
Meet the fiction editor
Shelly
Meet your friendly fiction editor, Shelly—a professional member of the Canberra Society of Editors (CSE) and an associate of the Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd). Editorially trained and based in Australia, she is proficient in a broad range of Australian, New Zealand, and British style guides and editing conventions, and is highly experienced in the application of the US-based Chicago Manual of Style. Shelly is also a freelance editor for HarperCollins UK.
More broadly, Shelly has 20+ years of professional experience in marketing and storytelling in the non-profit and humanitarian sector. Her academic studies began with a Bachelor of Arts in ancient history, exploring everything from ancient cultures and archaeology to philosophy and ancient languages. Shelly recently completed her Master of Arts in Literature and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholar award. Her thesis explored literary theory in the context of fantasy and science fiction, including the intersection of narrative and social change, postcolonial theory, queer theory, and feminism.
A lifelong voracious reader of fantasy, science fiction, and romance, Shelly now specialises in genre fiction editing. Her favourite genres to edit are the fantastical subgenres of romance—fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance—although she particularly adores boundary-blurring hybrid genres. She is passionate about fiction with strong female leads, diverse and inclusive representation, complex and well-developed worldbuilding, and she doesn’t shy away from dark themes handled with maturity and sensitivity. If you are looking for an all-in editor who will get to know your world and stories as deeply as you do, get in touch with Shelly today.


Endorsements
FAQs
Am I the right editor for you?
The sample edit process is a way to ensure we are both the right fit for each other—both practically (editing and critique style) and philosophically (themes and content). Participating in the professional process of preparing a book for publication is something I take very seriously, and I seek to take on manuscripts that I am passionate about. I understand that writing is political and seek to work with authors who share a passion for inclusivity and representation.
Are you comfortable editing spice?
Yes! My approach is one of sex-positivity, and I am happy to edit all forms of on-page sex. However, I will always strongly recommend involving sensitivity readers in the editing process where some kinks are involved.
Are you a sensitivity reader?
No! While I have lived experience with neurodivergence and some other sensitive areas, and have studied at a post-graduate level in areas such as cross-cultural communication and intersectional representation in fiction—I will only be able to critique or advise from an academic perspective. I will strongly recommend the engagement of own-voices sensitivity readers in the editing process, and when necessary, decline working on a manuscript if there is a reluctance to handle representation with the care and ethics it requires.
