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 authors whose books (edited by Kristen Corrects, Inc.!) have done exceedingly well (Top 20 or higher on Amazon best-seller lists, Amazon's Best Book of the Month, or won an award) by indie author standards.
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 became a #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Oncology genre (August 2015). I completed several developmental editing passes, followed by line editing and copyediting, and worked alongside proofreader Gillian Burgess.
Crunching Numbers by Jason Fitzgerald & Vijay Natarajan
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Crunching Numbers by Jason Fitzgerald & Vijay Natarajan reached #7 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the American Football genre (March 2017). Crunching Numbers has also been mentioned on CNBC, ESPN, ESPN (again!) and Yahoo Finance. I provided a line edit and a copyedit on Crunching Numbers.
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 Amazon Best Seller in the Occult Supernatural genre
- #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Classic Cars genre
- #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Women's Adventure genre
- #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Action & Adventure - Fantasy genre
- #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Contemporary genre
It also cracked the Top 100 books on Amazon overall, becoming the #60 most popular book across the entire A mazon store in May 2018. I completed a manuscript critique then a copyedit on Blood Cure. The book has been a major success, securing over 30 five-star reviews on Amazon by the time of this publication.
Some Call It Life, Others Call It Faith by C.M. Hodges
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
C.M. Hodges’ debut novel became a #2 Amazon Best Seller in the Religious & Liturgical genre (August 2015). I did a line edit and copyedit on C.M.'s book.
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 copyedit on The King's Sun in 2017.
Lies of the Magpie by Maleah Day Warner
Copyedit by Kristen Hamilton
Maleah Day Warner's debut memoir Lies of the Magpie became a triple Amazon bestseller (June 2020):
The Year They Tried to Kill Me by Dr. Salvatore Iaquinta
Copyedit by Kristen Hamilton
Sal Iaquinta published his book in 2012, but it has remained successful on Amazon, remaining high (#20 on Amazon's Best Seller list) in the Humor – Doctors & Medicine genre at the time of this writing (June 2017). I served as the proofreading editor for The Year They Tried to Kill Me in 2012.
Resurrectionists by Lou Paduano
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Author Lou Paduano is known for his supernatural/paranormal Greystone series, and his prequel Resurrectionists became a double Amazon best seller, reaching #5 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the Fantasy – Superhero genre and a #14 Amazon Best Seller in the Horror – Occult genre (May 2017). I completed a line edit and a copyedit on Resurrectionists.
Baghdaddy by Bill Riley
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Solar Winds: Providence Ends by Bryan G. Shewmaker
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
In June 2017, Providence Ends reached #10 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the Space Opera genre, and #9 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the Military Sci-Fi genre. I completed a manuscript critique, then a copyedit on Bryan's debut work.
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.
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 copyediting.
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 completed a line edit on Cornered.
Mimi and the Banker by Sharon Hughson
Manuscript critique by Kristen Hamilton
Sharon Hughson's romance novel Mimi and the Banker reached #11 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the Friendship Fiction genre in March 2019! Mimi and the Banker shared this list with Fredrik Backman's 2014 New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove.
I did a manuscript critique on Mimi and 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 in April 2019! The Golden Butterfly was also a Finalist in the Spiritual Healing category.
I completed a developmental edit, line edit, and copyedit, where I cut out about 60,000 words to make the overall plot and story themes more prominent. Whew!
Blood for Blood by K.R. Willis
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Blood for Blood, book 2 of the Keira Blackwater series, reached #19 on Amazon's Best Seller list in the Teen & Young Adult Geography & Cultures - US genre. I completed a manuscript critique then a copyedit.
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!
Pinnacle Lust by Michelle Dim-St. Pierre
Copyedit by Kristen Hamilton
In 2015, Pinnacle Lust won 9 awards at various contests, including Best Romance and Best General Fiction book at the Beach Book Contest. I served as the final copyeditor for Pinnacle Lust in 2014.
Bloody Coffee by Michelle Dim-St. Pierre
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
In 2019, Michelle Dim-St. Pierre's second book was named as an Honorable Mention in the General Fiction category in the New York Book Festival, the Paris Book Festival, the London Book Festival, and the Florida Book Festival! I completed a line edit and a copyedit on Bloody Coffee.
Opposable by Kirk Hammond
Copyedit by Kristen Hamilton
Kirk Hammond's humorous sci-fi novel Opposable became a Finalist for the 2020 EVVY awards.
In 2019 I did a copyedit, following a style sheet as the project's final editor. According to an EVVY report, "Some of the strongest praise was around pacing and flow" of the novel.
Out of the Darkness by Stephanie Mossi
Edited by Kristen Hamilton
Stephanie Mossi's debut memoir Out of the Darkness took the Bronze prize for the Nonfiction Book Awards, put on by the Nonfiction Authors Association.
In 2019 I did a manuscript critique, line edit, and copyedit on the book.
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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