As an author, I am a beta reader and am involved in various critique groups. Every time I read a chapter and am able to help the author polish their book, I feel like I am part of something bigger, and I love that feeling.
Reading is almost as important as breathing.
Well, maybe not, but it is an escape from reality. A chance to live a life outside of my own.
Because of this, I want every author to succeed, to meet whatever goal they’ve set for themselves, whether they’re planning to write one book or one hundred.
Helping authors slay their typos and defeat plot holes is a passion of mine.
Last year, I decided to take my editing more seriously, and as of November 2023, I am a certified member of The Professional Book Editors Association. (https://www.professionalbookeditorsassociation.org/editor-spotlight)
My edits include developmental, copyediting, and proofreading. My preferred genre is fantasy of all types, but I have edited several others.
Please reach out to me if you are interested in receiving a quote. You can use my contact page or write me directly at mandi[@]mandioyster.com.
Thank you and happy writing!
_________________________________________________________________
I had the pleasure of working with Mandi Oyster when she edited my book, Ternion of Tarr. Her work was nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, Mandi demonstrated not only her expertise in editing but also her dedication to enhancing the overall quality of my manuscript.
One of the most impressive aspects of her editing was her attention to detail. She meticulously reviewed every chapter, focusing on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Her keen eye for detail helped to polish the prose, resulting in a much smoother and more cohesive narrative. She identified areas that may cause ‘bumps’ for the reader and gave great ideas to fix the issues—ideas that sparked my creativity nicely.
She also worked quickly, which is a huge advantage for indie authors.
Communication with Mandi was always prompt and professional. She was receptive to my ideas and input, and her constructive criticism (and praise) was delivered in a way that was encouraging and motivating. Working with her felt like a true collaboration, and I am incredibly grateful for her contribution to my book.
I highly recommend Mandi Oyster to any author seeking a skilled and passionate editor who will elevate their work to new heights.
~Bethany Arliss, Fantasy Author
_________________________________________________________________
I just want to say that you are truly amazing, and I don’t think I can live without your editing now. I didn’t feel quite right about the book before, but now it is so much stronger and something I can really be proud of.
~Jenny Sandiford, Urban Fantasy Author
_________________________________________________________________
Mandi has a fabulous way of fixing your work without leaving you judged or a failure. She knows all the grammatical rules which is where most indie authors mess up. Plus, she is so thorough, personable, and supportive. If you are looking for someone to catch all your errors but still let your book shine, then Mandi is the perfect editor for you!
~Ava Cates, YA Fantasy Author
_________________________________________________________________
Mandi is beyond what I could have asked for as an editor. There are different types of editors (line, developmental, etc), but in her reviewing of my second book Sekhmet and the Curse, she seemed to naturally do them all. She found the glaring mistakes, detailed errors, and even offered better word choices than what I had drafted. She noticed repetitive word usage and caught habits I hadn’t noticed prior to. She did all of this while asking questions and making comments about the story. She edited and watched for loopholes.
Truly gifted.
I can’t recommend Mandi enough, and as for someone who has worked with numerous other editors I will say this, I have written 9 books in total. She will be part of the process for each and every single one.
(If theres errors in this, it’s only because Mandi didn’t edit it!)
~C.T. Ortega, Author of the “Warfare of the Gods” series, Retired Veteran
_________________________________________________________________
Mandi and I found each other initially through an ARC readership. She so wonderfully pointed out some straggling spelling and grammar errors others had failed to notice. It was wonderful she caught these because now I’ve been able to have readers mention in reviews how they were not distracted by errors within the text. Due to her keen eye, I reached out to her again for her proofreading skills. I was on an intense time crunch, and she graciously fit me into her schedule and was able to return my manuscript to me within five days. Her kindness and dedication are something I immensely appreciate, and she’s great at editing! The fact she uses tracked changes in Word means it’s easy for me to see what changes she made, but it is something I merely need to ‘accept or decline’ and not a tiresome endeavor to go through and make all the changes she noted myself. Not only that, but she has supported my books on her Social Media accounts, and it’s obvious she is a huge supporter of authors and wants them to be successful. I 1000% (yes, 1000 not 100) recommend Mandi for editing.
~Kristen Braddock, YA Fantasy Author
_________________________________________________________________
Although my book was already edited, Mandi went through it again. She found so many things that slipped through. Some of them were quite serious. She also gave tips on which words sounded better in many places. I am very grateful to her and look forward to working with her again!
~Ellen Hunter, YA Fantasy Author