Peter J Merrigan for Stone Heart and the sequel Stone Forged 12th Feb 2021
What can I say about Best Book Editors that you haven’t heard from other clients of hers or from testimonials? My writing skills have improved exponentially since using Katherine Black for developmental edits as well as sanity checks when I’m struggling with the minutia of writing. I used to be a good writer, but with Katherine’s help, I feel confident in calling myself a great writer. I have used other editors in the past, but none compare to the level of service I get from her.
She has drummed the nuts and bolts of writing into me throughout six novels. Many new authors (myself included) don’t know the difference between showing and telling. Sometimes I still get the two confused. Katherine picks up on those things like she’s checking a monkey for ticks. Nothing gets past her.
I can confidently say Katherine surpassed my expectations right from the first word. You get a line edit, proofread and developmental edit all rolled into one service, plus she offers a second pass once you accept or reject her track changes – that service is the clincher for me; she picks up the mess I leave behind when I ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ some of her suggestions and make more of my own (haha). I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Katherine has been my editor for over twenty years. There is no contest – I wouldn’t use any other editor ever again.
I hope that doesn’t come across as sycophantic – I will sing her praises to anyone who asks, that’s how much I appreciate the work she puts into my novels. And she’s worth far more than she charges!
You will not be disappointed in using her.

Katherine Black / Susan (Sooz) Simpson
Founder of Best Book Editors
Katherine has held almost every single job imaginable, from painting gnomes to zookeeper. She spent most of her life in the caring profession and has managed both a nursing home and a care agency. But her passion for the written language always brings her home to novel writing.
Born in Tyne-and-Wear, North-East England, she has settled in the beautiful Lake District, Cumbria, with her partner, two dogs, a cat, an iguana and a python (just don’t ask her which of those six things is her favourite!).
She specialises in content creation and social media outreach, and has been a developmental editor for hundreds of clients. She owns and operates bestbookeditors.com where she helps foundling authors polish their skills. However, after being diagnosed with a dramatic brain condition in 2022, she has had to let 23 staff go, and scale back the business. BBE is still very much open, we are just fewer and can’t take as much work on.
Katherine Black is the author of psychological thriller/detective/fantasy adventure novels.