Brooks Becker

Brooks Becker - Editor

New York, NY, USA

Proofreader and copyeditor with experience at St. Martin's Press and Penguin Random House. I love modern memoirs about wild adventures.

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Overview

Since completing the NYU copyediting course, I have proofed and copyedited fiction and non-fiction titles for St. Martin's Press and Random House, as well as more than 100 self-published titles. I strive to make books readable and grammatically correct while maintaining the author's voice. While my specialties are memoir and women's fiction, I am seeking opportunities to edit books of any genre. I only offer copyediting and proofreading at this time.
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Education & Reference
Entertainment
Inspirational
Psychology
Travel
Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Romance
Women's Fiction

Certifications

  • NYU Fundamentals of Copyediting and Proofreading for Books
  • BA in English and Journalism
  • MA in French

Work experience

Freelance proofreader

Penguin Random House
February, 2018 – Present (about 5 years)

Freelance proofreader

St. Martin's Press
April, 2017 – Present (almost 6 years)

Proofreader

City of New York
January, 2016 – August, 2017 (over 1 year)

Editorial intern

Lippincott Massie McQuilkin
August, 2013 – January, 2014 (5 months)

Editorial intern at literary agency

Editor

Morningside Translations
November, 2012 – March, 2014 (over 1 year)

Proofreader

AT&T
August, 2010 – August, 2011 (about 1 year)

Editorial intern

Time Inc.
January, 2008 – June, 2008 (5 months)

Fact-checker

Atlanta magazine
December, 2007 – January, 2008 (about 1 month)

Editorial intern

Atlanta magazine
August, 2007 – December, 2007 (4 months)

Portfolio (14 selected works)

Good Things Out of Nazareth: The Uncollected Letters of Flannery O'Connor and FriendsGood Things Out of Nazareth: The Uncollected Letters of Flannery O'Connor and Friends

Good Things Out of Nazareth: The Uncollected Letters of Flannery O'Connor and Friends

Flannery O'Connor

A literary treasure of over one hundred unpublished letters from National Book Award-winning author Flannery O'Connor and her circle of extraordinary friends. Flannery O'Connor is a master of 20th-century American fiction, joining, since her untimely death in 1964, the likes of Hawthorne, Hemingway, and Faulkner. Those familiar with her work know that her powerful ethical vision was rooted in ...read more

A literary treasure of over one hundred unpublished letters from National Book Award-winning author Flannery O'Connor and her circle of extraordinary friends. Flannery O'Connor is a master of 20th-century American fiction, joining, since her untimely death in 1964, the likes of Hawthorne, Hemingway, and Faulkner. Those familiar with her work know that her powerful ethical vision was rooted in ...read more

Beauchamp Hall: A NovelBeauchamp Hall: A Novel

Beauchamp Hall: A Novel

Danielle Steel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Danielle Steel tells the uplifting story of an ordinary woman embracing an extraordinary adventure, and the daring choice that transforms her world. Winona Farmington once dreamed of graduating from college, moving to New York City, and pursuing a career in publishing. Then real life got in the way when she left college and returned to her small Michigan hometown to...read more

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Danielle Steel tells the uplifting story of an ordinary woman embracing an extraordinary adventure, and the daring choice that transforms her world. Winona Farmington once dreamed of graduating from college, moving to New York City, and pursuing a career in publishing. Then real life got in the way when she left college and returned to her small Michigan hometown to...read more

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even KnowSo Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know

Retta

In her hilarious book of essays, Parks and Recreation star Retta shares the stories that led to her success in Hollywood.In So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, Parks and Recreation star Retta takes us on her not-so-meteoric rise from roaches to riches (well, rich enough that she can buy $15,000 designer handbags yet scared enough to know she’s always a heartbeat away from ramen ...read more

In her hilarious book of essays, Parks and Recreation star Retta shares the stories that led to her success in Hollywood.In So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, Parks and Recreation star Retta takes us on her not-so-meteoric rise from roaches to riches (well, rich enough that she can buy $15,000 designer handbags yet scared enough to know she’s always a heartbeat away from ramen ...read more

