You may feel an author isolates themselves to work on their masterpieces, staying in their own little creative bubble.  To a point, this can be true, but unless you are an exceedingly multi-talented person, authors have to work with others and should.  Birthing a story to be presented to the publication world takes a team effort.  One of these key players is an editor.  And the role of an editor is to not just mark everything with a red pen when you make a silly grammar slip (although that does happen.)  They need to dive into your world, get to know your characters as deeply as you and invest themselves.  Someone you can get along and work with at once.  I am blessed to have so many in my corner to help me with my writing dreams.

And now, I have the marvelous Mandy.  She is a fellow author here on GeekyKool.  I usually have fantastic beta readers who help me edit as well, but they have been busy and just alone, I was not happy still with the tightening of my work.  I needed someone thorough, lovingly firm, and detailed.  Mandy was that person and I was so impressed with her work ethic and quality that she is now my official editor.  ^_^ And we also are amazing friends.  She has such a kind heart, bubbly nature, and warm aura, and we have very similar interests and mindsets.  I am so grateful to her.

I interview other authors and creatives on my website.  I thought it would be a blast to do it on here too! Please meet the marvelous Mandy! <3

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Author-to-Editor Interview: Morgan Straughan Comnick and Mandy Collins:

How did you get into loving literature?  Any books spark this fire?

“When I was a young girl, I always had an active imagination which grew into a love of reading when I became more proficient in grade school. I always gravitated towards fairy tales, folk lore, fantasy, with a touch of science fiction, historical fiction, and classical fiction like The Three Musketeers, or the various retellings of King Arthur and his knights. I couldn’t quite find what genre I loved the most until I stumbled across Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider series at my local library. After that, science fiction and fantasy became my literary love interest.”

What does an editor do?  What is your method of tackling a book you are working on?

“Like writers, editors “wear many hats” so-to-speak. Each written piece is unique and has different needs, depending on the author’s experience, style, and editing request. Another aspect that affects the editing process is what stage of the writing process is the document? 

“For example, if an author with years of experience has written, revised, and polished a manuscript for the umpteenth time, they might only need a light proofread before it goes off to the publisher. Or, if a writer is stuck in a plot hole or has writer’s block, they may need someone to bounce ideas off of. I like to think of editors as “hero support.” We get to see where the author, the superhero, is taking on a monumental task, and we, the sidekick, can point out potential pitfalls. Editors can be great for an outside perspective, as long as both the editor and the writer work well together and communicate. 

“My method for editing a piece starts with getting to know the author or writer. What is their style? What type of book are they writing? What’s the end goal, genre, flavor, and who is the target audience? All of these pieces of information are important in order to understand how to assist the author because the tone and point-of-view can be different between different written works. Once I have a firm understanding of the manuscript, I like to work in a somewhat quiet environment with instrumental music blasting in my headphones. I usually try to pick a genre of music that’s fitting for the book (PandoraJourney is one of my favorite artists).”

What are some of your favorite and least favorite components of the English language? 

“Ughh… let’s go with least favorite first: there are so many different writing styles, just in the academic setting alone. I was primarily trained in MLA (Modern Language Association) while earning my associate degree. Then, when I began my Professional and Technical Writing education track, I learned more about APA (American Psychological Association) which is more geared towards scientific writing. There’s also Associated Press (AP) and Chicago Manual of Style. All of these different writing styles have different grammar, usage, and punctuation rules. Some of my journalist friends know how I feel about my Oxford comma (they can pry it from my cold, dead hands). Because there are so many writing styles, feedback can sometimes get bogged down in the minutiae of comma rules. For novice writers, this can become frustrating when receiving conflicting information, which is why establishing communication early on an editing project is important.

“My favorite components of the English language are the poetic devices as well as synonyms authors can use to adjust their written piece. Writing is an art form which can be enhanced or diminished by different mechanics. Occasionally, I’ll suggest an alternative word because I think it might be more specific to the situation or it might be a better describer. I don’t often suggest alternative words because I want the author’s writing to shine true, but there are times I might add a comment like, “have you considered groaned instead of moaned?” because the former conveys a feeling of dread more than the other one. In the end, the author has the final say.”

What are the five genres you like the most?

“Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, and Historical Fiction.”

How did anime and manga find you in life?  What series do you recommend?

“As an elder-millennial, I grew up watching Saturday-morning cartoons like most of my peers. My first introduction to anime was Escaflowne, a series on Fox Kids, and when I visited some of my friends, we’d watch Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon. It wasn’t until recently that I finally got my hands on some manga. Personally, I love the new iteration of Sailor Moon, the Crystal series, because it stays truer to the manga than the 90s series that aired in the states. I also enjoy My Hero Academia, One Piece, Naruto, and Card Captor Sakura.”

