“Best money you can spend is on editing services, and nobody does a better job than Alchemy Author Services.” –Miette Reader, EIC of Whiskey Tit Books
“Hillary Leftwich is by far the finest editor I have ever worked with. Hillary’s facility to read your route and guide you to the best of your work is soaringly beatific and entrenched in the delicacy of huanity. I am excited with every revision.” – Te’ V. Smith, author of Here We Are, Reflections of a God Gone Mad and Exit Ticket
“For months, I struggled with one of my short stories. It received positive feedback from numerous magazines, but the consensus was that the middle had lost its tension. I brought the story to Hillary because I already trusted her as a writer. Hillary provided some of the most insightful feedback I’ve ever received on a piece. She cheered on the parts that were working, showing me where I could build. She pointed out parts that held back the narrative and offered clear suggestions that honored my voice and enhanced the story’s strengths. She is as talented and trustworthy as an editor as she is a writer in her own right. I look forward to working with her again.” – Virgie Townsend, writer, communications specialist, and attorney from Syracuse, New York. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Harper’s Bazaar, VICE, The Sun, Tin House Online, and other publications.
“She was more than a champion for my work; she understood exactly what I wanted to do and had clear-eyed advice on how to do it” – Cheryl Pappas, Author & Editor. Her writing has been featured in Juked, Wigleaf, The Chattahoochee Review, Hobart, Ploughshares, SmokeLong Quarterly, and elsewhere.
“Reaching out to Hillary to be my beta reader for “The Daddy Chronicles-Memoir of a Fatherless Daughter” was the best decision I could have made. Her insight gave me the confidence I needed that I was on the right path at a time when doubts were screaming in my brain. Her sensitive edit suggestions were absolutely spot on. I will always be grateful and highly recommend Hillary’s editing skills.” – Jayne Martin, Author of The Daddy Chronicles
“I have taken multiple classes from Hillary through Lighthouse Writers Workshop and Alchemy Author Services. As an instructor, she is dedicated, considerate and knowledgeable, striking that careful balance between supportive and challenging. She is also a stellar editor, both conceptually and on the line level. She asked insightful questions, helping me craft the best possible piece of writing in my own unique voice. Hillary diagnosed problem areas and considerations for how I might fix them, but also highlighted what was already working. I felt motivated by her advice and encouragement. One story she helped me edit not only found publication with a literary journal but was nominated for a Pushcart this year! –Rachel Horak Dempsey, dark fiction author
“Even though I love writing, I struggle to find the words to properly express my appreciation for your beta report. I didn’t know what to expect, but this far exceeded anything I could have imagined. And the tarot cards…how poignant and aligned…I printed them and am keeping them with me. The entire document is an absolute gift.
After sending my manuscript, I noticed concern that it might feel too done, especially given your extreme experiences in such settings with your son. To know this isn’t the case—that for those familiar with such environments, it will speak to their knowing, almost as a connective tissue, gives me newfound and much needed permission to continue writing this story.
The moment I saw what you did with the words to create the ‘L’ shaped table, I exhaled. Everything dropped in relaxation. You aren’t telling me to rein it in, or to alter the structure, but asking how bold I want to be. This confirms that how the work wants to come out isn’t problematic, but that I need to reach those who might understand or appreciate it. That my current task and focus needs to be about growing and tending to my little garden, instead of fretting over what has already sprouted.
Thank you endlessly for the precious time you spent with my words. It is an honor and to be on the receiving end of your creative insight is mind-blowing: you pose questions I will be thinking about for a long time, and point out themes or threads I hadn’t even recognized (color, time).
This is the first time in my life I have pushed myself to engage with workshops and to learn about writing. My gut tells me to just continue doing that, for who knows how long, and not to worry about what it becomes.” –Kaleigh J., author
“Hillary is a thoughtful and thorough editor and teacher who you can trust to treat your work with the care it deserves. She has helped me move stories from rough first drafts into polished final pieces ready for publication — and even helped me find the right outlets to get those final pieces published. I have recommended her to anyone looking for an expert editor for their writing project, from budding first-time writers to experienced authors with multiple books under their belt. Look no further than Alchemy Author Services to guide writing from where it’s at to where you want it to be!” – Patricia McCrystal, author & Editor at Hard Times
“I began writing a story as a teenager, which evolved into a four-book series that I never intended to show to anyone except my close family. For me, there were many reasons to be nervous about sharing my work, but the main one was that I didn’t know who to trust with my vision for the story.
