TESTIMONIALS
"Katherine is a gifted writer and was an invaluable editor and co-writer for my book, Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America. Her sharp intellect and probing questions helped to better develop and shape the story. Katherine possesses the perfect combination of organizational and creative skills, pressing this first-time author to dig deeper and ultimately create a successful book that captured the reader's interest. I would not hesitate to work with Katherine again!"
SONJA TROM EAYRS
author, attorney, activist ~ sonjatromeayrs.com
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“Katherine Don is a Book Saver! From assessing my manuscript, to developmental editing, to getting my book proposal and query letters done and more, Katherine’s skill, wisdom, care and hard work made all the difference in the birthing of my book, Shut It Down: Stories from a Fierce, Loving Resistance. With the book proposal I worked on with Katherine, I heard back from my publisher within a few hours! I honestly don’t think I would have gotten it published without her. Even as I write this, I’m pretty sure Katherine will be cleaning up my typos and grammar! Her generosity, kindness and good humor made working together a joy. I am so grateful the stars aligned and we got connected on this project. I strongly recommend her and I am sure you will be as thrilled as I was to work with Katherine, The Book Don.”
LISA FITHIAN
social justice activist ~ author of Shut It Down: Stories from a Fierce, Loving Resistance
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“As I worked on my novel, I checked off each of Katherine’s comments to do the revisions—she is that whip-smart, that reader-friendly, that empathetic of a book’s needs. All I needed to rework it was her eye: I completely trusted her ways of reading. Anyone should be gratified by having one’s book under Katherine’s keen readership: she is structurally minded, extremely attuned to a book’s inherent needs, and super-sharp: she gave me a way to imagine the book’s public, general reader and yet remain true to its artistic demands. I highly recommend Katherine as a reader to any writer—her reader’s eye is a gem, a friend, and a gift.”
GINA APOSTOL
PEN/Open Book winner for Gun Dealers’ Daughter (W.W. Norton) ~ Publishers Weekly’s Ten Best Books of 2018 for Insurrecto (Soho Press) ~ Winner of the Philippine National Book award for The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata
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"I collaborated with Katherine on Inside Philanthropy's anthology project, The Inside Philanthropy Reader. Her writing, editorial, and research skills are impressive. As an editor, Katherine is thorough, reliable, and creative, and I enthusiastically recommend her to fellow authors."
DAVID CALLAHAN
Inside Philanthropy founder and editor-in-chief ~ author of The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age
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“Katherine did an amazing job with my manuscript. She helped put the story in a cohesive, beautifully organized format that retained my voice while making my message clear and authoritative. Katherine held my hand during every step of the process from idea creation all the way to making the finest editorial adjustments. I would recommend anyone who is struggling to form a message that cuts through the clutter to work with Katherine.”
JOVANKA CIARES
author, speaker, wellness expert ~ jovankaciares.com
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"Katherine Don provided developmental editing and invaluable support during the writing process for my political thriller, Havana Hangover (2023 Renegade Press). Thanks to her expertise, the book became a 2023 Finalist for the Kindle Book Awards and the BestThrillers.com Book Awards, a Bronze Medalist in the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards, and a 2024 Finalist for the International Book Awards. None of this recognition would have been possible without Katherine's honest, insightful, and constructive feedback.
Katherine skillfully identified plot holes, encouraged more vivid descriptions, and guided me in building a deeper, more layered story. From the opening chapter to the final page, she helped me bring the story I wanted to tell to life, elevating it throughout. Once the manuscript was polished, she guided me with her vast knowledge of the publishing industry through the often dizzying, confusing, and frustrating querying process for agents and publishers. At every step, Katherine was there to help make my book publishing dream a reality."
RANDY RICHARDSON
attorney, author, journalist ~ https://www.randyrichardson.co/
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"We are deeply grateful for Katherine’s insight and guidance throughout the editing process. Her contributions have not only elevated the quality of our work but also helped us achieve milestones we could only dream of. Katherine has an exceptional ability to arrange material in a way that flows seamlessly, ensuring clarity and engagement for readers. She offered extensive, well-thought-out suggestions, which we implemented fully, trusting her vision. The results speak for themselves—our book has held the #1 spot in its field on Amazon for over a year, and doesn’t seem in danger of slipping. We eagerly look forward to collaborating with her on our second book, knowing her expertise will once again be instrumental in bringing our vision to life."
REIKO GOMEZ & PETER KAPLAN
authors of More Than Just A Pretty Space: Make Small Changes To Your Home, Manifest Big Changes in Your Life
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“I was fortunate enough to work with Kat Don for developmental editing on my first poetry chapbook project. From the first paragraph of the manuscript critique, I knew I had found someone willing to dig deeper into my work. Kat has an ability to distill words to their essence, sift through the cluttered grammar, punctuation, clever phrases, and accidental cliches, and reveal your true voice. After working with Kat, my chapbook was a finalist in a competition, and two of my poems have been accepted for publication in my dream magazine! I have grown immensely as a writer through Kat’s empowering editing.”
SALEEM HUE PENNY
early childhood advocate ~ poet, musician, interdisciplinary artist ~ hueart.org
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"Working with Katherine on my book, Sales Enablement 3.0, was transformative for both the book and my growth as an author. Her ability to see the bigger picture while never losing sight of the details helped turn my industry insights into a coherent, compelling narrative that truly serves readers. Katherine pushed me to clarify complex concepts without oversimplifying them, challenged assumptions I didn't even realize I was making, and somehow managed to maintain my voice while enhancing every chapter. My book was named an Amazon international #1 release and a bestseller, which demonstrates Katherine’s skill in helping authors connect authentically with their audience.
