Thirteen editors perform a Story Edit on the same manuscript.
Image Source: Fictionary
We’re going to share the results, so editors and writers can learn from the experience.
Fictionary’s series on manuscript editing is just beginning. The goal of this series is for writers to know what they’re buying and for editors to know what to offer as part of their editing service.
First, we’ll review a scene where two editors performed a copyedit as part of a Story Edit.
Story Editing
As a quick refresher, a Story Edit, also called a structural, developmental, or substantive edit, is the primary structural review of your manuscript and the story you’re telling.
Story Editing is your big-picture approach to preparing for publishing. It’s your first structural revision. This is when you rework your characters, plot, and settings to ensure the story line and narrative flow smoothly while every scene contributes to the story’s purpose.
Story Editing means looking at the characters and asking why each one is in the story. It means looking for patterns, finding emotion, evaluating the structure of scenes, structuring chapters and word count. It means testing the setting against the plot, and so on.
Copyediting
After you’ve finished a Story Edit, copyediting is the most essential and fundamental preparation you need before publishing.
A basic copyedit includes checking your grammar, spelling, and punctuation for accuracy; ensuring consistency in your writing, word choices, style and compositional spacing; and eliminating jargon and repetitious words. It’s your last edit before formatting and proceeding to proofreading and publishing.
Two Story Edits Performed by Two Editors on the Same Manuscript
Both editors worked on a story where a writer requested a Story Edit and not a copyedit.
Image Source: Fictionary
(1)Comma removal
Editor 1 recommended removing the comma after the word “grief” in the following sentence.
Death was there along with sadness and grief, but the real problem was the gathering of people.
The sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction. Therefore, the comma is required. The advice to remove the comma is incorrect.
The sentence could be written as two sentences and still be grammatically correct.
Death was there along with sadness and grief. The real problem was the gathering of people.
(2) Deleted sentence
Editor 1 has used the track changes functionality to delete the sentence “Too many people.”. The first problem is there is no explanation why this is being recommended. The second problem is this is a sentence level style recommendation. This type of recommendation should be given during a copyedit and not a Story Edit.
(3) & (4) “Unfamiliar” versus “not familiar”
Both editors recommended changing “not familiar” to “unfamiliar”. It’s the same advice, but Editor 2 explains why they recommended the change. The more informative advice will teach the writer how to improve their style and show them what to look for when they eventually perform a copyedit.
Know What You Need
Imagine you’re a writer who has paid for a Story Edit. Are you going to be happy with copyedit changes that are incorrect or come with little explanation? Probably not.
Sometimes a copyedit can give the impression a lot of work was done. That may be true, but it’s the wrong work at this phase of the editing journey. Both the writer and the editor may feel productive, but spending time on style changes before the story is strong can waste time.
I’ve only shown you a small portion of the Story Edit to illustrate different styles editors have.
My assessment based on the edit of the full manuscript is that Editor 1 is a copyeditor who is working outside their area of expertize or comfort zone by taking on a Story Editing job. Editor 2 performed minimal copyediting during the Story Edit, and when they copyedited, they gave the writer an explanation of why they recommended changes.
As a writer, you need to be clear on what you want from an editor. If your knowledge of grammar is strong, having changes recommended without an explanation may be perfect for you, so you can accept or reject changes quickly. If grammar is not your thing, and you’re learning as you write, then you’ll want an editor who gives explanations.
Knowing what you need as a writer will help you choose an editor who is a good fit.
Knowing what a writer needs from you as an editor will help you deliver exceptional edits.
Post Written by Kristina Stanley.
Combining her degree in computer mathematics with her success as a bestselling, award-winning author and fiction editor, Kristina Stanley is the creator and CEO of Fictionary.co — creative editing software for fiction writers and editors. She is a Fictionary Certified Story Coach and a Story Editing Advisor to the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).
Her novels include The Stone Mountain mystery series and Look the Other Way. She’s the author of The Author’s Guide to Selling Book to Non-Bookstores. She’s a passionate guide-dog trainer and hiker.
