“Your ability to see
weaknesses and your suggestions for correcting them were invaluable to us….Your
fine-tuning of expression page by page was
always helpful and we always took your advice.
“Years of editing
experience were obvious in each suggestion you
made. You quickly saw flaws where we had seen
none! You got under the skin of each of our
characters, giving us ideas on their development
all throughout. The book is a much better book
because of your thoughtful advice. You are a
pleasure to work with, and we both appreciate
your being so quick to respond to all of our
queries.
“We both look
forward to the publication of the manuscript,
and to working with you again, should we attempt
another one.”
— Elizabeth Shannon and William
Rademaekers
“I am writing to
tell you what a pleasure our association has
been for me…. I, personally, am most impressed
by the way in which you have worked with me in
the critique of my novel…. As one who has edited
academic journals, I know the difference between
an editor who forces the prose to form to his or
her style and an editor who teases the best from
the author’s work. Surely you belong to that
latter group, one who reads between the lines to
determine the author’s intent and to help him or
her to that level; e.g. moving a chunk of
paragraphs to an eminently better place in a
chapter that I’d not seen despite multiple
previous rewrites. Your suggestions about the
structure of the novel, i.e. characterization,
conflict, suspense, resolution, etc., have been
invariably insightful and imaginative, our
discussions, like brainstorming sessions, always
left me exhilarated rather than despairing of
finding my way…. Today I feel as though I’ve had
a wonderful graduate course in novel writing.
Thank you for that.
“Now, seven months
into our relationship, four of which were
intensive work on the book, I’m also pleased to
consider you a friend as well as mentor, editor
and muse. For more reasons than I have mentioned
here, I’m truly pleased to know you will help me
with my next book later this year.”—
Jim Duggins
“Your professional honesty
made my manuscript much better, and I can’t
thank you enough for making my book the best it
could possibly be....Your pleasant personality
is a great balance to your cogent editing. I
hope we get an opportunity to work together
again.”— Peter M. Dunne
“I am writing to tell you how much I’ve
enjoyed working with you over the past year and
to thank you for all your help and
advice....What I found most noteworthy, and
particularly helpful, was your willingness to
spend time with me to answer my questions and to
kick around ideas. You were expansive with your
comments and I never felt rushed when we spoke.
Indeed you were happy to take as much time with
me as I needed and you were genuinely interested
in my project. I am grateful for your candor
when critiquing my manuscript and vetting my
ideas.
“So, again thank you and, if you wish, you're
welcome to share this letter with your
prospective clients."— William G. Byrnes
“Jerry Gross was essential to the success of
my novel. During the months I worked with Jerry
Gross, he challenged me to re-examine my
characters at every level of the plot and
story....He asked provocative questions that
pushed my imagination and writing skills to new
levels....I cannot recommend Jerry Gross highly
enough. He is magnificent to work with and
really cared about my work."— John M.
Weiskopf
Meet the Editors