Nice to meet you!

Hi. I’m Mary Hammon—fiction editor, neurodivergent, animal lover, and hopefully your next creative partner in your publishing journey. I live happily carless in Chicago with my two cats, Ellipsis and Em Dash, and my miniature poodle, Penny. I occasionally moonlight as a professional home organizer, and on Sundays, I can be found competing in the biweekly jigsaw puzzle race at a nearby game cafe.

I have nearly two decades of editorial experience under my belt and in that time have edited well over one hundred fiction and nonfiction manuscripts for self-publishing companies and indie book publishers. I launched this site in 2026, wanting to work more directly with indie authors.

I’ve loved stories and books ever since I was a kid. So much so that my fifth-grade teacher (a math and science guy) told my mom during a parent-teacher conference, “If Mary has her nose in a book, I could light a fire under her desk and she wouldn’t notice.” Though I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean it as a compliment, I have always considered it one.

I bring that same level of focus and enthusiasm to every manuscript I edit—and my feedback is a lot more encouraging than Mr. Clegg’s!

My editing approach

My editing philosophy is twofold: One, I’m your cheerleader and creative partner, working to help make your words shine and bring your story to life. Two, I’m an advocate for the reader, ensuring your story lands with them as you intend and honors the reader-writer contract.

When we work together, I bring both professional experience and creative empathy to the process. I offer clear, honest, judgement-free feedback on the shape and strength of your story, and I strive to honor and protect your voice.

I want you to achieve your vision, delight and amaze your readers, and ultimately, succeed in your publishing journey!

My interests

I specialize in the following fiction genres for editing:

Romance (all genres and heat levels, from cozy to pitch black)
Fantasy
Cozy mystery
Science fiction
Paranormal
LitRPG

I also occasionally take memoirs and nonfiction, so please reach out if you’re interested in working with me.