By BookBaby author Kristina Stanley Editing a manuscript is a big undertaking, both intellectually and emotionally. It takes time and being thorough can be difficult, but the creative story editing process always pays off. Getting your novel ready for publication is an exciting journey, and part of getting ready is performing a story edit on…
Getting your first book edited can be an overwhelming experience. There’s different types of editors, huge swings in price ranges and that’s all before you receive the feedback itself. ALLi partner member and CEO of Fictionary.co Kristina Stanley, is here to explain everything you need to know about fiction editing.
Why is Fiction Editing so Complicated?
Let’s start with the terms. Substantive, developmental, structural, line, copyedit, proofread. Lost yet? When I started as an author, I researched these terms to figure out what they meant. Now that I’m a fiction editor, I want to uncomplicate this for you.
We’re proud to announce Fictionary is now a vetted, trusted Partner Member and affiliate of Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi).
Why not check out Fictionary’s StoryTeller free 14-day trialand tell powerful stories? No credit card required unless you love StoryTeller as much as we do and decide to subscribe.
When Lisa at ProWritingAid.com asked me to write about plot versus story, I thought no problem. I’m a story expert. However, once I started researching the topic, I realized there is a lot of conflicting information out there.
I also realized a discussion about plot and story would be incomplete if we didn’t mention structure. Understanding the difference between plot, structure, and story is important because knowing the difference and how they affect your writing process can help you tell a powerful story.
I reached out to my friends at BookBaby and asked for a present for you as we head into the holiday season.
BookBaby is dedicated to making your journey from writer to published author as easy as possible. You can do it yourself—and they have friendly customer service, knowledgeable publishing specialists, and quality book products and services you need to get the job done.
Save 25% Off Copy and Line Editing services from BookBaby! Use code FICTION25 at checkout on orders placed now through 12/31/19. Learn more.
As we head into Black Friday and Cyber Monday for 2019, there are some great deals for writers. I think there will be something on this list that will help you become a better, more successful writer.
Of course, Fictionary is offering an amazing deal on Fictionary StoryTeller, along with deals on other writing & editing software, writing courses, & publishing tools from our friends in the writing community.
Note: A few of the links above are affiliate links, which means I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Others are just deals that we thought were awesome!
Creative editing software for fiction writers and editors.
Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY19 and get 50% off for up to a year.
Fictionary StoryTeller makes editing easier by applying universal storytelling structures to every scene. Evaluate and revise your manuscript against 38 Fictionary Story Elements to tell a powerful story readers will naturally connect with.
StoryTeller automatically creates powerful visuals by analyzing your manuscript from start to finish. Insights such as the Story Arc provide a 30,000-foot view of your manuscript and quickly highlight structural areas that need improvement.
Grammar guru, style editor and writing mentor in one package
This is the only time of year that ProWritingAid offers a wide, public discount on ProWritingAid Premium. Click here to get 50% off a lifetime license! Don’t miss your chance.
We all know that there is a lot more to good writing than just correct grammar. ProWritingAid created their software based on the same ideas you would learn in a university writing course.
The software addresses readability issues such as passive and hidden verbs, over-reliance on adverbs, repeated sentence starts, emotional tells and much more. These suggestions are the same as a professional copyeditor would give you (in fact many of them use ProWritingAid). ProWritingAid works right within Fictionary StoryTeller.
Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at payment to get 50% off this beautiful, secure writing interface with everything you need to organise, write and edit your novel – wherever you are.
Novlr is built by writers for writers, and is constantly in development – adding the features and changes that our writers tell us they need.
Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY to get 50% off until Monday December 2nd. The Novel Factory helps writers become more productive and achieve their writing goals
The Novel Factory Online is the ultimate online novel writing software for writers.
It includes tons of useful novel writing tools, including:
How to write a novel step by step guide
Novel writing templates
Character profile development questions
Character bio templates
and so much more
The Novel Factory software can help you achieve your dream of writing a novel – it teaches you the craft of writing, while you complete your manuscript.
Use coupon code BLACK2019 to get 40% off all software packages until December 2nd.
Unlock your creative voice – explore our line of software with creative writers in mind. Persona helps you get inside your characters’ heads, and Contour helps you take control of your story.
