Rebecca Cooper
Editor, Proofreader, Writer
According to Rebecca’s mother, she “learned to read at two-and-a-half and hasn’t cared as much about anything else since.” After earning a B.A. in literature and completing master’s studies in theology and church history, her track toward a Ph.D. (mostly so she would have a guaranteed group of co-readers) diverted into publishing. She worked at InterVarsity Press, Baker Publishing Group, and was managing editor of Brazos Press, working with authors, such as Stanley Hauerwas, Robert W. Jenson, Samuel Wells, Lauren F. Winner, Marva Dawn, Randall Balmer, and Alan Hirsch. Then she spent a couple of years writing before going out on her own as a freelancer.
Developmental and substantive editing is where she really shines. A few of the authors who have benefited from her experience in this area include Dan Allender, Phyllis Tickle, John M. Perkins, Mark Batterson, Josh Riebock, Bryan Bishop, Alton Gansky, Terry Glaspey, and Miles McPherson. With her dog sitting beside her, proofreading—trade and academic, fiction and nonfiction—is Rebecca’s idea of a good way to spend the day, especially rainy days. Some authors whose books have been highlights of her proofreading career include Neil T. Anderson, Dutch Sheets, Tracie Peterson, Lauraine Snelling, Davis Bunn, Ron L. Deal, Elizabeth Camden, Patrick W. Carr, Mary Connealy, Jody Hedlund, Dee Henderson, Nancy Mehl, Judith Miller, Kate Breslin, Dani Pettrey, and Melissa Stagg.
Copyediting, copy writing, content development, project management, and writing manuscript reviews are additional skills that round out her résumé.
Answering questions and helping first-time authors learn about the editorial process is also a meaningful part of her work. She understands that the publishing process can feel overwhelming, scary, and treacherous, but having an experienced partner during the editorial stage can leave authors with a sense of security and an extra bit of confidence that the final product will be a true reflection of an author’s best work.