Laura Bontje

As a freelance editor, I work with Big 5 publishers, authors pursuing traditional publishing, and authors who plan to self-publish. Whichever path you’re on, I can help you refine your words and bring your best ideas forward.

FICTION
What I Edit
– Children’s literature: picture books (prose and rhyming), middle grade (MG), and young adult (YA)
– Adult literature: a variety of genres, with a particular focus on upmarket fiction (“book club books”) and mysteries/thrillers

What I Can Help You With
– Developmental editing to help you structure your ideas
– Stylistic and copy editing to improve effectiveness, accuracy, and consistency
– Rhyme and metre analysis for rhyming picture books (get a head start here: www.laurabontje.com/blog/rhyme-series-part-one)
– Proofreading your edited, formatted picture book to identify errors prior to production
– Editing query letters and synopses to help you prepare for submission to agents or publishers

About Me
I’m an editor and writer with a passion for fiction, from charming children’s literature to twisty adult mysteries.

I’m also the author of four picture books. Look for them in your local library or wherever books are sold!

Was It a Cat I Saw? (Amicus Ink; illus. Emma Lidia Squillari)
When the Air Sang (Annick Press; illus. Sarah Whang)
Marian’s Big Dig (Groundwood Books; illus. Scot Ritchie), coming 2026
Seas of Tranquility (Owlkids Books; illus. Crystal Smith), coming 2028

Learn more at www.laurabontje.com