MasterWriter gives you Word Families, Phrases, Synonyms, Pop Culture, Rhymes, Definitions, a searchable Bible and Figures of Speech (Metaphors, Similes, Onomatopoeia, Idioms, Oxymorons, Allusions and Intensifiers).
While a computer program cannot compete with the mind and imagination of a writer, the mind cannot compete with the word choices MasterWriter will give you in an instant. When the two work together, great things happen…
To take advantage of this 50% off discount, simply sign up, add the BLACKFRIDAY code in the coupon box on the subscription page, and then choose your plan.
Ready to write your best novel yet? One Stop for Writers is a creativity portal that puts powerful storytelling tools and game-changing resources into your hands. Build characters deeper than you thought possible, stories that capture the imagination, and worlds that your readers won’t want to leave. From our hyper-intelligent Character Builder that guides you in creating fascinating characters that come with their own accurate character arc blueprint, to the largest description database for writers found anywhere online, One Stop for Writers isn’t like anything else you’ve seen. This ideal writing partner is there at every step as you plan, write, and revise, helping you create masterful fiction.
Use coupon code OUTLINE to get 25% this brainstorming tool for writers. It is designed to guide you in discovering the brilliant possibilities in your ideas, so you can identify those best suited to creating a solid story that will entertain and move your readers.
The Outlining Your Novel Workbook software provides an easy fill-in-the-blanks format that will guide you through every step of the process. Creating your own outline is as simple as starting on the first screen, using the prompts and lessons to work through your story in the most intuitive way, and clicking through the tabs at the top to access important sections.
Use discount code BLACKFRIDAY to get 50% off The Pre-Write Project, Crafting Incredible Characters, World-Building Warrior, and The Novel Planner.
Stop settling for so-so stories. Get the step-by-step guidance you need to craft truly spectacular novels with Well-Storied’s writing workbooks. All Well-Storied workbooks come in PDF format and can be printed or filled digitally (with the exception of The Novel Planner, which is specifically designed for print).
Featured in the INC 5000 list as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America, Self Publishing School is an online education company that teaches people how to write, market, & publish their first book in as little as 90 days. Join over 4,527 students who have followed their methodology to go from idea to publication *without *having to deal with traditional publishers.
Use discount coupon BLACKFRIDAY to get 50% off at check out on this in-depth course aimed to teach fiction writers how to become emotional masters in showing and evoking emotion.
To be an effective writer, you must master the emotional challenge of our stories. It won’t do to hope we will move our readers in some way. It won’t do to hope we get across our characters’ emotions. By examining more than 40 passages from best-selling novels, with over six hours of instruction, you will learn techniques to masterfully reveal character emotion and spark emotional response in readers. Enrollment in this online course includes lifetime access and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Join the thousand+ students who master the craft of fiction writing in Writing for Life Workshops online courses!
Use discount code BLACKFRIDAY11 at checkout to get 50% off this course for non-fiction writers who want to become more prolific.
Conquer Writer’s Block is ideal if you want to start writing a story or book, but you don’t know where to start, have lots of great ideas inside of you and just want to let them flow, have set and missed writing deadlines and want to finally do something about it, and want to discover how New York Times best-selling authors write and approach their creative projects. Avoid putting pressure on yourself to write 500 or 1,000 words a day and instead to set a target that works!
Use coupon code CHANGENOW to get 50% off this class that will help you start a journal for writing success.
The act and activity of journaling is what helps writers unfold and unpack the aspects of their lives that were or were not working. It is the writing itself that is transformational.
50% off the course or the bundle with the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY19
The Building Your Author Platform bundle is for the author who is struggling to effectively market their book and grow their audience and fan base. There is nothing worse than working hard to create a well-written, edited, fantastic book only to have it completely flop when you launch it. This self-paced bundle of courses will help authors:
identify their target audience
learn how to position themselves to grow the audience
grow the email list and social media platforms
receive expert guidance on tools and ways to market a book
David Farland has trained more than a dozen #1 New York Times Bestsellers. Now it’s your turn: Get David Farland’s popular courses: The Story Puzzle, Writing Mastery 1, Writing Mastery 2, Promising Starts, and Magnificent Middles, along with seminars like Publishing in 2020, and books like Million Dollar Outlines and Writing Wonder . The bundle gives you 1 year of access for only $109.
