Helen Jones
Professional MemberLocation | Scottish Borders |
Telephone | 01387 376754 |
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | |
Helen Jones | |
Skype | helen.jones639 |
I’m a reliable and efficient editor with over 20 years’ experience in a publishing environment. I can provide whatever level of service you require from straight copy-editing or proofreading to extensive rewriting or project management. If you are new to self-publishing, I can take you through the process and can send you my three-page 'A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing' document which explains each stage.
I have worked on a broad range of printed and online products including children’s fiction and non-fiction, health, diet and lifestyle titles, travel guides, several autobiographies and business books, and Bible resources for all ages.
I have proofread a number of PhD theses and check business documents, a supporter relations magazine and charity appeal letters on a regular basis.
I am also proficient at page layout in InDesign and have designed leaflets, posters, paperback books and ebooks (text pages and covers).
Skills
Copy-editing, proofreading, developmental editing, editing from translated copy, on-screen editing and proofreading, website checking, rewriting, copywriting, writing children's stories, project management, design, page layout, typesetting, ebook creation, web and picture research, liaising with printers.
Media
Books, brochures, illustrated books, online material, websites, charity appeal letters, magazines, dissertations, business documents and reports.
Experience
Freelance since 2012; editor and content manager, Scripture Union, 2006–12
Clients
CIEP, Executive Compass, British Gypsum, Royal College of Radiologists, Institute of Physics, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists In Neurology (ACPIN), Foulsham Publishing, Brown Watson, Niquessa, Exacta, Scripture Union, Hodder Faith, Church House Publishing, Bible Reading Fellowship, Bible Society, IVP, Christian Focus, CPO, Kevin Mayhew, Lion Publishing, Humber Nature Partnership, a mental health lecturer (non-native English), several students and many self-published authors.
Subjects
Children's books (picture books for 3–8s, fiction, novelty, reference), business (workplace culture, debt management, responses to bids for care homes, property maintenance, lifts, construction, etc.), Christianity (Bible, evangelical, devotional, theology, Christian lifestyle/testimonies, Christian resources for children, teenagers and adults), medical (health, diet/nutrition, physics, physiotherapy), social work, special needs education, travel, theme parks, autobiography, exam preparation.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Illustration
Grappling with Grammar The Publishing Training Centre
Copy Editing Skills The Publishing Training Centre
Time Task and Planning Skills
Specialised software
Word, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, some skills in Photoshop
Titles
Titles include: Shaping Your Workplace Culture, Gunmoney, Practical Injury Prevention for Team Sport, Beating Back Pain, The Go-To Physio Book, The New Grad Physio, Synapse, Max Your Memory for Exam Success, The Juicy Smoothie Health Bar, Take Breast Cancer off the Menu, Black and British MPs, Living in Love and Faith, Michael: A Transforming Presence, Enough! Break the Shackles of Debt, Contemporary Woman, Love Church, The Gift of Years, Moments of Grace, The Puzzle of Pastoral Care, The Statues Gasped, The Image of God, Utterly Amazed, The Outsider, Nobody Said it Was Easy, Is it Unspiritual to be Depressed?, Helping the Suffering, Up from the Ashes, The Fight of Your Life, What is the Experience of Trauma and Transition into Adulthood of African Asylum-Seeking Care Leavers?, The Lived Experience of Ghanaian Trained Social Workers in Child Protection in England.
Websites
Written copy for grape descriptions: www.bestwinesinthesupermarkets.uk and all copy for http://www.exammax.co.uk
Proofread copy for https://niquesatravel.com/
Testimonials
Helen copy-edited, typeset and proofread my manuscript and even designed a book cover, the design of which exceeded my expectations. She led me through the self-publishing process on Amazon, and overcame the ebook typesetting challenges I gave her with my tables and lists. She is efficient and trustworthy and I would highly recommend her services.
Vanessa O'Shea, author of Shaping your Workplace Culture.
Helen is efficient, hardworking and very conscientious. She is always a pleasure to work with on any project from fiction to education titles.
Hannah Bevan, Project Manager, Brown Watson children's book publisher
A discerning friend described my draft manuscript as a treasure needing much work to release the diamond hidden within it. On receiving the book she wrote “how it now shines and sparkles”. That transformation was the result of Helen’s editing, layout and cover design which turned my manuscript into an attractive, readable book.
Maureen E Lahiff, author of Michael: A Transforming Presence
Helen helped us out when we needed an editor who could turn a brochure in Swenglish into something that really could communicate what we wanted to put across.
Despite the fact that the material was available in different formats, Helen made clear and accurate changes and delivered them on time.
Kaj Ekroos, Exacta (Swedish translation company)
Helen has assisted us with the proof-reading of many published documents and online pages. She is speedy, efficient and picked up our house tone of voice very rapidly. We will continue to work with Helen as a valued extra member of our content team.
Caroline Leek, Niquesa Mediatech
After finding out about Helen online, we immediately liked the way she approached the work on our book. Helen edited the book with sensitivity, understanding and without losing the voices that conveyed a personal testimony in the book. Helen was very accommodating at making changes after several proofreads, which she did quickly and without question. She was a delight to work with, clear about the costs and guided us through the process of self-publishing with Amazon. We would strongly recommend Helen to other authors.
Revd. Canon Sarah Chapman and Anna, authors of The Statues Gasped
I recently had the pleasure of working with Helen during the editing process of three children’s picture fiction books I had written. She was very supportive during the whole process, and her advice was constructive and polite, giving me that extra ‘push’ to really develop my storylines. She was also very fair in her pricing structure. I hope to be able to work with Helen again and would highly recommend her as an editor for children’s fiction.
Paula Gilfillan, children's book author
Helen was polite, excellent at working efficiently towards deadlines, and her comments were incredibly insightful. With her help, I managed to get my manuscript ten times better than I thought it could be and will be using her services again.
Rebecca Anderson, children's book author
Helen has helped me navigate the book publication process from start to finish. Technically she has great insight into many aspects of publishing and has advised and been involved in the editing process as well as cover design and bringing the whole thing together to form a book. Financially her rates are more than fair and relationally she is an absolute pleasure to work with for she is flexible, quick to respond to questions and queries having a patient, pleasant and approachable demeanour. I intend to publish more books and I can’t imagine going anywhere else.
James T. Sheridan, author of The Image of God
Helen was such a pleasure to work with on my 80,000 word book. It was my first time employing a copy editor and she was helpful, friendly and professional in her approach, answering all of my queries promptly. Her communication was excellent and she was honest in her regularly given feedback as well as realistic in her deadline target. Her work was thorough and was completed before her suggested time frame; she even came in under budget! I will not hesitate to work with her again and recommend her without hesitation.
Joanne Stuckey, author of Daddy's Got You
Helen came highly recommended. I knew what I needed and she was clear on being able to deliver that. I trusted her to do a good job. Very quickly we’d agreed timings and costs. I would happily work with her again.
Shirley Anstice, author of Black and British MPs
Helen was recommended to me by two doctoral students. I was pleased with Helen’s professionalism, reliability and the quality of her work. She kept me updated regularly on the progress of my thesis. Moreover she was warm and her price very reasonable – just what a student needs!
Wura Bolaji, PhD student