Book Editing Australia – Accredited Editor

Client Testimonials

Chris Cosmain, Novikov Windows; The Amazon Anomaly Trilogy; Subverted (Sci-fi & speculative fiction)

I have worked with Gail on five novels so far. For my first novel, Gail proposed a full edit, which is a comprehensive structural edit and copy edit, and I have opted for this service with all my novels because of the immense benefits it has brought me as an author.

A structural edit includes help with story flow, character arcs, dialogue to narration ratio, how dialogue is written, and picking up on plot inconsistencies. Copy editing also includes diverse elements. They may include addressing systemic writing issues such as removing dangling modifiers, removing excessive filler words, comma placement issues, phrasing, avoiding word repetition and standardising conventions, such as consistent spelling of certain words. They also include more fundamental tasks such as spelling correction and advice on formatting. This is a comprehensive list and while some editors provide only structural or copy editing, Gail covers all bases without compromising on the quality of her service.

Gail brings considerable skill and knowledge to the process. She’s also an excellent teacher and has been very patient with me. Perhaps the aspect of Gail’s editing service that impressed me most was that over the course of five novels, I have invested not only in a polished end product every time, but have essentially been given a writing course which has greatly improved my craft.

Furthermore, as a testament to her proficiency as both an editor and teacher, Gail managed to optimise my prose without ever changing my author’s voice. I have come to appreciate that this is a tightrope walk for an editor and requires skill, experience and nuance. Working with Gail, I have seen improvements with every published novel, without the core of Chris Cosmain’s style ever being compromised.

Gail is not only a great editor, she takes immense pride in her work and truly invests in her clients. Her passionate approach not only fosters excellent results for a single book, but invites an ongoing relationship that sees anyone who commits to working with her over time become a better author for it. www.chriscosmain.com

Sarah M.M. Turner, Rhiannon McBride and the Dragon's Cup (YA fantasy)

They say every book needs a brilliant editor. You will find just such an editor in Gail Tagarro!

I was truly blessed to discover Gail when seeking an Accredited Editor for my first book. With her warm personality, professional attitude, outstanding literacy skills, and extensive knowledge and experience in the publishing world, she is definitely a priceless jewel among editors.

Gail’s editorial skills are superb. She skilfully polished my manuscript to a clean finish. I would have been lost without her expert guidance.

Gail makes it a top priority to help her clients tell the story they want to tell. I will be forever grateful to her for being an editor I can trust and for becoming a very good friend.

Her prices are affordable and she is prompt in her communication.

If you’re in need of an honest, reliable and professional editor, I highly recommend Gail. Trust me, she definitely deserves each of the 5 out of 5 stars I give her!

Check out Sarah's website here: Sarah M. M. Turner, Fantasy Author

Alison Earl, The Betterment Mindset (business nonfiction, publishing early 2025).

Thank you so much for the time, detail, and care you’ve invested in the first and second edits and proofread of my book. I can see how much effort went into it. I’m genuinely happy with where the manuscript has landed, and I’m excited to see it move to the next stage.

Amanda Smith, A Brief Detour Through Breast Cancer (Memoir/Self-help)

Having decided that I wanted to engage a professional editor for my manuscript, finding one who felt right wasn’t an easy task. My internet searches found lots of young, fresh faces, but due to the nature of my story, I wanted someone with a bit more life experience as well as all the right qualifications.I was delighted to find Gail, who was extremely generous with her time in answering my many questions. Her free quote, advice on the level of edit required and complimentary sample edit were invaluable.Gail’s communication throughout the process was excellent, and I found her comments and suggestions extremely helpful. I’m delighted with the result and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Gail.

Kaaren Sutcliffe, author and Accredited Editor, Undercover Mage (Fantasy romance)

It was a pleasure to have my fantasy / romance novel edited by Gail Tagarro, an Accredited Editor. She was encouraging and supportive of the story and my writing, and kept me informed of her progress with the edit. The edits Gail suggested were excellent, resulting in a beautifully polished novel, and as a bonus Gail helped me to unravel a couple of niggling plot wrinkles.

I am thrilled with the result, and am looking forward to working with Gail on the second book in the series. I highly recommend Gail as a personable and quality editor.