Good grammar doesn’t make good writing, but good writing demands good grammar. Elevate your writing and editing skills. More than 43K students have learned from course creator/instructor Ellen Feld. In this online classroom, when you ask grammar questions, you get grammar answers!
Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2019 for Free Premium Add-ons for Life along with a 10% Lifetime discount on the Plus Plan to create unlimited images.
Book Brush is a platform that provides an easy way for authors to create professional looking ads and images for social media featuring their book covers.
Use code 100OFFBOOK at checkout when you order over 100 books.
Why print your book with BookBaby? Our formula for great custom book printing is very simple: BookBaby is a book printing company staffed by professionals utilizing the world’s best book printing and binding equipment. While every individual book project is different, the results are always the same: eye-popping colors, crisp and even ink coverage, quality paper stocks, sturdy, tight book binding, all carefully packaged and delivered to your door. With over 50,000 projects successfully delivered last year, we know what authors require and expect from their book printer.
Use Promo Code NANO2020 for free title upload on a print book, ebook, or both!
IngramSpark® is an award-winning independent publishing platform that offers the same fully integrated print and digital products and global distribution services enjoyed by big-time publishers. Once you finish and format your book, IngramSpark makes it possible to share it with the world. It’s your content. We help you do more with it.
Get 50% off top freelance writing business coach Carol Tice’s proven methods for finding, contacting, and getting hired by better clients!
Freelance writing business coach Carol Tice shows you exactly how how to quickly find lists of good prospects, locate a contact email, and write a winning pitch — and get hired! . Includes pitch templates!
Click here to get 50% off “30 Days to Freelance Freedom” – a 10-step success system to launching and growing a profitable freelance business from anywhere.
This 30-day video-based program will guide you step-by-step through the process of setting-up, managing and growing your freelance writing business. It includes 10 practical modules taught by a 16-year freelancer veteran. It also features over 50 easy-to-follow videos along with relevant guides and checklists to help you put into action all you are learning. The program is designed for the new and experienced freelancer who is looking to uplevel their success in 2020!
Transcribe Anywhere trains aspiring transcriptionists to work from home with their high-quality, affordable transcription training.
Multimedia, self-paced course. Video tutorials, worksheets, printable PDF cheatsheets, tons of practice with multiple levels of difficulty to really prepare you for the job, tips, tricks, and step-by-step how-to from a 30+ year transcription veteran instructor, lifetime support, lifetime updates to course material .
Use promo code ESSAY at checkout to learn how to come up with salable essay ideas, craft compelling essays, and get your most personal stories published.
This 6-week, self-guided course will take you through every step, from essay idea to salable piece. You’ll learn how to grab readers (and editors), journal your way to essay ideas, identify the critical elements of a salable essay, critique your own essays and incorporate feedback from others, pitch and submit essays. A parting gift: A spreadsheet loaded with more than 130 relevant markets, including editor contacts.
Why not check out Fictionary’s StoryTeller free 14-day trialand tell powerful stories? Get your Black Friday deal by starting your free trial and then entering coupon code BLACKFRIDAY19. No credit card required unless you love StoryTeller as much as we do and decide ro subscribe.
Today I’m sharing a post I wrote for Fictionary that I thought might help any of you who are working on your characters.
Readers love to cheer for a character. Make them feel the sadness, the terror, the happiness your character feels, and you’ll keep them reading.
In a novel, giving your readers someone to cheer for and follow for 300 or so pages might make the difference between the reader dropping your book on the coffee table after chapter one and staying awake late into the night reading until the climax satisfies their need to know what happened to the character.
The Cast of Characters is the list of characters in your story. These characters act and react. They create emotion. They show motivation. Without any of this, you don’t have a story. That’s a tall order for your characters. So how do you make sure you’re getting the most out of them?
The first thing to do is review your Cast of Characters. This is my cast from an early version of my first novel DESCENT as shown in Fictionary StoryTeller.
