It’s my pleasure to work with established authors, emerging authors, screenwriters of all levels of experience, and publishers large and small.

Established Authors 

“I can’t say how grateful I am and how much I owe you. It’s so hard to find editors who even come close to giving the sort of help you are giving me. I’m just overwhelmed by how carefully you read the novel, by your insights, your sensitivity to it, and how right you are about absolutely everything. You are bang on, right on, right as rain and a godsend.”– Edeet Ravel, Giller Prize nominee, winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize and other awards, and author of The Mysterious Adventures of Pauline Bovary, The Thrilling Life of Pauline de Lammermoor, and The Secret Journey of Pauline Siddhartha

“Colin is an amazing editor. He changed my perception of what an editor can do to strengthen and guide a story. Using his uncannily keen eye, he uncovers the root of the story and brings out the best in your work. I would work with him again in a heartbeat and recommend him with no reservations whatsoever. He’s the best of the best. You won’t be disappointed with the final product. (You’ll have to work for it, yes. But it will be so worth it. Promise.)”– Karen Rivers, winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, the Silver Birch Award, and the White Pine Award, and author of X in Flight, Y in the Shadows, and What Z Sees

“Thank you for the wonderful input, by far the most valuable I’ve received in six books.”
– Chris Wood, co-author, with Beverly Wood, of The Golden Boy, an Ontario Library Association Best Bet and nominee for the Chocolate Lily Award

“I think you’re the first true editor I’ve ever had (and I’ve had plenty). You understood every relationship point and every adventure point I was trying to make. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation. ”– Lee Miller, author, Mystery of the Blue Scarab

“Wow, Colin! Your input is brilliant. Your comments are beyond what I expected. No wonder you’re so highly regarded.”– Julie Lawson, winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize and author of Seaborne

“First of all, a HUGE thank you for a superb job of editing! I hereby request you for all of my books, Colin. Your suggestions were clear and very good, you included compliments to keep the writer’s hackles down, and you explained why you wanted to make the changes you suggested. I definitely appreciated your sense of humor. Outstanding!”– Rebecca L. Grambo, shortlisted for five Saskatchewan Book Awards including Book of the Year, winner of the Publishing Award, and author of Digging Canadian History

“I hadn’t a clue what to do with my novel, Cumberland, after the first draft was done. You gave me the perfect advice on how to tighten the plot and jumpstart the action. Concrete, straightforward advice. You’re a fantastic resource.”– Michael V. Smith, author of Cumberland, which was nominated for the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award

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Emerging Authors

 

“I feel challenged and energized! And bursting with ideas. I consider it a real privilege to get your feedback. This is fantastic for me.” – Guy Bennett, author of Star #17

“Your notes are immensely (immeasurably? unbelievably?) helpful and knowing that you’re there to back them up is a safety net that gives me a whole lot of confidence.” – author of an exciting new thriller who would like to maintain his anonymity

“I am excited and inspired by your suggestions. You are a skilled architect.”
– Rebecca Murdock, author of Rocco’s Wings

“How brilliant, exactly, are you? How you can read someone else’s work and fill in the gaps so accurately is amazing to me. All I can say is WOW!”– Claudia Osmond, author of Smudge’s Mark

“Thanks for offering your guidance with such respectful kindness and humour, such heart and wisdom. If there were a Nobel Prize for editing, you’d have a medal.”– Maggie Mooney and Michelle Benjamin, co-authors of Nobel’s Women of Peace

“The notes are awesome. The story just started writing itself. Thanks for the suggestions!”– James McCann, author of Pyre

“Thank you for your rigorous review and all the good suggestions. You have made me a better writer.”– Oliver Neubert, author of Chantel’s Quest for the Golden Sword

“We are extremely lucky to have had you on-board and very grateful for all of your help. Working with you is a pleasure.”– Vladimir Todorov, co-creator, with Boriana Todorov, of The Moon Rock

“I feel that the universe blessed me when it sent you to work with me.”– Tanya Marie Lee, author of Scripts 4 Play

“Thank you. I have tears in my eyes because I feel it is finally clear what I want to say.”– Angel Buster, author of Indra’s Jewels

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Screenwriters

 

“Genius. Just received and read your notes. Thank you SO much. I love them. What a gift. They do EXACTLY what a good set of film notes should do: they give me things to be proud of and protect, and they challenge a bunch of things that are second rate. Your take is crystal clear.”– Guy Bennett, screenwriter for Ocean Blue

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Colin! You’ve provided a stone to step to and a hand to hold onto. I love the way you’ve used the three-act template to move through the analysis. You’re the best!”– Eileen Power, screenwriter for Flo’s Story (working title)

“I had felt mired and didn’t know how to open up the story, but your notes are very helpful, and much appreciated. Great work!”– Richard Ian Cox, screenwriter for Joe vs. Jim

“I’m impressed by your insight, thoroughness, and tact. Because I couldn’t figure out what to do with Love Ruins Everything, it has been languishing on a shelf for several years. Having received your notes, I now feel inspired to go back and do a rewrite.”– Karen X. Tulchinsky, screenwriter for Love Ruins Everything

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Publishers

 

“You are one of the most brilliant editors I’ve encountered. Your letter and notes are, collectively, an editorial masterpiece. I wish they granted a Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Editing, because you’d win it.”

– Jesse Finkelstein, director of operations, D&M Publishers

“Your notes are superb. You’ve done a great job of getting to the heart of the book—both the treasures and the less polished elements.”
– Michelle Benjamin, publisher, Raincoast Books

“These are fabulous notes. Thank you for doing such a great job with our two budding authors.”
– Carolyn Jackson, editor, Second Story Press

“I have never seen such articulate feedback on a manuscript. Your notes are amazing. You have clearly and tactfully articulated the book’s problems while remaining totally enthusiastic of its potential, and I thank you for that. Your breakdown of the structure coupled with specific suggestions for action is fantastic. By referring to the touch points in the hero’s journey and pointing out where and why things don’t work, you’ve really given the author LOTS to work with. Oh, bless your soul.”
– Taryn Boyd, managing editor, Whitecap Books

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