2nd Draft Critique Synopsis Editors

Following her completion of the Denver Publishing Institute after graduation, Danielle began interning at acclaimed literary agency Writers House. While there, she realized she wanted to put her English degree and love of the written word to work at an agency and began at New Leaf Literary, where she primarily focused on children's and YA books. She branched out five years later to provide freelance editorial services--specifically developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading--and is also a copywriter. She has been in the industry for over ten years now, working with established authors, as well as prospective writers who haven't yet been published. She is most interested in MG and YA work of all genres, as well as adult fiction manuscripts (especially contemporary, fantasy, romance). She welcomes questions on the critiques she provides for authors, and always hopes that they are truly a jumping off point, believing the author's vision is the most important and her role is to help support them. 

Mort Castle

Mort Castle is a horror author and a writing teacher who has published over 500 short stories. Twice a winner of the Black Quill award, seven times a Bram Stoker Award nominee, Castle edited On Writing Horror, the primary reference work for dark fiction authors. Mort specialized in horror, dark fantasy, literary, historical, how-to, Pop Fiction, comics/graphic novel. 

Jess Dallow

She has a BFA in Writing for Film and Television from the University of the Arts and worked in entertainment for eight years before returning to her home state of NY where she worked at a literary agency for two years before joining Brower Literary & Management. Jess specialized in YA, adult. contemporary, thriller, romance, crime, & women's fiction.

Margaret Danko 

Margaret is closed to taking new critiques until October.

Originally from the heart of the south, Margaret Danko received her BA from Oberlin College before pursuing an MFA from Temple University. While there, she climbed the ranks to become an editor of TINGE Magazine, publishing fiction, essays, and poetry. She has worked as a freelance editor and media consultant. A lover of the dark, the quirky, and the fantastical, Margaret has a keen eye for projects that take unexpected turns or are told from unusual perspectives. Margaret specializes in literary fiction with teeth, historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, fresh literary and commercial suspense, spooky contemporary and fantasy YA, narratives with a deep sense of place and history, quirky and heartwarming family stories, and rom-coms full of charm and whimsy. She is also interested in nonfiction in the areas of humor, lifestyle, popular science, health/wellness, true crime, and current affairs.  

Megan Flahive 

When Megan was a kid she refused to take naps, so her preschool teachers taught her to read instead. A lifelong learner, her favorite stories transport her to another place where there are no bounds to the imagination. She has a deep, enduring love for travel, other cultures, fairy tales, and food. She loves to partner with authors for developmental edits and help propel their work forward through characterization, worldbuilding, plot, pacing, and more. Megan is most interested in MG and YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Historical Fiction. She is also proficient in proofreading and copy editing, focusing more closely on details like grammar, word choice, and punctuation, to make sure the piece is clean and polished. She can’t wait to collaborate with you and polish your gem!

Terri Valentine

The writing career of romance novelist Terri Valentine is truly a Cinderella story. An avid reader all of her life, she began writing her first historical romance in the summer of 1985 on an old Smith-Corona manual typewriter. To date, she has ten romance novels and a Christmas short story in publication. Sweet Paradise was nominated for Best Romance Adventure by Romantic Times and Louisiana Caress received a coveted K.I.S.S (Knight in Shining Silver) Award from Romantic Times. At present she is under contract for two more historicals, and she is currently working on a high-concept romantic novel that her agent anxiously awaits. She has also written a screenplay that is in production rewrites.