Once you’ve written a first draft of your story, you can create a cast of characters. StoryTeller does this for you, if you’d like to try it. StoryTeller scans your manuscript on import and within seconds, creates your cast of characters.
While reviewing your cast of characters look for:
Character names that are too similar. There’s nothing more frustrating to a reader than if a character is killed and it’s Bill, but there’s also a Bob in the story. If the reader is left wondering which character was actually killed because the names are too similar, they might put your book down.
Names used for more than one character. This one may be a surprise, but it happens. Working on a novel over months or years makes it easy to forget a minor character’s name and use it again.
Any typos in the names. This list will help you catch typos that are hard to find when proofreading. For example: Kristina versus Kristine. Your spell checker won’t find an error, but when you see the names listed together, you can’t miss it.
Too many characters.
Character Names That Are Too Similar:
Review the names when listed together, and look for names that would confuse the reader by having names that are too similar. You can see above I have Derek and Donny. These names are similar (both start with D and have two syllables), telling me I should change one of the names.
Here’s an example:
In a book I was reading, a sheriff and his young deputy are questioning an older woman and a young nurse. The deputy’s name is Molly, and the nurse’s name is Maggie. Both are young women. Both names start with M. Halfway through the scene, one character put her hand on the older woman’s shoulder. I thought, “Why would the deputy be so personal?” I had to reread and check which character touched the woman. Of course, it was the nurse.
This was frustrating. Renaming a character is an easy fix.
Names Used For More Than One Character:
Once, I gave two minor characters the same first name. One was in an early scene, and one was in a later scene. None of my beta readers nor my editor picked this up because the names were too far apart in the story, but StoryTeller did. I was glad I caught this before Imajin Books published my novel.
Typos:
Viewing your cast of characters in alphabetical order for both first and last names allows you to quickly see any typos. Here StoryTeller has shown me I’d used Ginnie and Ginny for the same person. It’s a small detail, but one that could cause readers to drop the book.
Too Many Characters:
You don’t want readers to flip (or click) to previous pages to find out who a character is. Too many characters can cause this problem. Here, StoryTeller counted my characters for me. Including minor characters, there are 34 characters in DESCENT. Not bad for a 86,000 word novel.
If you’re worried there are too many characters in a scene, ask yourself if the story needs each character. It’s not your need for the character that matters, it’s the story’s. Can the plot move forward without a character? Then it’s time to cut, cut, cut.
You can also reduce the number of characters by combining two characters into one. Can the role filled by one character be fulfilled by another? If the answer is yes, think about getting rid of the character.
Here’s an example:
A novel I edited for one of my clients had too many characters. The main character had a best friend who had a wife and two kids. The main character also had a brother who had a wife and two kids. I suggested merging the brother and his family into the friend and his family. This meant rewriting the scenes with the brother (replacing him with the friend), but it also meant a tighter story where the reader had more time to get to know the friend and his family. The author decided to make the changes, and her story is more powerful.
The fewer characters there are, the more time there is available to develop each one and the more time a reader has to grow to love the characters.
Next we’ll cover how to look at your characters on a scene-by-scene basis.
Are you a visual learner? Watch our 1 minute video on Cast of Characters.
If you’d like to listen to an in-depth discussion on story editing, check out Story Edit Like A Pro.
StoryTeller is creative editing software for fiction writers. Transform your story, not just your words. Successful stories depend on your ability to edit, improve, and revise your work. Only when you master story editing, can you master storytelling.
Why not check out Fictionary’s StoryTeller free 14-day trial and tell powerful stories?
Download our free eBook, Story Editing: 15 Key Elements of Fiction To Ensure Your Story Works and learn how story editing is all about evaluating the major components of your story.
I’m now an author member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. Already, I’ve met other writers, their private Facebook group is a great place to ask and answer questions, and their members only blogs and podcasts are a wealth of information.
As many of you know, I’m the CEO of Fictionary, so I love to share information about my company. I’m proud to announce Fictionary is now a vetted, trusted Partner Member and affiliate of Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi).
Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), is the global non-profit association for writers who self-publish. Part of ALLi’s remit is to take self-publishing education and advice out to the wider indie author and publishing community.
