Eleanor Abraham | Crime Fiction Editor

⁞ Crime Fiction ⁞ Commercial Fiction ⁞ Expert Typesetting ⁞ Self-publishing ⁞

Working with established fiction writers and supporting self-publishing novices. Editing crime fiction and thrillers and providing typesetting and publishing support for publishers and independent authors.

Copyediting, proofreading and evaluation of commercial fiction manuscripts, especially crime, mysteries and thrillers.

I've been in publishing for over 25 years, and a freelance editor since 2013. Things have changed a lot over those years and I've changed with them. I've edited and typeset hundreds of books of all kinds.

𝌆 What do you need?

Whatever stage you are at in your writing, I can help. Not sure what that stage is? Let me evaluate your text and give advice.

If you're self-publishing I can handle the typesetting (formatting) of your print edition and ebook to an industry-approved standard, plus that final vital proofread of your layout.

𝌆 Services for publishers and independent authors:

• Copyediting and line editing – All edits are done in MS Word via Track Changes.
• Proofreading – Onscreen editing in MS Word; onscreen mark-up of final proofs using Acrobat PDF comment tools, and input of final changes into InDesign.
• Formatting – Typesetting and ebook production, creating complex layouts using Adobe InDesign, the industry-standard software.
• Manuscript assessment – Optimum presentation of your novel, advice on self-editing, assistance with an effective synopsis to submit to agents and publishers.
• Developmental/substantive editing – Advice on structure, content and marketability of non-fiction texts. Advice on narrative, characterisation, point of view, and plotting in fiction.
• Publishing support for independent authors.

𝌆 Employers and clients

• DC Thomson Books
• Waverley Books
• Geddes & Grosset
• The Sunday Herald
• The Daily Record
• Parragon
• Lomond Books
• Reader's Digest
• Blasted Heath
• Bastei Lübbe, Bastei Entertainment
• O'Reilly Media
• Pearson
• Heinemann
• NeoText
• Helen Exley
• Article 19
• Indie Authors World
• Red Dog Press
• CIEP

𝌆 Crime fiction

I specialise in editing commercial fiction, particularly crime fiction. I've worked on several crime series – from cosy crime to police procedural – working directly with authors, and also with in-house managing editors.

• Max Allan Collins, writer of The Road to Perdition – Fancy Anders Goes to War, Fancy Anders Goes to Hollywood, Fancy Anders: For The Boys. With Dave Thomas: The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton (NeoText). As Barbara Allan (with Barbara Collins): Cutout. (Neotext.)
• Matt Costello and Neil Richards – Cherringham and Mydworth Mysteries series. (Bastei Lübbe.)
• Shana Frost – Lessons in Deception. (The Glasgow Investigators series.)
• Dianne Haley – A Dose of Fear, A Policy of Greed.
• Keith Nixon – Solomon Gray series.
• Ed James – Scott Cullen and Craig Hunter series.

𝌆 Published writing

For Waverley Books:

• Meowditation
• Maw Broon’s Cookbook
• Maw Broon’s But an’ Ben Cookbook
• The Broons’ Burns Night
• Maw Broon's Afternoon Tea Book (with Gilda Smith)
• The Glasgow Wordsearch
• Traditional Scottish Recipes
• Kidnapped Vol II: Creating the Graphic Novel by Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy
• Shape Up Your English (with Betty Kirkpatrick)

𝌆 Typesetting

Adobe InDesign expert, with over 25 years' experience designing book interiors including colour and illustrated:

• Accelerate (Widescreen Version), Brendan C Byrne, Neotext
• The Compelled (Widescreen Version), Adam Roberts, François Schuiten, Neotext
• The Scoop, KW Thomas
• Tackling Impunity: Lessons from the Public Inquiry into the Assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Article 19
• A Very Sweary Dictionary, Kia Thomas
• The Balanced Leader, Tim McEwan and Roderic Yapp

𝌆 Educational titles and textbooks

• Copyediting and proof-editing computer science titles for O’Reilly Media
• Reading against copy and proofreading economics textbooks for Pearson Australia
• Copyediting and proofreading online assessments for Pearson Australia
• Packaging new reference titles; and repurposing material for international clients, to suit specific curricula, for Geddes & Grosset and Waverley Books

