Book coaching & developmental editing
Your book deserves a reader who takes it seriously.
Thoughtful, actionable editorial guidance to help your manuscript reach its gorgeous final form.


About me
Hi, I’m Siobhán.
I'm a publishing professional with ten years of experience across editorial, marketing, and book publicity. As the former Editorial Director of Book of the Month, I selected books for an audience of millions and spent time with thousands of stories across literary fiction, romance, mystery, fantasy, memoir, and more.
My writing on books has been published in the New York Times Book Review, and I've provided editorial support to everyone from self-published authors to Penguin Random House. I'm also a former #bookstagrammer (check out the now-inactive @bestbookgrams on Instagram, if you like). An omnivorous reader and a nerd for story structure, I love helping writers meet their goals.
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and received my B.A. at the University of Texas at Austin before spending ten years in New York City. These days my wife and our dog Selena split time between Brooklyn and Mexico City. Besides reading, my hobbies include eating, learning Spanish, and sussing out the links between academic theory and reality TV.
Testimonials
Kind words
“Siobhán went above and beyond in her work with my manuscript. I was blown away by her detailed attention to my story and her thoughtful suggestions. She really dug into the structure and themes and helped me see areas I can improve to make the story stronger, and all in such a professional and positive way. Thank you, Siobhán!!”
“Siobhán exceeded my expectations with the edit of my first novel. I was a bit nervous about letting it go but Siobhán was reassuring and her comments were thoughtful and constructive. She understood what I was trying to get out of it and had so many brilliant ideas of how to improve the story. Would definitely work with Siobhán again.”
“Siobhán is a terrific developmental editor. She takes the time to understand your audience, your vision, and your goals. She has a unique ability to identify the critical levers to pull to lift your book from good to great. I recommend her to both experienced and aspiring authors.”
“I can’t say enough amazing things about Siobhán! She really looks into plot, character development, sentence structure, etc. She is AMAZING at communicating! Not only did she tell me how certain things could help my book, but she also gave many examples of what she loved and how to make it better. I am so glad to have found her! Her passion to help is clearly there.”
Services
What I offer
Whether you've got a full manuscript ready to go or haven't yet put pen to page, I can advise you on your story concept, market positioning, getting out of a plotting rut, and more.
Developmental editing
Big-picture notes on structure, character, pacing, and themes for a full manuscript.
Synopsis & outline review
A close read of your synopsis or outline, with feedback before you draft or query.
Proofread
A careful final pass for typos, grammar, and consistency before you publish.
Brainstorm
A working session to untangle a plot problem or sharpen your concept and positioning.
Come prepared with questions. After booking a consultation, you can also email up to 1,000 words describing your synopsis, background, or the challenges you're facing — so no time is wasted getting up to speed.
Selected titles
Books from my editorial world.
Stories I’m proud to have championed, shaped, and helped find their readers.
Let’s work on yours

A gift for your draft
Get my free outline guide
A short, practical PDF on shaping your story before you draft. Pop in your email and I'll send it over.