Having joined the Author’s Guild and never using a single benefit out of sheer self-doubt, I finally used their resources and found Hillary. After speaking with her and understanding her services, I felt comfortable working with her on a beta read. Her feedback was professional and thoughtful, and most of all, helpful.
After utilizing Hillary’s beta reading services, it was clear to me that she was the only logical choice for developmental editing. Her insight into my story and her understanding of the soul of it were invaluable. We worked together in five-chapter batches and had a meeting after each batch was done. She never pressured me to change the heart of Vanguard, but instead encouraged me to refine it. There was never a time during the process that I felt she was trying to take charge of my story. Hillary truly helped me to carve away the parts that I didn’t need or that didn’t serve the characters faithfully, and what I’m left with is a book that I’m genuinely proud of.
Aside from her insight, Hillary is a true professional. She is responsive and thorough, and at no time did I feel as if my work wasn’t important to her. There are many options for author services, but for me, there is no one I would rather trust with the other stories in my series than Hillary.” Sera Frost, author
“Hillary isn’t only an author doing her own thing. She’s a participating, contributing member of a thriving writing community” – Deanna Rasch, Author & Editor
Authors I’ve Worked With
Developmental editing for a story included in this collection
Annell López
A shimmering debut story collection intimately exploring race, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream-published by Feminist Press
Purchase Here: I’ll Give You a Reason
Developmental editing on the title piece, Because We Were Christian Girls, featured in The Sun Magazine
“For months, I struggled with one of my short stories. It received positive feedback from numerous magazines, but the consensus was that the middle had lost its tension. I brought the story to Hillary because I already trusted her as a writer. Hillary provided some of the most insightful feedback I’ve ever received on a piece. She cheered on the parts that were working, showing me where I could build. She pointed out parts that held back the narrative and offered clear suggestions that honored my voice and enhanced the story’s strengths. She is as talented and trustworthy as an editor as she is a writer in her own right. I look forward to working with her again.” – Virgie Townsend, writer, communications specialist, and attorney from Syracuse, New York. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Harper’s Bazaar, VICE, The Sun, Tin House Online, and other publications.
Purchase Here: Because We Were Christian Girls
Fall 2019 Black River Chapbook Competition Finalist
Cupboard Pamphlet’s 2020 Annual Contest Finalist
2021 Newfound Prose Prize Finalist
2022 Central New York Book Award Winner
Developmental and copyediting on all stories in this collection
Audra Kerr Brown
Purchase Here: Small Harbor Publishing
Copyediting/Developmental editing for a new edition of the book published by Whiskey Tit Books
“Best money you can spend is on editing services, and nobody does a better job than Alchemy Author Services.” –Miette Reader, EIC of Whiskey Tit Books
David Tromblay
Purchase Here: Whiskey Tit Books
Developmental and copyediting on all stories in this collection
“Reaching out to Hillary to be my beta reader for “The Daddy Chronicles-Memoir of a Fatherless Daughter” was the best decision I could have made. Her insight gave me the confidence I needed that I was on the right path at a time when doubts were screaming in my brain. Her sensitive edit suggestions were absolutely spot on. I will always be grateful and highly recommend Hillary’s editing skills.” – Jayne Martin, Author of The Daddy Chronicles
Purchase Here: Whiskey Tit Books
Developmental editing on a hybrid memoir and developmental editing on individual essays
“Hillary Leftwich is by far the finest editor I have ever worked with. Hillary’s facility to read your route and guide you to the best of your work is soaringly beatific and entrenched in the delicacy of huanity. I am excited with every revision.” – Te’ V. Smith, author of Here We Are, Reflections of a God Gone Mad and Exit Ticket
Té V. Smith is a Nigerian American writer and educator. He has published short stories and poetry in a variety of online and print publications. He is the author of Here We Are, Reflections of a God Gone Mad, and Exit Ticket
Copyediting and developmental editing
R. Norfolk
Purchase Here: I Want to See the World
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