There are lots of other great benefits too — you can find more on the Alliance’s website: HERE If you do join using the link, ALLi will refund me 30% of your first year’s fees. And as a member, you’ll then be able to recommend the alliance to your friends — and get the same benefit.
We’re proud to be a partner member because this means Fictionary has been vetted by ALLi’s Watchdog Desk team and adheres to ALLi’s Code of Standards.
The Watchdog Desk is headed up by indie author John Doppler and supported by ALLi Directors Orna Ross and Philip Lynch, and News Editor Dan Holloway.
The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), a great writers’ organization and I thought you might like to join too. Love to see you in an ALLi member forum soon!
StoryTeller is creative editing software for fiction writers. Transform your story, not just your words. Successful stories depend on your ability to edit, improve, and revise your work. Only when you master story editing, can you master storytelling.
Why not check out Fictionary’s StoryTeller free 14-day trialand tell powerful stories?
If you’d like to listen to an in-depth discussion on story editing, check out Story Edit Like A Pro.
Today, I’m thrilled to welcome author, Jennifer Leeper. She’s here to motivate your through the final days of NaNoWriMo,
Jennifer has a new release, coming out tomorrow: The Poison of War. How great does this sound?
Two Mexican drug smugglers are murdered on Native American soil and the only clues left behind are two single arrowheads in this compelling page-turner of tribal secrets and distrust at the border.
When detective Frank Silva of the Tohono O’odham Nation arrived at the scene of the crime he immediately feared his investigation would require him to turn inward—to his own people—in search of the killer.
The End is Near
THE END. These two words are a far-off promise—a mirage both figurative and literal, for many, if not most writers on day one of Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). These two words represent the end of a 50,000- (or more) word purge that can drain away optimism, sleep and even hope, in more dire instances.
By this last week of Nanowrimo, most writers don’t have the creative momentum they began with on November 1. The fortune-cookie wisdom and positivity floated by everyone within the Nanowrimo community during the first half of the month is deflated. In this spirit, I’m offering some end-of-the-line motivation to bathe the overworked, creative brains out there, and stoke the fires of Nanowrimo for just a few more days—or, in this case, a few more words.
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
― William James
If you’re going through hell, keep going.
― Winston Churchill
It’s not about passion. Passion is something that we tend to overemphasize, that we certainly place too much importance on. Passion ebbs and flows. To me, it’s about desire. If you have constant, unwavering desire to be a cook, then you’ll be a great cook. If it’s only about passion, sometimes you’ll be good and sometimes you won’t. You’ve got to come in every day with a strong desire. With passion, if you see the first asparagus of the springtime and you become passionate about it, so much the better, but three weeks later, when you’ve seen that asparagus every day now, passions have subsided. What’s going to make you treat the asparagus the same? It’s the desire. —Thomas Keller, Interview with Mark Wilson
Writing/Nanowrimo-Specific Motivation
[Writing] is like wrestling; you are wrestling with ideas and with the story. There is a lot of energy required. At the same time, it is exciting. So it is both difficult and easy. What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing. I have said in the kind of exaggerated manner of writers and prophets that writing, for me, is like receiving a term of imprisonment — you know that’s what you’re in for, for whatever time it takes. — Chinua Achebe, “The Art of Fiction, No. 139,” The Paris Review
Remember you love writing. It wouldn’t be worth it if you didn’t. If the love fades, do what you need to and get it back. Remember writing doesn’t love you. It doesn’t care. Nevertheless, it can behave with remarkable generosity. Speak well of it, encourage others, pass it on. — Al Kennedy
Respect the way characters may change once they’ve got 50 pages of life in them. Revisit your plan at this stage and see whether certain things have to be altered to take account of these changes. — Rose Tremain
If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem. But don’t make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people’s words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient. — Hilary Mantel
As for me, I’ve never conquered the beast called Nanowrimo, but I keep those two words I mentioned earlier at the forefront of my imagination each November. I hope you push on toward November 30th, even if you stumble away in defeat, short of your I targeted word count. I hopeyou’ll return next November and do it all over again, because it’s never been the word count that really counts.
