Are you looking for a brainstorming partner, skilled developmental editor, and authorial cheerleader to help you take your writing to the next level? Do you need someone to craft the back cover copy for your book, or perhaps an author bio that makes you stand out in the crowd? I’m here to help.

I am now accepting new clients for developmental editing and copywriting services. I’m also thrilled to introduce a new service: Story Coaching!

Let’s team up to infuse your writing or your book’s sales copy with the spark, clarity, and polish that will speak into your readers hearts and keep their fingers turning pages. I’m excited to hear from you to discuss how I can help you along in your writing journey!

MENU OF SERVICES

STORY COACHING – DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING – BACK COVER COPY/BOOK DESCRIPTION CREATION – AUTHOR BIO CREATION

NEW! STORY COACHING

My approach to manuscript editing is shifting toward a more relational direction. To that end—and with many thanks to some of my past clients for offering input!—I’ve created a new service: Story Coaching.

Click HERE or use the drop down menu from the menu bar to navigate to the Story Coaching page.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING

For clients seeking a more traditional approach or more comprehensive edit of a completed manuscript, I still offer two tiers of developmental editing. Click HERE or use the dropdown menu from the menu bar to navigate to the Developmental Editing page.

MARKETING/PROMOTIONAL COPY WRITING

Are you struggling to write your author bio or tagline? Click HERE or use the drop down menu from the menu bar to navigate to the Author Bios & Taglines page

Do you need professionally crafted back cover copy and/or a book description that makes readers click to purchase? Click HERE or use the drop down menu from the menu bar to navigate to the Back Cover Copy/Book Description page

Are you looking for a comprehensive package deal that provides you with an author bio, back cover copy, and more? Click HERE or use the drop down menu from the menu bar to navigate to the Promotional Copy Package page.

All elements of the Marketing Copy Package are available a la carte, but the package is the best overall value. A la carte rates are available upon request.

CREDENTIALS

I’ve worked in the publishing industry under my real name, Shawna R. Van Ness, as well as two pseudonyms, Serena Chase and Vanni Shaw. In addition to writing and independently publishing my own books for well over a decade, I’ve served as a developmental editor, line editor, and marketing copy writer for small publishers, traditionally published authors, and independent authors of all experience levels. One thing that differentiates me from a lot of other editors, however, is my experience as a professional book reviewer.

For six years, I reviewed books for USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog under my pseudonym, Serena Chase. I also interviewed authors and other entertainment personalities, and created feature articles for Happy Ever After. As a professional book reviewer, I honed critical reading skills that now serve me well in my work as a developmental editor and story coach, giving me insight to the key elements necessary for an engaging story. Additionally, my time writing for USA Today required I learn how to succinctly describe books and authors in a way that piques readers’ interest—a skill I’ve further developed to create book marketing copy that converts book browsers into book buyers.

TESTIMONIALS

“Serena Chase is an author’s secret weapon. Having read and reviewed hundreds of books, she knows what works and what does not; as an author, she can suggest ways to address those content concerns. Her critiques are both kind and honest. She’ll enthusiastically tell you what caught and held her attention, but won’t hold back on letting you know what needs to be adjusted to keep your reader clear through till the final page. Serena always finds ways to make the romance more engaging, the plot clearer, and the characters memorable and true to life.” ~ Sandra Byrd, multi-best-selling and award-winning author

“I was impressed with Serena’s level of attention to detail, and I appreciated her insightful suggestions that strengthened my plot and characters. She got to the heart of my story and brought things to my attention I might have otherwise overlooked. If you have been searching for an astute critiquer, Serena is the one to choose!” ~ Heather Day Gilbert, author of Amazon Norse bestseller God’s Daughter and of The Indie Publishing Handbook 

 

“Serena Chase is a thoughtful developmental editor with great skill at ‘big picture’ editing, knowing what works and what doesn’t toward improving the impact of your story and increasing reader satisfaction. She sees the mistakes and weaknesses that writers are too subjective to notice in their own work. She is also a wonderful line editor who catches errors and those little things, like too much ‘telling,’ passive voice, ‘weasel words,’ awkward wording, distant POV, and poor word choice, that annoy astute readers. I highly recommend her as a professional editor with the skills and natural talent to help bring a novel to the next level of professionalism, readability, and power.” ~ Melanie Dickerson, NYT bestselling author of The Silent Songbird and The Orphan’s Wish

 

“Serena Chase was first an author I admired . . . and now my secret weapon. Through her detailed and honest critique, I have been able to fix areas of my novel I would never have known were problems. She gave me pointers on how to improve my character likeability, fill plot holes, and dig deeper into the point of view. I would highly recommend using Serena to critique your novel. Her insight is worth every. single. penny.” ~ Stella Bixby, author of Catfished: A Rylie Cooper Mystery

 

“She is an amazing editor. She gets my writing voice.” ~ Suzy Parish, award-winning author of Flowers from Afghanistan

“Serena’s copywriting skills are second to none. I’ve never encountered anyone, in more than two decades in the publishing industry, who can craft book sales copy better than Serena Chase. Working together, she will help you shape every sentence and phrase into those that will turn casual browsers into dedicated buyers and readers. You have so few words to win the attention of a potential reader—make every one of them count.” ~ Sandra Byrd, multi-best-selling and award-winning author

(These editorial and marketing copy creation services were formerly operated as Reviewer’s Eye View: a critique service of Candent Gate LLC and, later, as Serena Chase Editorial & Creative Services, a service of Candent Gate LLC)

Candent Gate LLC reserves the right to cancel or refuse any editorial or marketing copy service. If a service is refused or canceled by Candent Gate LLC or its legal representatives, all monies paid will be refunded within 7 days of cancellation.