The relationship between an author and his or her editor is critical. With the optimal balance of open communication and clear goals, the right book editor can help an author transform a book from a “good” manuscript to a bestselling novel.
As a book editor, I read for a living (and yes, it’s as awesome as you think it would be). Having the opportunity to edit and improve a book from a rough draft to a polished product is a fantastic thing. In my work since 2012, I’ve edited some excellent books…and some that have shot to or near the top of Amazon bestsellers lists in their respective genres. Below is a list of several authors whose books (edited by Kristen Corrects, Inc.!) have done exceedingly well (Top 20 or higher, Best Book of the Month, or won an award) in Amazon sales by indie author standards.
On Daring and Life by Alicia Anderson
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
On Daring and Life received recognition for one of Amazon’s Best Books of 2015 and was named Amazon’s Best Book of the Month (July 2015).
I completed a full edit on Alicia’s book: developmental editing, line editing, then proofreading. As of the time of this writing, On Daring and Life has received 27 five-star reviews.
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Cornered was featured as Amazon’s Best Book of the Month (May 2015) and has garnered positive reviews from USA Today bestselling authors and Amazon Top-100 reviewers.
I did a line edit on Cornered. It was an honor to work with Alan, as he’s an international bestselling author of crime thrillers.
Pinnacle Lust by Michelle Dim-St. Pierre
Proofread by Kristen Hamilton
Pinnacle Lust won 9 awards at various contests, including Best Romance and Best General Fiction book. I served as the proofreading editor for Pinnacle Lust.
Three Points of Contact by Gregory Q. Cheek
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Gregory Q. Cheek’s debut book garnered over 7,000 pre-sales prior to publication and culminated in a national speaking tour. Once released, it reached #1 on Amazon’s Best Seller List in the Oncology genre (August 2015).
I completed several developmental editing passes, followed by line editing and proofreading, and worked alongside proofreader Gillian Burgess. Three Points of Contact currently has 95 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Some Call It Life, Others Call It Faith by C.M. Hodges
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
C.M. Hodges’ debut novel reached #2 in Amazon’s Religious & Liturgical genre (August 2015). I did a line edit and proofread on her book.
Crunching Numbers by Jason Fitzgerald and Vijay Natarajan
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Crunching Numbers, the debut book by Jason Fitzgerald & Vijay Natarajan, reached #7 in Amazon’s American Football genre (March 2017). Crunching Numbers has also been mentioned on CNBC, ESPN, ESPN (again!) and Yahoo Finance.
I provided my two most common services, a line edit and a proofread, on Jason and Vijay’s book.
Resurrectionists by Lou Paduano
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Author Lou Paduano is known for his supernatural/paranormal Greystone series, and his prequel Resurrectionists is a double Amazon bestseller, reaching #5 in the Fantasy – Superhero genre and #14 in the Horror – Occult genre (May 2017).
Just like with all Lou’s books, on Resurrectionists I did a line edit and a proofread.
Solar Winds: Providence Ends by Bryan G. Shewmaker
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
In June 2017 Providence Ends reached #10 in Amazon's Space Opera genre, and #9 in the Military Sci-Fi genre. With Bryan's debut work, I did a manuscript critique, then a proofread.
The Year They Tried to Kill Me by Dr. Salvatore Iaquinta
Proofread by Kristen Hamilton
Sal Iaquinta published his book in 2012, but it has remained successful on Amazon, remaining high (#20) on Amazon’s Humor – Doctors & Medicine genre at the time of this writing.
I served as the proofreading editor for The Year They Tried to Kill Me.
In the Shadow of Light by Tracy Causley
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
In the Shadow of Light won the bronze medal for Best First Book - Fiction in the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards!
I did a big-picture developmental edit on Tracy's book, and I'm so proud for her achievement.
Blood Cure by K.R. Willis
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
The first in the supernatural Keira Blackwater series by K.R. Willis, Blood Cure soared to the top of the Amazon bestsellers lists, becoming a quintuple bestseller:
#1 in the Occult Supernatural genre
#1 in the Classic Cars genre
#1 in the Women's Adventure genre
#1 in the Action & Adventure - Fantasy genre
#1 in the Contemporary genre
It also cracked the Top 100 books on Amazon overall, becoming the #60 most popular book across the entire Amazon store in May 2018.
I completed a manuscript critique then a proofread on Blood Cure. The book has been a major success, securing over 30 five-star reviews on Amazon by the time of this publication.
Blood for Blood by K.R. Willis
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Blood for Blood, book 2 of the Keira Blackwater series, reached #19 in the Teen & Young Adult Geography & Cultures - US genre. I completed a manuscript critique then a proofread.
Blood for Blood and the first book Blood Cure have been approved for the aptitude reading tests for grades 9 and 10 in her nearby Oklahoma school district, and the series has been added to the curriculum!
The King's Sun by Isaac Grisham
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Isaac Grisham's debut novel The King's Sun was honored as a Finalist in the 2018 International Book
Awards' LGBT Fiction category!
I completed a line edit and proofread on The King's Sun.
Mommy Loves the Banker by Sharon Hughson
Manuscript critique by Kristen Hamilton
Sharon Hughson's Mommy Loves the Banker, Book 4 in the Mommy's Little Matchmakers collection published by Sweet Promise Press, reached #11 in the Friendship Fiction genre in March 2019! Mommy Loves the Banker shared this list with Fredrik Backman's 2014 New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove.
I did a manuscript critique on Mommy Loves the Banker, pointing out big-picture issues with character development, tension, and plot inconsistencies.
The Golden Butterfly by Celia Aily Carranza
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Celia Aily Carranza's debut memoir took First Place in the Body, Mind, Spirit Book Awards in the Angels & Spirit Guides category! The Golden Butterfly was also a Finalist in the Spiritual Healing category.
I completed a developmental edit, line edit, and proofread, where I cut out about 60,000 words to make the overall plot and story themes more prominent. Whew!
I am humbly grateful for the authors who selected me to edit their books, and even more thankful for the authors who say they couldn’t have done it without my help and have given me some wonderful testimonials. Being able to say that these authors climbed high on Amazon bestsellers lists in their respective genres makes me a proud editor…and knowing I make a difference in the final version of these books—the product that readers buy and put on their bookshelves—makes me love my job that much more.
I believe that having a best-selling independently published book is a result of many things, including the story concept, quality of writing and editing, and marketing. Contact me if you're looking for an author-editor collaboration or if you'd just like some advice on making your next book as successful as possible!
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Book editor Kristen Hamilton is the owner and sole employee of Kristen Corrects, Inc., where she provides manuscript editing services for traditionally and self-publishing authors. Several authors whose books she has edited have won awards and have topped Amazon's best sellers lists.
Reading is Kristen's passion, so when the workday is over, she can usually be found curled up with a good book alongside her four cats. She loves watching cat videos and scary movies, eating pizza, teaching herself French, and traveling, and she is likely planning her next vacation. She lives outside of Boise, Idaho.
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