𝌆 Cookery

• The Glasgow Cookery Book
• Maw Broon's Cookbook
• Maw Broon's But an' Ben Cookbook
• Maw Broon's Afternoon Tea Book
• The Complete Book of Mince
• Traditional Scottish Recipes
• Mad About Macarons
• Teatime in Paris
• Broths to Bannocks

𝌆 Organisations

• Advanced professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
• Course tutor for the CIEP
• Partner member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
• Associate member of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
• Member of the Editorial Freelancers' Association (EFA)
• Member of the Society of Authors (SOA)
• Member of Scottish PEN

𝌆 Testimonials

Eleanor Abraham is my first choice of proofreader; thorough, accurate, with a helpful and efficient revision process. A good proofreader makes you think harder about your actual writing too; they're a vital second pair of eyes on clarity, and Eleanor's are sharp. First rate publishing professional.

Adam Nevill – author of The Ritual, No One Gets Out Alive, The Vessel and All the Fiends of Hell

Eleanor has edited more than fifty titles in our best-selling cozy mystery series and she has been a joy to work with throughout. She has a deep understanding of her craft, a light touch and a willingness to engage and discuss. We would be lost without her!

Neil Richards – co-author of the Cherringham and Mydworth Mysteries series

As any successful author, especially of a long-running fiction series, knows all too well… a great copyeditor is key to the initial, and then continued, success of the books. 

And for both Cherringham and Mydworth, Neil Richards and I have had the amazingly dedicated and careful editing of Eleanor Abraham every step of the way. She has been essential to both mystery series from the very beginning, which we hope only continues!

Matthew Costello – co-author of the Cherringham and Mydworth Mysteries series

Eleanor is one of the best in-house editors I have ever worked with in my very long and varied writing career. She is not only highly competent in all the usual editorial skills, but recognises the importance of regular communication between publisher and author in the course of a project. Perhaps most importantly, she has a high degree of patience and a good sense of humour!

Betty Kirkpatrick – lexicographer and writer

Eleanor was a brilliant asset when we at Article 19 were publishing a report with a fast turnaround. She was efficient, had excellent attention to detail and produced a beautiful final product. She was a pleasure to work with – flexible, reliable and very good humoured under pressure!

Sarah Clarke – Head of ARTICLE 19 Europe, www.article19.org

Many thanks to Eleanor for her concise and insightful editing work on my manuscript. Because of her, the process was simple and straightforward and I knew I could rely on her judgement.

Dianne Haley – author of the Resistance Girl series

I had the pleasure of working with Eleanor for several years at the Sunday Herald. Eleanor was a trusted member of the subbing team and respected for her careful, sensitive approach to copy and her thorough proofreading skills. I would have no hesitation recommending Eleanor for any words-related job.

Penny Murray – journalist, editor and writer

Eleanor is a pleasure to work with – always helpful and willing to put in the effort to ensure a job is completed to the highest standard. She is a tenacious problem solver and meticulous when checking and researching. I have found her to be highly creative, offering suggestions and ideas for improvement. Eleanor is an all-rounder – a highly skilled and experienced editor whom I would have no hesitation in recommending for fiction, non-fiction and journalistic work.

Heather Moore – graphic designer and content creator

Eleanor is a highly experienced, well organised and conscientious editor. Her project management skills are first class and enhanced by an all-round knowledge of the publishing process, so her projects are much simpler for production and marketing teams. Having worked with Eleanor on many projects over a number of years I can say that her professionalism, knowledge, patience and teamwork make her a pleasure to work with and have made a huge difference to many difficult projects.

Craig Brown – production manager, presentations manager

I worked with Eleanor several times on major events and projects. Eleanor was responsible for written publications and graphic input for promotional literature and on-site large-scale promotional builds. She has been a pleasure to work with and has always impressed me with her dedication and commitment. Her attention to detail is always welcome as well as her creativity and originality. I would thoroughly recommend her.

Rose Dummer – BBC Radio presenter, cake artist with Netflix's Extreme Cake Makers

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Alternative & complementary medicine
• Body, mind & spirit
• Computer science
• Crime, mystery & thriller
• English literature
• Food & cooking
• Horror
• Humour & satire
• Psychology & psychiatry
• Romance
• Self-help
• Speculative fiction
• True crime

• Book publishers
• Editing agencies
• Indie authors
• Packagers

• Design
• Typesetting
• Self-publishing
• Formatting/layout
• Book coaching