delighted that it was accepted. I was so naive and expected no editing apart from an occasional missed comma would be necessary. I could not have been more wrong. Genevieve Graham contacted me in her role as editor, and gently informed me that edits would be needed. Like any proud parent, I reacted with ... What? Where? And Why? Her response was that as an editor she was responsible for my work being showcased int he absolute best manner possible. She offered suggestions in such a way that my pride was salvaged and she worked with me every step of the way. Frankly, she was quite amazing, given that I am a volatile author. She calmly and firmly showed me how the work could be improved. Each step of the way she remained utterly professional yet warm and comfortable was the way she made me feel. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her Editorial Services. She inspired trust, because she so obviously knew exactly what she was doing. The finished product is still my work, yet now it shines. The professional edge is now present, and it is a work that can be held up for critique and hold its ground perfectly.
Suzannah Burke
"Empty Chairs"
I had the privilege of working with Genevieve recently in her capacity as editor. I was anticipating a nerve wracking experience, but she immediately put me at ease after explaining the whole process fully and clearly. Throughout the editing journey her input, insights and observations were invaluable. Demonstrating ultimate patience and approachability, she guided me through the entire work, pointing out and correcting punctuation and grammatical errors and helping to refine and polish the story. Her responses to even the most trivial of my queries and problems were always prompt and extremely helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Genevieve.
Jillian Brookes-Ward
“Saving Nathaniel"
I have a very irritating habit of using too many words ending in 'ing'. Genevieve has the patience of a saint and not only sorted out my awful gerunds and frequent pleonasms but also immediately understood my writing style and where I was trying to go with Simon's Choice and edited in accordance. I have absolutely no doubt that Simon's Choice is a far better book today, thanks to Genevieve's help. I'd recommend her sensitive and insightful approach to editing to anybody.
Charlotte Castle
“Simon's Choice”
I have come to learn that a true test of a manuscript is not how many times it was rejected, but how hard you have persisted in your quest to make it sparkle. Genevieve's skillful and talented edit helped me realize that my success had been blocked by my ignorance. Genevieve’s hands made my book sparkle.
Elijah Yamslaw
"The 419 Code"
************************
Re: Professional Critique:
Everything Genevieve outlined in the critique made sense and her comments were said in a gentle but very constructive way...should the occasion arise again, it will be Genevieve to whom I shall turn.
Margaret Callow
"The Spirit of the Butterfly"
Genevieve Graham-Sawchyn