People I’ve Used (I can personally vouch for them not using gen-AI in their work)
- Adam Heine – developmental editing, line editing, copyediting
Adam is a long-standing critique partner of mine. His insights into storytelling and command of craft always take my novels to a higher level. He has a whole editing business, and I highly recommend him. He’s also a published author.
- Steven Novak – cover design
Steven is my go-to guy for many of SKQ’s covers and all of Penname’s covers. I’ve worked with him for years, and he’s designed a wide range of genres of covers – for me and many others.
- A Little Red, Inc. – macro, copy editing, proofreading, final pass
Erynn and Bethany are also long-standing author-friends who have their own works published but also went into the editing business (a while ago now). They were critique partners of mine, and I can attest to their keen eye in bring out the best of your story.
- Richard Editorial – developmental edit, line edit, copy editing, proofreading
Richard is the husband of a long-standing indie author friend who is also an accomplished author. They make a good team! Plus Richard has an editorial business in his own right.
- BZN Studios – cover design
Arel did the reboot on my Singularity covers as well as a couple series for Penname. Her work is top-notch and I love her artistic eye. Even when I had a very hard “concept” cover (Singularity), she was really able to bring it to fruition. Highly recommend.
- Jennifer Willis – outline review, editing, book formatting
I haven’t used Jennifer’s services personally, but she’s a good friend and her outline review service looks extremely useful, plus she’s got the full service available, from developmental editing to book formatting.
The above freelancers are ones I can personally recommend–either I have extensive personal knowledge of their work in the past or I’ve worked with them personally (or both). I can vouch that none of them would ever use AI in their work. But finding the right editor or cover designer is a personality fit as much as experience and recommendation.
COVER DESIGNERS COMMITTED TO NOT USING AI
It’s really hard to know if a cover designer is truly committed to not using AI in their work unless you know them personally and can vouch for them. The next best thing is a personal recommendation: a friend willing to vouch for them being committed to not using gen-AI. See the link above for who recommended the artists below:
- Ravenborn
- Yukimi Lumaris
- Rainbow Glade Designs
- Deranged Doctor Designs
- Jade Love Art
- Illustrated Author
- Lyrical Lines
- Tom Edwards
- Erin Dameron-Hill
- NMT Design Studio
- Atra Luna Cover & Logo Art
- AvivArtistryNY
- Mihaela Voicu
- Caroline O’Neal
- Dreams2Media
- Jes Ireland
- LCM Designs
GERMAN LANGUAGE EDITORS AND COVER ARTISTS WHO DO NOT USE AI
My friend Amalia has compiled a list (in German) of German-language editors and cover artists who do not use AI! (Warning: not all these folks speak English or will work with international authors, but it’s a resource nonetheless. Some of the editors do work in English and might do translations.)
SUE’S GERMAN TRANSLATOR
Michael Drecker has been translating my books since the beginning of my indie career (across both pennames) and I can definitely vouch for him not using AI!