Editor
Professional Editor and Copy-editorCecile Shanahan
Cecile is an experienced editor and proofreader who adores helping writers to make their words shine. She has a special interest in children’s and young adult literature and educational publishing, but often works on general fiction and non-fiction titles too.
Cecile Shanahan has tertiary qualifications in Professional Editing and Proofreading, Secondary Education, English Literature and Journalism.
Since joining Jericho Writers, she has assisted more than 20 authors to progress their writing projects through agent submission pack assessments, manuscript assessments, developmental edits, copy edits, line edits, proofreading and post-editorial support.
If you’d like to work with Cecile, get in touch with our Writer Support team; tell us about your book and what you’d like support with, and we’ll help you identify your next steps.
Absolutely invaluable advice
- Amy Doak, Author and Publisher; Of the World Books, Accidental Publishing & Fiosracht Press
Cecile is an excellent proofreader
- Juno Harvey, Author
My book is so much better as a result of Cecile's feedback
- Pauline Wilson, Author of 'Conflict At Hanging Rock', published 2022
Responded quickly with valuable input
- Colin Sole, Author of 'Thirty Four' and 'Running Forever'
Easy to work with
- Jonathan Lee, Author of '40 Single Gay'
Feedback made us believe in ourselves
- Nati Beltran and Pilar Enrich, Authors of ‘Montessori Brains’
Provided editorial feedback for Migizi
Successfully self-published
Cecile worked with Baron Alexander on his novel Migizi. After receiving her editorial input, Migizi was successfully self-published in 2021.
Provided editorial feedback for Hide and Seek
Two book series
Cecile provided editorial support on John Parnham’s second book in his middle-grade series, An Ellham Woods Adventure. John’s middle grade series is available store wide, including Waterstones and Barnes & Noble.
Proofread
Successfully self-published
In 2023, Cecile completed a professional proofread on CA Sole’s impressive thriller, Running Forever.
Copyedit
4.5 stars on Amazon
Jonathan Lee worked with Cecile on a professional copyedit. Since completing the copyedit, Jonathan has gone onto achieve 4.5 stars on Amazon for his memoir, 40 Single Gay.
Copyedit
4.2 stars on Amazon
Cecile worked with Stanislava on a professional copyedit for Clearlake, which went onto be successfully self-published and receive 4.2 stars on Amazon.
Provided editorial feedback for In Lily's Books
4.8 stars on Goodreads
Cecile provided professional editorial feedback on Anne Whorlton’s In Lily’s Books, the first title in a three-part series. Since then In Lily’s Books has gone onto receive 4.8 stars on Goodreads and 4.4. stars on Amazon.
Agent Submission Pack Review
Successfully published
Cecile shared detailed editorial advice in an Agent Submission Pack Review for Nati Beltran and Pilar Enrich, authors of ‘Montessori Brains’.
Manuscript Assessment
4.7 stars on Amazon
Mark Stevenson received a full Manuscript Assessment on his middle-grade adventure book, The Guinea Dad, by Cecile. Since completing the editorial review, The Guinea Dad has been successfully self-published and has received 4.7 stars on Amazon.
Copyedit
Successfully self-published
Cecile provided a professional copyedit of Martin Rumble’s debut children’s book, The Adventures of Herbert Moosh; book one in the series.
Copyedit
Published by Troubador
Valerie Church received a professional copyedit on her debut novel Child in my Life from Cecile. Valerie’s novel has gone on to receive 5 stars on Amazon.
Line edit
4.7 stars on Amazon
Described as “heartfelt, poignant, and unforgettable” by reviewers; Grainne McGovern-Scott’s Only the Lonely received a detailed line-edit from Cecile. It’s now gone on to receive 4.7 stars on Amazon.
Cecile's specialties
Why we love Cecile
Recently Cecile has delighted in working on the following; Proofread of soon-to-be-released young adult (mystery) fiction, beta read of soon-to-be-released young adult (mystery) fiction, proofread of The Future is Fair coffee table book for international not-for-profit organisation Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, proofread of ebook A Sticky Situation by Juno Harvey, manuscript assessments – young adult fiction – for four different authors, and a structural edit of a historical fiction book (second time working with this author).
What Cecile says about editing
Editing (be it structural, line or copy) and proofreading isn’t just work for me — it’s a job that I happily chose (I left behind another successful career to start my own editing business in 2015) and I still get excited, every day, about using my expert skills to help craft my clients’ words into their very best shape.
Words have always been my ‘thing’ and I delight in sharing my love and knowledge of how best to use them with writers. To me there is no greater experience than reading the right book at the right time and being a small part of creating that right book for someone is what drives me to be the best editor I can be.
I read very widely and spend a lot of time researching and studying the publishing world. As such, I feel very well placed to offer up-to-date expertise on what readers are after and how writers can best meet the expectations of the market.
What Cecile works on
By purchasing any of these products, you'll have the opportunity to express your interest in working with Cecile.
Manuscript Assessment
Developmental Editing
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Post-editorial guidance
Line-editing
Copy-editing
Proof-reading
Short Stories
