Literary Services Directory
Services below are provided by individual members of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) or by small businesses run by WFNS members. Services, rates, timelines, and other contractual matters must be arranged directly with the service providers and cannot be negotiated, vetted, or mediated by WFNS.
To submit or update a listing, please contact communications@writers.ns.ca with the subject line “Literary Services Directory.”
Book Design
Anne Camozzi (Antigonish, NS) offers licensing of art for book design. Anne’s art reproduces well in many forms and has been used in calendars, websites, magazine covers and cards. Think about original art for your book: licensing fees are reasonable and based on the print run of the book and how art is used. Check out Anne’s website galleries to see some of the art available for licensing. Please contact the studio if you are looking for something you don’t see on the website.
Ron McDougall is a print and digital design professional with over 25 years’ experience. For new and established writers, he can provide book design, website design, and trailer production—everything you need to successfully launch your writing into the world. Ron has designed for companies large and small, international and local, including: Scotiabank, Chrysler, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Nova Scotia Organics, and John Walker Productions. His work in publishing included several years as Art Director for optimyz magazine, in addition to cover design for Breton Books and Victus Publishing.
Andy Verboom (Halifax, NS) can usher your final manuscript into print, offering innovative book & cover design, printing management & e-book production, and virtual book launch support. If your book needs a little polish, then project consultation, substantive editing, and technical editing are also available. Andy has over 12 years’ experience in communications (in STEM, business, and arts fields) and 7 years’ experience in print and digital publishing. He is the editor & publisher of Collusion Books and the managing editor & publisher of long con magazine. Please direct inquiries to verboom.ac@gmail.com.
Editing
Editors listed below provide various levels and types of editing services. We encourage all those seeking editing services to familiarize themselves with Editors Canada’s Definition of Editorial Skills.
If you are seeking a manuscript review or manuscript evaluation (that is, developmental advice for re-vamping, re-visioning, or re-conceiving a literary project that needs a fresh pair of eyes), you might also consider our Manuscript Review Program.
Georgia Atkin (Halifax, NS) offers copy editing and stylistic editing for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Her training includes courses from Ryerson University’s publishing program. She is a past recipient of the WFNS Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children prize, and since 2014, she has volunteered as editor for local Halifax poetry publication Open Heart Forgery.
Cooper Lee Bombardier (Halifax, NS) offers structural/developmental editing, stylistic/copy/line editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluation (reader’s response), and author coaching. His editing style is nurturing and supportive, with an eye to publishing standards and currents in literature. Cooper has edited books on academic theory, research-based creative nonfiction, hybrid/experimental form, memoir, essay, technology, spirituality, and fiction. You can query him via his website.
Valerie Compton (Halifax, NS) is a full-time editor specializing in fiction and narrative nonfiction. She offers detailed and specific editorial guidance tailored to the needs of each manuscript and its individual writer. This is often a blend of substantive editing, stylistic editing, and mentoring. Valerie strives to write editorial letters that will inspire new insight and creative development. She has led fiction writing workshops for more than ten years, and is trained in copyediting (Toronto Metropolitan University). Her novel Tide Road was a finalist for the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, and her short fiction has appeared in many Canadian journals (including The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Riddle Fence). Please direct inquiries to valerie.narrativeagency@gmail.com
Tim Covell (Halifax, NS) offers copy editing, structural editing, manuscript evaluation, reference checking, and formatting. He has edited academic books, cozy mysteries, and a YA novel, as well as several academic articles and book chapters. He works as a technical writer, and has published poetry, short fiction, essays, and academic articles. Tim also offers website design, upgrading, and tutoring, using WordPress. He has assisted several local authors update and expand their WordPress sites.
Georgina Godfrey Lewis (Halifax, NS) offers copy editing for fiction, as well as proofreading services and beta reading first-blush impressions. Please direct inquiries to georgielou.godfrey@gmail.com
Justine Hart (Halifax, NS) is an editor whose past clients include publishers such as Formac Publishing, Guernica Editions, and Eye of Newt books. She is pleased to work with authors on an individual basis to determine the particular needs of each manuscript, and to help writers connect with their target audience. Her range of expertise includes basic manuscript critique, substantive editing, copy editing, and proofreading. In addition to narrative fiction and nonfiction, she also works with academic writing and has a strong familiarity with the APA and Chicago principles. She happily welcomes new client inquiries; contact her at hartjustine.al@gmail.com
Allison LaSorda (NS) offers substantive editing for creative non-fiction and fiction, as well as proofreading services.
Annick MacAskill (Halifax, NS) offers bilingual (English and French) copyediting and proofreading services, as well as substantive editing for poetry and creative non-fiction.
Marina McCarron (London, United Kingdom) holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University and has worked in manuscript evaluation, substantive editing, and line editing for a variety of publishing houses as well as many private clients. She specialises in romance, crime and thriller, commercial, and literary fiction and memoir. She is also the author of two novels published by Head of Zeus, an imprint of Bloomsbury. Currently based in England, she was born and raised in the Maritimes. Please direct inquiries to marinamccarron@gmail.com
Sandra McIntyre (Wolfville, NS) is a fiction specialist with more than twenty years of editorial experience, a master’s degree in English (Dalhousie), and a certificate in book publishing (SFU). Sandra offers developmental editing, manuscript assessments, book coaching and more through Parlay Manuscript Services, which she operates with writer and story consultant Ali Bryan. Visit parlaymanuscript.com for a list of services, pricing, testimonials, and contact info.