Tell us about your lovely family. 

“My husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary! We are also blessed with two amazing, sweet, autistic kiddos, Eli and Wyatt.”

How did you end up writing for GeekyKool?

“Professor Larry and AJ came to Oz-Con, a local geeky-nerdy convention, a few years ago, and I immediately felt a kinship with them. I try to read, write, and share as many articles and YouTube interviews I can. Eventually, I approached Larry about contributing to the site, and he agreed to take me on. I feel bad I haven’t written anything in awhile, though. I need to do that.”

Can you describe “Dreaming For You” in your own words (no spoilers, please?)

“Oh wow, this is a bit difficult to describe because it doesn’t quite fall into a specific genre. It’s like a modern romance with fantasy elements. Reading Dreaming For You was a roller coaster of emotions: anger, sadness, sympathy, disappointment, fear, joy, love. It contains all the things that you’d want in a love story.”

Why would readers like this story?

“It’s cathartic. Have you ever wanted to feel peace and accomplishment? This book delivers that. I’ve read books that left me frustrated because the ending didn’t deliver. This book delivers. The payoff is SO worth it!”

How is it to work with me/Mrs. Comnick? Honestly? 

“Mrs. Comnick is a joy to work with! Honestly! If I had any feedback to offer on that part, I’d say, she should believe in herself more. She’s not super-demanding, she is quick to reply to questions, checks in with me just the right amount, and the best part: a great writer with a knack for storytelling.”

If you could describe me/Mrs. Comnick’s writing style in three words, what would they be?  

“Charming, Captivating, and Evocative.”

Have you seen any growth from me/Mrs. Comnick since starting the publication process? If so, in what areas?

“Your writing style has grown and matured in a way that it seems to flow smoother. I don’t mean mature like a person matures, but more like in a way when someone grows more proficient or more sure of themselves. Like an artist who experiments with different styles until they hone their craft to be something recognizable as uniquely them.”

What lines stick out to you from the book?

“‘My problems and past were still embedded inside.  But, I knew now I had someone, or some people, to come back to, to be better for.  I would become my own type of star, one only I could measure by my efforts and morals.’
This one was a homerun for me.”

If you could pick a favorite character, who would it be and why?

“Henry Collins, the film director. Not because he’s probably related (ha ha!), but because he’s written in a way that just cracks me up. He’s only a supporting character, but his little appearances in the novel always give me the giggles.”

You also read “The Hunter and The Bringer.”  Could you tell us your thoughts on that?

“I really enjoyed The Hunter and The Bringer! It took me a little bit to get the rhythm and tone of the book, but once I realized it’s like the novelization of an anime, then it clicked. The nuance made sense, which made the story enjoyable.”

What was the part that made you laugh the most in “The Hunter and The Bringer?”

“I’d say the funniest parts of The Hunter and The Bringer are the unexpected details about Jeremy’s personality. He just infuriates Val to no end, and yet he has a likable charm that makes him endearing.”

If you could describe me/Mrs. Comnick as a person in a handful of words, what would they be?

“You are a personified Squishmallow: adorable, sweet, and comforting to be around.”

What are some things me/Mrs. Comnick and you do or talk about together that have nothing to do with writing? Your common interests?
“So far, it’s mostly been writing-centered, although we have discussed anime and local comic conventions. We also share an interest in supporting kids, education, individuals with disabilities, etc.”

What is your favorite holiday and why?

“Thanksgiving: It occasionally falls on my birthday, there’s lots of food, I usually don’t have to cook much to pitch in, and I get to spend time with family.”

Make a meal you’d like to eat with every letter in your first name.

“Avocado Toast, Macaroni (and Cheese), Apples, Nuggets (lol), Deviled Eggs, and Apple Pie.”

How do you relax?

“I like to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, go to thrift stores, or play around with crafts.”

What do you want for the future in literature for yourself and Mrs. Comnick?

“Personally, I’d love to continue to edit, but I also would love to finally write my own book. I have a manuscript I put on hold 11 years ago. I’d like to dust it off and get it finished.
“I want to read stories that inspire readers to become better people, to not take life for granted, and to empathize with those around them.
Lastly, I want to see Mrs. Comnick’s readership grow. She’s a talented author, and I know she’ll continue to expand her written works while continuing to strengthen her writing style. I’d love to see her readership grow with her.”

Bio: Mandy Collins