I have been a dedicated editor for nearly two decades.
My focus has always been fiction for children and young adults. I specialize in middle grade and YA novels, as well as graphic novels, chapter books, and picture books. I especially love stories that blend humor and heart, and that balance genuine darkness with a glimmer of hope and beauty.
Every story and creative process is unique. Tell me about your project and goals. If I am not the right editor to help guide you, I will let you know. If I am, I can give you a free custom quote.
Editorial Services
Contact me for a custom quote for any of these services.
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For writers who are new to working with an editor, this is the perfect place to start. A first pages critique offers insight into how publishers, agents, and your intended audience will respond to your writing on a line-by-line level. I will make detailed margin comments on up to 25 pages of your manuscript. Afterwards, we can email to answer any questions you might have. $750 flat fee.
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You’ve finished a complete draft of your manuscript. You know it’s not polished, but you’re unsure what attention it needs. I can help you identify your draft’s key strengths and weaknesses so that you focus your revision on what matters most. My assessment includes an overview critique letter of at least 2 pages and a 30-minute follow-up phone call or Zoom date. Contact me for a custom quote.
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You’re ready to dig deeper. After a close reading of your complete manuscript, I offer tailored insight on voice, characterization, plot, pacing, and more. The feedback helps you revise with confidence. Detailed editorial letters are typically at least 6 pages and include a 60-minute follow-up phone call or Zoom date. Contact me for a custom quote.
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It’s always a challenge to see your own work clearly, and to describe your story in a few short sentences that grab and hold your reader’s attention. I will help you position your project in the current market and polish your pitch. $350 flat fee.
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I can help you strengthen the bones of your story. Contact me for a custom quote.
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Need help with something not listed here? Let me know about your project and goals.
Let’s Talk
Want to craft an outstanding book? I can help.
Testimonials
From Authors
"Abby Ranger is truly as good as it gets.
I’ve worked with her on two different series, and I can’t overstate the impact she’s had on my work. Her edits don’t just help me make this book better, they help me make all my books better. I learn every time we work together. She’s kind, insightful, firm when you need it, has an unparalleled grasp of story, and she cares as much as I do about making things perfect. There’s absolutely nobody you could work with who’ll do more for you and your book, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
—Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of These Broken Stars
“Abby knows how to sound those chords that are in your heart already.
There are very few suggestions she makes that don’t resonate. She will be your partner in making your work the best it can be. I have worked with Abby at two different publishers, on two different series. In fact, it was the opportunity to work with her that drew me from one publisher to another.”
—Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms and the Shattered Realms series
"Abby is amazing.
Her editorial notes are challenging and insightful, displaying a masterful command of character, plot, world-building, and everything in between. Every time I work with her, I learn things that improve not only the manuscript in question but future projects as well."
—Livia Blackburne, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight Thief
"I've had the great good fortune of working with Abby Ranger on three books over a period of several years.
Besides her intelligence, experience, and levelheadedness, what I most appreciate is her sensitivity. She took the time to listen and to learn how to help me make the best choices for each book. Lucky the writers who get to work with her.”
—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medal winning author of A Single Shard
"Abby Ranger is simply one of the best editors in the business.
Her creative insight, attention to detail, and unwavering support throughout the process is what every writer dreams of in an editor, and I am forever grateful for having worked with her."
—Gregory Funaro, New York Times bestselling author of Alistair Grim’s Odditorium
"I feel so lucky to have worked with Abby over the years.
Always thoughtful, timely, and full of specific advice and suggestions, she has pushed me to create better books. She has a great handle on what kids like, too, which is an invaluable quality in a children’s book editor."
—Kallie George, author of the Magical Animal Adoption Agency series
From Agents
"Abby is a dream editor.
We’ve had the opportunity to work together on many projects across a variety of formats, including picture books, I Can Reads, chapter books, and middle-grade novels. She is an agile, nurturing, and insightful editor who tailors her working style to meet the individual needs of authors and illustrators. Abby has impeccable taste, a keen eye, and an enduring passion for the craft of children’s books. I can’t recommend her highly enough!"
—Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management
“Abby is one of the most insightful and tenacious editors I’ve encountered.
With every single project I've had with her, she's taken a great book and found smart, artful ways for the author to revise and have it become a brilliant (and frequently bestselling) book. To be clear: she makes writers work extremely hard - but she does it with brains and humor and she always gets results.”
—Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists
"Adams Literary and our clients have been lucky enough to work with Abby for years.
We always know our clients are in good hands. Abby is a true professional who always offers top-notch editorial advice and direction, has a keen instinct, sharp intellect and wit, and a solid sense of today’s market. Beyond that, she cares deeply about her authors and their books. Josh and I have always greatly valued working with Abby—we, and our authors, adore and appreciate her."
—Tracey Adams, Adams Literary
From Publishers
“Abby is a pleasure to work with—insightful and smart, guiding with an experienced hand.
She’s particularly skilled at world-building, but I’ve been impressed by her work on children's books for every age level. I felt total confidence in her notes, and she’s a delightful human, too!”
—Rotem Moscovich, Editorial Director, Knopf Books for Young Readers
“Abby is a smart, talented editor and a wonderful advocate for her authors.
Her editing is insightful, thorough, collaborative, and caring; she is an exemplary editor who knows how to make a book shine at the story level and at the sentence and word level. Any author who has the opportunity to work with Abby is lucky indeed!”
—Rosemary Brosnan, VP/Publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books
“Working alongside Abby Ranger is an absolute joy.
Her knowledge of the book industry and editorial instincts are exceptional, of course, but it’s her deep and unwavering love of children's literature that makes her a stand-out in a sea of publishing professionals. If you have her on your team, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
—Claudia Gabel, Editorial Director, HarperCollins Children's Books
"Abby Ranger is magic.
With her brilliance, passion, and gentle-yet-firm approach, Abby wields her red pen like a wand, guiding every manuscript to its fullest potential. I had the fortune of supporting Abby earlier in my career, and she taught me everything I know about how to make a story come alive."
—Tiffany Liao, Executive Editor, Zando