Bernadette Kearns
Trading as: Book Nanny Writing and Editing Services
Based in: Dublin 4
Educational qualifications
BA (Hons) in English and German
BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts
Training and professional development
Advanced Copy-editing, PTC, 2019
Fiction Editing with Brian Langan, Publishing Ireland, 2018
Getting your Self-Published Client to a Finished Product, Editors Canada, 2018
Adobe InDesign, Part 1, Publishing Ireland, 2017
Practical Mark-up of PDFs, SfEP, 2017
Progress in Editorial Skills: Copy-editing and Proofreading, PTC, 2017
Manuscript Evaluation—Fiction, Editor’s Academy from Copyediting, 2017
Introduction to Proofreading, SfEP, 2017
Writing and Editing for the Web, PTC, 2016
Non-Fiction Editing with Fergal Tobin, Publishing Ireland, 2016
Rewriting and Substantive Editing, PTC, 2016
Languages
German
Experience
Specialist fiction editor since 2013.
Whether you are an experienced author or at the beginning of your writing career, an indie author looking to self-publish your novel series, a writer seeking to polish your manuscript before submitting to literary agents or working on an R&R from your chosen agent, Book Nanny can help you.
I combine an understanding of story structure and the writing process gained from my experiences as an actor and writer with core editorial skills and expertise to help authors strengthen and develop their storytelling, writing craft and individual voice. I also provide guidance and advice on all aspects of the editorial process from first draft through to publication.
Services offered
Developmental and structural editing; line editing and copy-editing; proofreading and manuscript assessments for fiction authors.
Copy-editing and proofreading services for publishers. Areas of special interest: drama, theatre, English, German, history and law.
Media
Novels, educational textbooks and RPG game manuals.
Subject areas
All commercial and literary fiction, with particular interest in historical fiction (special interest in medieval to mid-20th century Ireland, England and Europe), literary fiction, fantasy (subgenres: epic fantasy, high fantasy, portal fantasy, gamelit, fantasy romance and adventure), magical realism, crime fiction and speculative fiction, and any combination of the above.
Clients include
Book projects for independent authors include:
Sineaid Doyle, Mary Wolftide (2014) and Stone-tide (2015) (Turn of the Tide, Books 1 and 2) [MG/Young YA historical fantasy] – developmental editing.
Graham Stull, The Hydra (2015) [speculative thriller] and The Fortune Teller (2021) [political thriller] – developmental editing; copy-editing (The Hydra only).
Ged Gillmore, Cats Undercover (2016) [MG comedy fantasy adventure] – copy-editing.
Ged Gillmore, the Bill Murdoch Australian noir crime series: Headland (2017), Class Act (2018) [nominated for Australian Crime Writers Association Best Crime award 2018], Base Nature (2018) [crime] – developmental editing and copy-editing.
the3percenters, Sins: New Irish Crime Stories (2018) and Sinful: New Irish Crime Stories (2019) [crime] – copy-editing.
Pam Lecky, No Stone Unturned (2019), Footprints in the Sand (2020) and The Art of Deception (2021) (Books 1, 2 and 3 of the Lucy Lawrence Mysteries) [historical] – developmental editing and copy-editing.
Nick Larter, Irish Tales (2019) [fantasy/fairy tale] – developmental editing and copy-editing.
T.L. Callahan, Waking Chaos (2019), Unearthing Gaia (2018), Rising Chaos (2020), Illuminating Nyx (2021) and Choosing Chaos (2022) (Books 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Paldimori Gods Rising series) [fantasy romance adventure] – developmental editing and copy-editing.
Richard Maguire, Silent Terror (2022) [historical/contemporary thriller] – developmental editing and copy-editing.
David Slattery, Exitus Volume I: The Imposter (2021) and Exitus Volume II: The Client (2022) [satirical literary crime] – copy-editing.
Publisher projects include copy-editing and proofreading for Gill Education and Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.
Testimonials
‘Bernadette is the perfect guiding voice that is needed in the editing process. Her thoughtful yet concise analysis of your manuscript offers an outsider’s perspective that is sorely needed when one has to pinpoint what must be addressed to get a story into the shape that it deserves to be in.’ (Stephen Ball, actor and author)
‘A skilled editor like Bernadette Kearns brings a book into sharp focus. Her craft lies not only in meticulous attention to detail, but in her ability to get inside the story and the characters. This combination of skill and craft ensures an edit that completes a work.’ (Sineaid Doyle, author)
‘What struck me about Bernadette in those first moments of speaking with her was her impeccable professionalism and sincerity. Since working with her, I could add to that list tenfold. She is an excellent editor: thorough, constructive, insightful and incredibly generous with her time.’ (Deborah Grimes, author)