Bookings for 2012

I'm finished with my last commission of 2011 and have started accepting bookings for 2012. My next available date for an edit is 15th February 2012.

Booking your edit

I have occasionally had authors book a service for a specific date and then not send the manuscript. This has sometimes resulted in me turning away other clients for the same date and is both costly and time consuming. In order to mitigate against this sort of thing I've decided to request a non refundable retainer of $50 in order to book a date for an edit to start. This fee will then be deducted from the total cost for the edit.

It is important to make sure that your manuscript will be ready for editing by the agreed date otherwise you may lose the retainer and have to pay for another booking. If, however, you have booked a date and realise that it is unlikely you'll be able to meet the deadline, please contact me at your earliest opportunity (at least a week before the agreed start date). With enough notice, I will be able to reschedule your booking at no further cost, and may even be able to book another commission in the original slot.

Sample Edits

I've recently had a number of queries about sample edits. This is a service I dropped last year due to lack of interest. For a trial period, I'm going to offer samples again, but due to the time consuming nature of the work I will have to charge a fee.

I'm happy for authors to decide the length of the sample (I'd recommend between 500 and 5000 words) and will charge according to the type of edit required:

Copy edit: $0.005 per word

Literary Edit: $0.020 per word

If the service proves useful, I'll add it to the permanent services offered at a later date.

Kindle Author: Kindle Author Sponsor: M.R. Mathias

Kindle Author: Kindle Author Sponsor: M.R. Mathias: Book Title: The Confliction Compendium (The Dragoneers Cycle One) Author: M.R. Mathias Kindle Price: $0.00 — FREE TODAY! Availa...

Current commissions

I'm currently editing Crimzon and Clover III for M.R. Mathias and Paladins 3, The Old Ways for David Dalglish, which looks set to be my last edit of the year.

Thanks to all the authors I've worked with in 2011. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Confliction Compendium features a foreword by me

Amazon link

M.R. Mathias has released the compendium of books 1,2, & 3 of the Dragoneers saga (two of which were edited by Homunculus). He's included a foreword written by Derek Prior.

Music of the Spheres

Valmore Daniels has implemented the revisions to Music of the Spheres and looks ready to release it. This is the second book of The Interstellar Age (following on from Forbidden the Stars). I had a lot of fun working on this one; the style is reminiscent of the golden age of science fiction, but with an added depth of characterisation (something Valmore just keeps getting better and better at, I think, since the excellent Angel Fire). Watch out for the gripping ending, which sets up what's going to be a compelling third book.

THE SECRET IN THE STARS

The technology for interstellar flight exists through the power of Kinemet, but the key to unlocking its code lies in a thousand-year-old scroll left on Earth by an alien species.

When the ancient manual is stolen before a full translation is completed, Alex, Michael and Justine scramble to recover it.

Along the way, they stumble on an interplanetary conspiracy and uncover a secret that shatters their view of life and shakes the very foundations of our existence.

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DETAILS

Digital ISBN: 978-0-9866593-7-9
Paper ISBN:
Genre: SF
Copyright: 2011 Valmore Daniels
Publication Date: Dec 2011
Published by: Mummer Media
Pages: 304

Curtis Hox

I've just finished a copy edit for Curtis Hox's Bleedover, having recently edited three of his short stories, Red Sphere, The Kafka Harrier, and Repossession in Progress. It's always a great feeling to discover talented indie authors (I've been privileged to work with a good number of them already), and Curtis Hox certainly fits the bill. Not only does this guy have an extensive vocabulary, but he also knows when not to use it. The world he has created for Bleedover (which we also get a glimpse of in Reposession in Progress, has some staggering implications and promises to be the setting for stories with almost limitless potential.

Bleedover has some well-drawn characters, enough philosophical references to keep old farts like me interested, and (even better for me) lots of references to old time sword and sorcery. One of the most original works I've clapped eyes on in a long time (and another extremely hard working author who is dedicated to putting out quality work).

December news

I've finished editing The Confliction for M.R. Mathias, three short stories for Curtis Hox, and Music of the Spheres for Valmore Daniels (definitely one to watch out for - terrific characters and an engrossing storyline).

I'm now finishing up a copy edit of Curtis Hox's intriguing Bleedover and will soon be starting work on the third book of David Dalglish's excellent Paladins series.

Open for new commissions

I've now updated the service descriptions and implemented the new working practices. Already, things have got a lot more efficient and I've freed up some space for more work. If you need your book out before Christmas, there's still a chance I can fit you in. If not, we are already taking bookings for the New Year.