Beyond her technical expertise, Katherine brought patience, professionalism, and genuine enthusiasm to the project. She recognized that this wasn't just another business book but a roadmap for sales professionals navigating a rapidly changing landscape. This understanding shaped every editorial decision. I couldn't have asked for a better editorial partner.”
RODERICK JEFFERSON
bestselling author of Sales Enablement 3.0 ~ https://www.roderickjefferson.com/
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“I hired Kat to help me during my initial awkward attempts at adapting my screenplay into a novel. Luckily, Kat is an expert in both scriptwriting and literary prose. She was instrumental in helping me finish my first novel, giving me much needed deadlines along with a series of organized manuscript critiques that detailed where I was going wrong and exactly how to fix it. I highly recommend her to writers looking for expert feedback, editing and guidance that yields results.”
CAROLINE FLARITY
author of Bloomtown and In Daylight ~ http://www.carolineflarity.com/
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“With insightful overarching comments, incisive line edits, and detailed feedback on everything from character development to tone to dialogue, Katherine Don became a fellow caretaker of my novel. I am grateful that I had her help, patience, and advice. The outcome? Even though I sent through the slush pile, and even though I had no previous fiction publishing credits, that novel got placed with a top agent. This result speaks for itself. What’s more, I think Katherine helped me see things in the book that the book itself wanted to express but that I had trouble seeing. Also, beyond her ability to work with the artistic side of things, she has experience with query letters, editors, and the publishing world in general. If you get a chance to work with the Don, take it.”
MARK LAWLEY
author, educator, composer, engineer
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“I had the privilege of working with Katherine on a book of investigative journalism that took years of research, reporting and writing. Katherine’s help in both research and editing was invaluable. While working on a first draft that was overflowing with too much information, Katherine’s perceptive edits helped me wrangle the narrative back into shape. She’s a sharp thinker with a keen editorial sense of a book’s bigger picture, and she’s also a delight to work with. I highly recommend her to any writer who’s serious about improving their book.”
KATHRYN JOYCE
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“After years of trying to figure out how to take my writing to the next level, along came Katherine Don. She gave me concrete examples of where my writing needed work and how to make it better. Her suggestions and editorial notes gave me renewed confidence in myself. She strengthened my voice without changing who I am as a writer. I feel incredibly blessed to have found her and would recommend “The Don” to anyone who is need of that little extra something that takes your work from good to great.”
MARY ANN LOESCH
author of Nephilim and Butterfly Suicide
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“After several unsuccessful efforts to find a professional editor for my memoir, I was fortunate enough to come across Katherine Don’s name. Katherine is an extremely creative, highly intelligent and insightful editor. My major concerns were that she not compromise my voice, that she detect stylistic problems, and that she be attentive to correcting any grammar and syntax issues. In all these areas and more she was thorough, meticulous, timely and very helpful. She is the consummate professional and I highly recommend her.”
PC
Eastham, MA
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“A voracious reader from an early age, highly intelligent, and schooled at elite universities, Katherine brings superior skills to the crafts of writing and editing. I partnered with Katherine on one book and recommended her as an author to two publishers, who were overjoyed with her writing and professionalism.”
DAVID ARETHA
author of 70 books, editor of 200 books in partnership with over twenty publishing houses ~ https://www.davidaretha.com/
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“When looking for an editor, I’m looking for a partner who can take my rough words and polish them into a shiny jewel. Katherine was just such a partner. She helped bring clarity to my ideas and my writing, and the finished product is so much better than it would have been without her involvement. She knows her stuff, and more importantly, she is great at communicating that knowledge in a clear, supportive, and effective manner.”
DAVID J.P. FISHER
business coach, author, speaker ~ davidjpfisher.com
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“Katherine upped my writing game substantially with her developmental edit of Unspeakable Grudges, a crime fiction novel. Her manuscript critiques ferreted out the weaknesses, and she offered suggestions to improve the narrative. I highly recommend Katherine to writers for her fresh eye, keen intellect, and guiding hand.”
P.H. TURNER
author of The Nation book series ~ https://www.phturner.com/
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“I submitted my manuscript to Katherine for critique after she came highly recommended by another writer. After revisiting some of the memoir’s key locations and incorporating many of Katherine’s ideas, I rewrote a few more drafts before sending the final one back for another critique and copy/line edit. I believe that with Katherine’s input and inspiration, my memoir became a better, more compelling read. She is professional and focused, as well as reliable and delightful to work with. I highly recommend the Book Don, especially to writers with first drafts who will benefit from her honesty, vision and experience.”
LINDA JAMSEN
teacher, musician, writer – https://lindajamsen.com/
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“I’ve had the pleasure of working for Katherine to edit and shape book proposals as well as publications for non-profit organizations. Katherine has a keen sense of the audience of each project and is talented at helping her clients adapt to each audience’s expectations. She’s an extremely efficient researcher and organizer. Your project will definitely benefit from Katherine’s input on how effectively your ideas are being communicated.”
CYNTHIA-MARIE O'BRIEN
writer, editor, educator ~ cynthiamarieobrien.com
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“Katherine took my book and made it worthy of being published. I appreciated that she could read between the lines and pulled out of me the entire story, thus filling in the gaps for a reader. Katherine was so fun to work with, totally professional every step of the way, being prompt, accurate and quick with response. I will now have to write another book just to enjoy spending time with her, she made the whole process that much fun!”
MITZI CARROLL
legal administrator and writer