 

Mimi Wellisch, Once Upon a Love (Memoir)

I found Gail Tagarro through a Google search. I was looking for a professional editor who was not only excellent at English and who would fearlessly make suggestions for changes and edit what was needed, but who was
also empathetic towards my memoir, which is very close to my heart. Gail and I had a Zoom call and I decided that she was that person. Gail's eagle-eyed edit has given me the confidence I need to have my book published—without the embarrassment of grammatical or other errors that I might have missed.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Gail’s services. You have to be able to trust your editor and Gail is responsive, reliable, and exacting, as well as personable and honest. Here's a link to Mimi's beautiful love story: https://www.booktopia.com.au/once-upon-a-love-mimi-wellisch/book/9781922389725.html

Ken Reid, Floyd (Crime thriller)

Having invested fifteen months in producing my manuscript, there was no question that the next step had to be getting my novel as good as it could possibly be...before I could even consider taking the next step of approaching agents or publishers.

Gail provided practical structural editing, an amazing amount of fact-checking, sensible suggestions for improvements, a lot of error checking, and the overall expertise to help me produce the best-quality product possible.

Russell Morgan, Celestine (Fiction)

A huge part of the enjoyment of completing my novel, Celestine, was working with Gail whose marvellous insight and professional skill opened doors and lifted the experience to new heights. It was a wonderful journey in which I had no doubt Gail was as committed to my precious manuscript as I was. I'm sure I have learned so much from working with Gail that it will enrich all my future writing projects. I could not imagine working with any other editor. Celestine

Dan Collins, Olympic Medallist, Speaker, Mentor and Coach,
E-F-F-O-R-T: Everything Matters—Mastering the Mental Frameworks for a Meaningful Life (Nonfiction/Business)

Writing a book is no small undertaking. To have the editing support to bring the book up to publishing standards was very comforting. Gail's professional approach was also to the very highest of standards, along with her honest feedback and assessment of my work, enabling me with confidence to close out the final stages of my book and move towards publishing.

Gail's attention to detail, adherence to timeframes and deadlines, and being upfront and clear about the investment required to work with her were very reassuring.

Madonna Chave, Quit Work to Travel Australia (Nonfiction/Travel)

I highly recommend Gail. Being a beginner I’ve learnt a lot from Gail by following her guidance. She is an excellent editor providing clear, practical advice and corrections to my book. Her thorough reviews gave the book a professional touch. Gail is very supportive during the process providing quick responses and explaining every step along the way. She even found a photo editor for the images in my book.

Maria Armendariz, My Tenant Depression (Nonfiction/Self-help)

Thank you Gail for your professional and friendly manner. I have nothing but praise for you and your work. This is my first experience in writing a book and you have made it such a positive one! I have truly learnt so much from you. You are so knowledgeable, professional, reliable and nurturing.

Thank you, I felt supported by you throughout the whole process. I hope we get to work together again in the future!

Don Horsfall, The Empyrean Quest (Visionary fiction)

I have recently completed my first fiction novel, The Empyrean Quest, and after much research, I chose Gail Tagarro to do the editing. Following a very helpful and focused first contact over the phone, I knew Gail was the right person to guide me as a first-time author.

My expectations were far exceeded over the following months as my rough manuscript evolved into a polished book ready for publishing. Her exceptional skills have been honed over a long career devoted to the written word. I found her respectful of my storyline, providing honest, professional advice. Her nurturing style helped me to learn a great deal about the writing process as we, together, created the book I had always envisaged. I am forever grateful for her guidance and look forward to working with her again in the future. 

You can download Don's excellent and very readable book by clicking here: The Empyrean Quest

Debbie Peden, 100 Ways to a Healthy 100 (Nonfiction/Self-help/Health)

Gail Tagarro is a brilliant editor. She managed to take my somewhat messy manuscript and turn it into something readable and magnificent, akin to creating a silk purse from a sow’s ear. Her patience, insights, attention to detail, and shrewd overview combined beautifully to bring to life and polish my writer’s dream.

Adalina Mae, Nothing is Predictable (Nonfiction/Autobiography)

Gail’s dedication to my project was phenomenal. She was always on time with deadlines. Her editing technique kept the essence of my style and made my story flow beautifully. The attention to detail was amazing. Her suggestions in some areas, particularly with show don’t tell, helped me improve my style of writing. I will definitely be working with her on my next project. Love your work, Gail!—You can find Adalina's book at Adalina Mae shop

Lynne Roberts, Viola People (Contemporary women’s fiction)

My novel flows much better thanks to Gail’s meticulous attention to detail. In addition to editing, Gail also made many useful suggestions, which strengthened my novel. I’m delighted with the results! Gail is everything you could want in an editor—she’s friendly, helpful, efficient and highly professional. I’m so glad that I approached her to edit my novel. Thanks Gail!