You can find Jennifer Leeper’s latest work, THE POISON OF WAR, a southwestern crime/mysteryhere, or visit www.thepoisonofwar.com to follow her ongoing writing journey.
Who is Jennifer Leeper?
Ms. Leeper is an award-winning fiction author whose previous or forthcoming publications credits include Independent Ink Magazine, The Stone Hobo, Poiesis, Every Day Fiction, Aphelion Webzine, Heater Magazine, CowboyJamboree, The New Engagement, Alaska Quarterly Review, Falling Star Magazine and The Liguorian. She has had works published by J. Burrage Publications, Hen House Press, Inwood Indiana Press, Alternating Current Press, Barking Rain Press, Whispering Prairie Press, Prensa Press and Spider Road Press.
In 2012, Ms. Leeper was awarded the Catoctin Mountain Artist-in-Residency, and in 2013, Ms. Leeper was a Tuscany Prize Novella Award finalist through Tuscany Press for her short novel, Tribe. Ms. Leeper’s short story Tatau was published in the journal, Poiesis, and was short listed as a finalist for the Luminaire Award in 2015, and nominated by Alternating Current for Queen’s Ferry Press’ Best of Small Fictions of 2016 Prize. In 2016, The Saturday Evening Post honored Ms. Leeper’s short story Book of the Dead with an honorable mention in its Great American Fiction Contest.
Ms. Leeper’s short story The Bottle won second place in the Spider’s Web Flash Fiction Prize through Spider Road Press.
In the city of Denver, a series of baby kidnappings has the town devastated.With no ransom demands and no contact from the perpetrators, local law enforcement is at a dead end. No motive equals no answers.
A cop’s personal obsession…
Charlene Taylor’s niece becomes a victim, and the LAPD detective is thrown headfirst into a whirlwind case with similarities to one from seven years earlier. Out of her jurisdiction, and with no friends or leads, Charlene must walk-the-line between cop and sister.
Who can she trust?
Charlene has to decide who’s an ally, and when an unlikely partner steps forward, they must race against the clock: because that critical 48 hour window has come and gone.
Luke Murphy is the International bestselling author of Dead Man’s Hand (Imajin Books, 2012) Kiss & Tell (Imajin Books, 2015), and Wild Card (Imajin Books, 2017).
Murphy played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. His sports column, “Overtime” (Pontiac Equity), was nominated for the 2007 Best Sports Page in Quebec, and won the award in 2009. He has also worked as a radio journalist (CHIPFM 101.7).
Rock-A-Bye Baby is Murphy’s fourth novel.
Murphy lives in Shawville, QC with his wife and three daughters. He is a teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Education (Magna Cum Laude).
“Rock a Bye Baby has everything—a haunted protagonist, heartfelt emotion, and a twisty, thrilling plot.A scorcher of a follow-up in a promising series.”—David Ellis, NYT bestselling author of The Last Alibi
“Murphy has cleverly crafted a riveting crime thriller, with a hefty dose of white-knuckle suspense. Entertaining and enticing to the very last page.”—Cheryl Kaye Tardif, bestselling author of Submerged
“Rock a Bye Baby is an exquisitely told thriller, full of surprises and terrifying moments. Murphy is a gifted storyteller who keeps the tension crackling throughout. Charlene Taylor drives the story to a very satisfying and unexpected ending.”—Kristina Stanley, bestselling author of the Stone Mountain series.
When Lisa at 
Ms. Leeper is an award-winning fiction author whose previous or forthcoming publications credits include Independent Ink Magazine, The Stone Hobo, Poiesis, Every Day Fiction, Aphelion Webzine, Heater Magazine, Cowboy Jamboree, The New Engagement, Alaska Quarterly Review, Falling Star Magazine and The Liguorian. She has had works published by J. Burrage Publications, Hen House Press, Inwood Indiana Press, Alternating Current Press, Barking Rain Press, Whispering Prairie Press, Prensa Press and Spider Road Press.
An aunt’s worst nightmare…
Luke Murphy is the International bestselling author of Dead Man’s Hand (Imajin Books, 2012) Kiss & Tell (Imajin Books, 2015), and Wild Card (Imajin Books, 2017).
Creative Story Editors 