AREAS OF SPECIALTY

• General nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, how-to, biography, memoir. Particular areas of interest are business, arts and sciences, psychology, travel, lived experience through genocide and immigration.

• Contemporary and historical fiction, including coming-of-age, multigenerational saga, adventure, detective, mystery, historical fantasy. All settings and time periods.

• Coaching focuses on maintaining productivity and achieving stronger outcomes by identifying and solving organizational, structural, and literary issues.

AVAILABLE FOR

• Developmental editing; content editing; full manuscript critiques

• First chapter review & line edit

• Book proposal review & line edit

• Writing Coaching

“First and foremost, I’d like to thank my editor, Karen Aroian, who has been my friend and gentle guide throughout this project.”

-Stan Tatkin, author of In Each Other’s Care

“I have worked with many editors across the art, business, and science press and Karen is by far the best. Karen’s expert hand elevated my writing in every way. She challenged me to breathe life and honesty into some very difficult material with a generous and supportive spirit. Though her technical proficiency and meticulousness are beyond compare, it is her dedication to me and my work to create the best possible material, pushing to new limits while always preserving my voice that makes her extraordinary. She made me fearless.”

-Michael Russo, author of Martin Barooshian: The Complete Graphic Works from Adam to Zeus 1948-1970

“When writing fiction, it’s important to find an editor who will not infuse their version of the story into the edit process. Karen understood the direction of my story, and each editorial suggestion sharpened the story and allowed my work to shine. I highly recommend her and would happily work with her again.”

-Connie Johnson Hambley, author of The Troubles

“I want to thank my editor Karen Aroian, without whom my memoir would likely have been a jumble of disorganized, uncoordinated ideas. In a discussion with my daughter Lauren at one point, I questioned the need for an editor. My fear was that an editor might change what Lauren referred to as “Ian speak.” What a mistake that would have been. Lauren introduced me to Karen, who graciously agreed to help me with my project. Karen immersed herself into the editing of this memoir with more passion and caring than I had expected. She sensitively suggested eliminating unnecessary text, encouraging me to expand certain stories for their richness or humor, and helped me to better introduce family and friends to readers perhaps less acquainted with our Fisher families. Karen unhurried me, one chapter at a time, bringing immense, unexpected enjoyment to my task.”

-Ian Fisher, author of Measure Twice, Cut Once

“A wellspring of ideas and insights, [Karen] is a master at bringing a novel’s literary elements to life. She believed in me, took me on a journey far beyond my first and second draft, and always balanced truth to kindness as she justified rewrites I honestly didn’t want to do — again.”

-Leonard J. DiSanza, author of Seeds of Our Future

“As a first-time book author, I was full of thoughts that I put into writing but no real understanding of what it would take to take my musings from material that entertains women to messages that inspire and empower them - which was my intention of the book project. I hired Karen Aroian…to take a look at the table of contents, preface, and first chapter of my book [manuscript], Sweat Like a Mother. The feedback she gave me after analyzing that little nugget of the book completely opened my eyes to what could take it from good (a little heavy, needs sub-sections) to great. She understood my message. She gave insight that enabled me to sharpen the saw. Karen has thirty years of experience as a book editor; it’s evident that she is at the top of her game. Combining her skills as an editor with her brilliant communication skills, Karen is not only able to dissect a book (plenty of editors can do that) but also precisely relay to you, the author, what is working for you and what maybe isn’t - and why! As an author, figuring out where to be self-sufficient and when to pay for help takes careful planning. Hiring Karen Aroian to [critique] a chapter of my book was, unequivocally, the very best money I have spent on this project. Her editing skills are nothing shy of mind blowing!”

-Brook Benten Jimenez, Content Producer at Brook Benten Fitness

“Karen’s [critique] provided innumerable suggestions with respect to pacing, dialogue, character and plot development. Karen was very professional in her comments and criticisms and, most importantly, honest and fair. I could tell from the comments that Karen really dove deep into my story and put an incredible amount of thought and effort into her suggestions”

-Jim Dennis, science fiction writer, retired Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine

“Karen is an outstanding copy editor and insightful mentor. I was lucky to be able to collaborate with her on several writing projects…. She is extremely adept at polishing content so that its purpose truly shines. Karen has shared a wealth of industry and technical expertise with me, and she has positively influenced my growth as a writer. Teaming up with her was a fantastic experience that I would jump to do again in a heartbeat!” 

-Keely McIntyre, Copywriter