The Crime Readers' Association

Lesley Jones

I’m Lesley Jones, fiction editor. Publishing a book on your own (self-publishing as an independent author – indie publishing) can be a daunting task, but I’m here to help you through one of the most important stages: editing.

Just a little about me. The first thing you should know is that I understand the amount of time and soul searching it has taken you to craft your manuscript, and that I’ll ensure any work I do with you on that manuscript will be with a view to producing a book that’s the best it can be: polishing your prose, but keeping it yours. I love reading; I love books; and it’s a dream to be part of the creation of new ones.

You may also want to know about my qualifications. I have nearly ten years’ experience in freelance editing, and I’ve taken many courses in editing and proofreading. I keep up to date with continuing education and attend the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading conference every year (which involves a lot of CPD). I’m an advanced professional member of the aforementioned CIEP. If you head over to my portfolio you’ll see I edit for Macmillan, Harper Collins, Black Library and some of the smaller presses, but most of my work – and the work I value above all else – is for indie authors who have chosen to take on the publishing process themselves. Many of my authors (apologies for sounding possessive) have published series of books which are doing very well; some choose only to write one book – and these also (rightly) do well.

I am a retired solicitor who specialised in crime, and I now specialise in editing crime fiction (along with my other favourite genres, thriller, fantasy and sci fi).

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