Ms Kate Berens

Featured

With more than twenty years’ trade publishing experience behind me, much of it in-house, I offer a professional, friendly and reliable editorial service.

How I can help …

… publishers
I edit a wide range of non-fiction, specialising in popular culture, travel and illustrated books, as well as fiction. My skills range from manuscript assessment and non-intrusive developmental work with authors, via hands-on structural editing, to copy-editing and proofreading. You can count on me to deliver top-quality work to your specifications, whether it’s anglicising a cookery book using InDesign or copy-editing a novel in Word.

… independent authors
Novel, non-fiction, memoir – whatever your content, I can help you get it into shape for your target audience. I’ll make sure that your story comes across as you want it to, and that your readers won’t be distracted by typos or other errors.

Media

Books, illustrated books, websites, e-books, multi-author books

Specialised software

Adobe InDesign

Qualifications and awards

BA Hons English Literature and Language

Experience

Freelance since 2008; list manager, DK Travel (Penguin Random House) 2012–15; editor, Rough Guides Reference (Penguin Random House) 2008–12; editorial director, Rough Guides Travel (Penguin Random House) 2002–07

Training

Developmental editing of fiction: advanced (Editorial Freelancers Association), Book mapping for developmental editors (EFA), Copy-editing Fiction (EFA), Editing with Word (SfEP), Copywriting for publishers (Publishing Training Centre), Editing digital products (PTC)

Clients

Canelo, Penguin Classics, Rough Guides Reference, DK (Travel, Licensing and Life divisions), Pelgrane Press, Hardie Grant, Kobold Press, coolplaces.co.uk, Designer Bookbinders, EF Labs (Education First)

Subjects

Fiction (fantasy, crime, historical, action), popular culture, film/cinema, comics/graphic novels, popular technology (Mac, iPhone, iPad, internet, social media), videogames, literature, roleplaying games, travel, cookery, bookbinding/book arts, music, photography

testimonials

Kate is one of the best copyeditors on our books. She is knowledgeable, extremely thorough, has a great eye for detail, and is an invaluable asset to us. We can't recommend her highly enough.

Kit Nevile, Canelo

… a fantastic editor, knowing just how to knock copy into shape, how to handle the arc of a creative project, and how to nurture, encourage, and raise someone's game … the book was immeasurably improved by her input.

Sophie Goldsworthy, author, The Rough Guide to Digital Photography

I’ve hired Kate to copy-edit a number of books, and I would highly recommend her work. She has always delivered insightful and thorough editing before the due date. Her communication is clear and timely throughout the process, and her flexibility in the face of my often shifting project specs makes her a pleasure to work with.

Cat Tobin, MD, Pelgrane Press

… organised, efficient, flexible, calm, communicative, and on-schedule – what more could we ask for?

Tori Kosara, DK Licensing (Penguin Random House)

Kate is a brilliant editor. She’s meticulous, she tightens up copy with real sensitivity and skill, and she usually delivers well ahead of schedule (and always on time). I thoroughly recommend her!

Sophie Wright, DK Travel (Penguin Random House)

Kate was a pleasure to work with, and I very much appreciated her inclusive approach. I had a clear understanding of every step of the process. As well as having a keen eye in her copy editing, she is also mindful to maintain the original writing ‘voice’, which I’m sure all authors would value. Kate produced high-quality work within a very tight schedule. I would gladly work with Kate on future projects and I would recommend her to other authors.

Djoymi Baker, author, To Boldly Go: Marketing the Myth of Star Trek 

Her work as an editor is as good as it gets: creative and super-detailed, Kate can turn poor writing into something special.

Martin Dunford, MD of coolplaces.co.uk

It’s perfect, you did exactly what I was hoping for … I felt you understood what I was trying to say … Your help with the manuscript, not to mention the synopsis and letters, was absolutely critical.

Hanna, fiction author

I thought my mastery of the English language was nigh-on perfect until I handed over my manuscript to Kate. She was a fantastic editor to work with; extremely efficient and meticulous … just what was required! I would not hesitate to recommend her to anybody!

Rocco Giordano, self-published author

Ever since the first time we worked together, Kate has been my go-to person when the project needs a copy editor. She is detail-oriented, efficient and provides the team with good style guidelines. It’s a great pleasure to work with her.

Jane Chen, Project Manager, EF Content Development Team

• Editor