Angela Mombourquette (Halifax, NS) offers substantive editing on feature-length works of non-fiction. Experience: Master of Journalism, University of King’s College, 2015. Editor, Atlantic Books Today, 2013-2014. Associate Editor, Saltscapes (also Good Taste, Living Healthy, Food & Travel), 2010-2013.
donalee Moulton (Halifax, NS) is a professional editor/copy editor and writer/journalist. She has developed numerous award-winning communications plans and marketing strategies, and she can help you build a website, plan an awards night or media event, and develop all the online and print materials you need to make your project a success. donalee is a successful teacher/trainer and regularly teaches writing, editing, grammar, punctuation and media relations courses.
Pat Thomas (Hubbards, NS) has been a book editor for fifteen years. She offers editing on three levels: substantive, copy editing and proofreading – as well as formatting for print. Most of her edits apply all three levels to series fiction for multi-published authors or books of interest locally. Genres she’s comfortable with include historical, contemporary fiction and romance, paranormal, creative non-fiction, short stories, YA fiction and fantasy, anthologies, sagas, picture books, poetry and spoken-word poetry-to-print. Pat also does cover and interior design work. Please direct inquiries to editpat001@gmail.com or (902) 789-7689.
Marianne Ward (Dartmouth, NS) is a sensitive, supportive, enthusiastic professional editor who is committed to helping writers present their best work. She specializes in book-length manuscripts and has a particular interest in historical, middle-grade, and YA fiction but also enjoys memoir and non-fiction. She provides the full range of editing services–from manuscript assessment to substantive editing, copy-editing, and proofreading–and has assisted clients with successful submissions to publishers. Client testimonials and more information are available on her website: marianneward.ca.
Andrew Wetmore (Clementsport, NS) provides proofreading, editing, and copy-editing services for fiction and non-fiction authors, journalists, and playwrights/screenwriters. He enjoys helping authors get the distractions out of their texts so what they want to say gets to the reader clearly and with power. Experience: Wetmore has decades of experience as an editor, both freelance and for publishing houses and newspapers. He spent much of the past 15 years as part of, or leading, technical documentation teams for software firms.
Hui Zhou (Hammonds Plains, NS) is a freelance writer (Mandarin Chinese/English), translator and interpreter. She is a member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia< (WFNS). Her translation/interpretation services cover fields including legal, community/immigration, education, business, natural science, and literature (non-fiction/fiction books, essays, news, and stories).
Events & Publicity
Nicola Davison is an author and photographer based in Dartmouth, NS. She loves doing portraits of writers through her company Snickerdoodle Photography. Have a look at the headshot page and spot the local authors and creators among them. All WFNS members receive 25% off sessions.
Stephanie Domet‘s Tiny Empire Writing Workshop (Halifax, NS) is a place for young writers to learn and hone creative writing skills through discussion, writing exercises, reading their work aloud, and giving and receiving thoughtful feedback. In this workshop, effort and kindness count, but spelling does not. Taught by award-winning lifelong writer Stephanie Domet in her home in central Halifax. Workshop terms last eight weeks, and are priced at $200 per child. New sessions starting in January, for writers ages 8-17.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishers provide fee-based services to writers pursuing self-publishing options. We encourage all hybrid publishers, and those seeking hybrid publishing services, to familiarize themselves with the Independent Book Publishers Association’s standards for professional hybrid publishing.
OC Publishing (Halifax, NS) was established in 2016 by award-winning author Anne Louise O’Connell, who mentors new authors through the writing and editing process, guides them through the publishing process, and assists in the development of an author platform. We provide support to authors from story concept and plot development, through several phases of editing, followed by professional layout and design, and finally a published book (both print and ebook formats as well as hard cover for children’s books), and set up for printing and distribution. Genres published include women’s fiction, mystery, historical fiction, memoirs, YA, first readers, and children’s picture books. OC Publishing also offers self-publishing coaching and conducts an annual in-residence writing retreat every October.
Somewhat Grumpy Press (Halifax, NS) is a new (2020) and very small hybrid publisher run by Tim Covell that offers a range of services to assist independent authors, from editing to obtaining an ISBN to preparing and uploading your files for eBook and print distribution.
Sensitivity / Authenticity Reading
Sensitivity readers (also called authenticity readers) draw on their personal backgrounds and experiences to review manuscripts that touch on marginalized identities, groups, and communities. They aim to bring attention to harmful inaccuracies, biases, and stereotypes. If you’re considering hiring a sensitivity reader, please first consult Natalia Sylvester’s “What a Sensitivity Reader Is (and Isn’t) and How to Hire One.”
Cooper Lee Bombardier (Halifax, NS) offers services as a sensitivity and authenticity reader, with a particular focus on LGBTQ, queer, and trans issues. He offers constructive and actionable feedback to authors on potentially biased language and representations in their writing.
Hui Zhou (Hammonds Plains, NS) is a retired scientist (with expertise in entomology, vector biology, and integrated pest management), a nonfiction writer and author. Born in Beijing, China, lived there for 48 years, Hui has quickly immersed herself in the history, culture and traditions of Nova Scotia where she calls home. Many of her articles have been published in print media since 1990’s. Running Wild with Bossy Boy (2018) is her first nonfiction book for children. Since 2016, she has provided interpretation, translation and translation proofreading services through Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS); provided court interpretation (2017-2019). Hui offers authenticity and sensitivity reading for manuscripts including Chinese history, culture, tradition, and lived experience and topics within her expertise in natural science and in languages. Please direct inquiries to instrat@eastlink.ca
Steph Zubriski (Bridgewater, NS) offers authenticity and sensitivity reading for manuscripts dealing with childhood trauma, parental queerphobia, psychological abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault, as well as abortion, eating disorders, alcoholism/sobriety, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), and invisible disability in post-secondary education contexts. Steph co-edits the Healthy Populations Journal at Dalhousie and has extensive experience peer-reviewing and editing in academic and digital publishing contexts. Please direct inquiries to stephaniezubriski@gmail.com.
