Mrs Helen Jones | Non-fiction editor

Featured

With many years' experience in publishing, I can provide all levels of service including developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, page layout and cover design. I have worked on a broad range of printed and digital products from picture books to adult non-fiction as well as dissertations, business documents and academic papers. I have supported academics and students with English as their second language and have helped self-published authors to understand the publishing process, including providing them with my 'Simple Guide to Self-Publishing'.

Media

• Books – print and ebooks
• Brochures
• Magazines
• Dissertations
• Business documents and reports.

Experience

Freelance since 2012
Editor and content manager, Scripture Union, 2006–12
Production controller, Scripture Union 1996–2005

Clients

• Publishers – Bible Reading Fellowship, Bible Society, Brown Watson, Christian Focus, CPO, Foulsham Publishing, Hodder Faith, IVP, Kevin Mayhew, Lion Publishing, Scripture Truth, Scripture Union, Whittles Publishing
• Academic institutions – Association of Chartered Physiotherapists In Neurology (ACPIN), MDPI, Royal College of Radiologists, Royal College of Psychiatrists, FIGO International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
• Businesses – British Gypsum, CIEP, Executive Compass, Humber Nature Partnership
• Students – doctorates in Social Work, PhD in Anthropology, DProf in Practical Theology, MA in Design Management
• Self-published authors

Subjects

• Children's books – picture books, fiction, novelty, non-fiction
• Business – workplace culture, debt management, graphic design, responses to bids (care homes, lifts, construction, etc.)
• Christianity – Bible, evangelical, devotional, theology, Christian lifestyle/testimonies, Christian resources for all ages
• Health and wellbeing – diet/nutrition, physiotherapy, social work, special needs education
• Travel and adventure
• Art, architecture and history
• Memoirs
• Poetry
• Young Adult fiction

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

Testimonials

'Helen has edited manuscripts for us across several subjects areas and for each project she has done an excellent job combining thoroughness with professionalism and a timeliness in her work. She is very flexible and not fazed by the eccentricities of authors (or publishers!). We would be happy to recommend Helen's editing skills and services to publishers, companies and individuals alike.' Keith Whittles, publisher

'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

'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 Social Work student

A true pleasure. Right from the start, working with Helen has been a delightful process. She’s everything you’d want in an editor – friendly, quick to respond and highly professional. She has the remarkable ability to spot the smallest of typos and hold a big-picture view, offering suggestions to elevate the work. My book is now where I’d hoped it would be and I feel very lucky to have found her.' Simon Francis – Drawfour graphic design

'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.

'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

'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

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Action & adventure
• Architecture
• Art & culture
• Biography, autobiography & memoir
• Children & young adult
• Design
• Diet & nutrition
• Health, fitness & wellness
• History
• Medical & dental
• Poetry
• Religion & theology
• Self-help
• Social work
• Travel & tourism

• Design
• Production
• Typesetting
• Self-publishing
• Formatting/layout