The Good Fight: A NovelThe Good Fight: A Novel

The Good Fight: A Novel

Danielle Steel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Against the electrifying backdrop of the 1960s, Danielle Steel unveils the gripping chronicle of a young woman discovering a passion for justice and of the unsung heroes she encounters on her quest to fight the good fight. The daughter and granddaughter of prominent Manhattan lawyers, Meredith McKenzie is destined for the best of everything: top schools, elite socia...read more

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Against the electrifying backdrop of the 1960s, Danielle Steel unveils the gripping chronicle of a young woman discovering a passion for justice and of the unsung heroes she encounters on her quest to fight the good fight. The daughter and granddaughter of prominent Manhattan lawyers, Meredith McKenzie is destined for the best of everything: top schools, elite socia...read more

My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for PeaceMy Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace

My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace

Ehud Barak

The definitive memoir of one of Israel's most influential soldier-statesmen and one-time Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, with insights into forging peace in the Middle East.In the summer of 2000, the most decorated soldier in Israel's history—Ehud Barak—set himself a challenge as daunting as any he had faced on the battlefield: to secure a final peace with the Palestinians. He would propose two st...read more

The definitive memoir of one of Israel's most influential soldier-statesmen and one-time Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, with insights into forging peace in the Middle East.In the summer of 2000, the most decorated soldier in Israel's history—Ehud Barak—set himself a challenge as daunting as any he had faced on the battlefield: to secure a final peace with the Palestinians. He would propose two st...read more

How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars: The Snapchat StoryHow to Turn Down a Billion Dollars: The Snapchat Story

How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars: The Snapchat Story

Billy Gallagher

"In the grand tradition of Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires (2009)... an engaging look into a fascinating subculture of millions." —Booklist"Breezy...How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars ably if uncritically chronicles the short history of a young company catering to young users, with a young chief executive, and reveals, intentionally or not, the limitations that come with that combina...read more

"In the grand tradition of Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires (2009)... an engaging look into a fascinating subculture of millions." —Booklist"Breezy...How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars ably if uncritically chronicles the short history of a young company catering to young users, with a young chief executive, and reveals, intentionally or not, the limitations that come with that combina...read more

Accidental Brothers: The Story of Twins Exchanged at Birth and the Power of Nature and NurtureAccidental Brothers: The Story of Twins Exchanged at Birth and the Power of Nature and Nurture

Accidental Brothers: The Story of Twins Exchanged at Birth and the Power of Nature and Nurture

Dr. Nancy L. Segal, Yesika S. Montoya

"A unique window into human behavior and development." —Steven PinkerThe riveting story of two sets of identical twins separated at birth and improbably reunited as adults, a dream case for exploring nature and nurture.Accidental Brothers tells the unique story of two sets of identical Colombian twin brothers who discovered at age 25 that they were mistakenly raised as fraternal twins—when the...read more

"A unique window into human behavior and development." —Steven PinkerThe riveting story of two sets of identical twins separated at birth and improbably reunited as adults, a dream case for exploring nature and nurture.Accidental Brothers tells the unique story of two sets of identical Colombian twin brothers who discovered at age 25 that they were mistakenly raised as fraternal twins—when the...read more

No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big ResultsNo Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results

No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results

Cy Wakeman

The New York Times bestselling author of Reality-Based Leadership rejects the current fad of "engaging" employees and the emotional drama of "meeting their needs"--returning leadership to leaders and productivity to businesses.For years now, leaders in almost every industry have accepted two completely false assumptions--that change is hard, and that engagement drives results. Those beliefs ha...read more

The New York Times bestselling author of Reality-Based Leadership rejects the current fad of "engaging" employees and the emotional drama of "meeting their needs"--returning leadership to leaders and productivity to businesses.For years now, leaders in almost every industry have accepted two completely false assumptions--that change is hard, and that engagement drives results. Those beliefs ha...read more

The Gift of Our Wounds: A Sikh and a Former White Supremacist Find Forgiveness After HateThe Gift of Our Wounds: A Sikh and a Former White Supremacist Find Forgiveness After Hate

The Gift of Our Wounds: A Sikh and a Former White Supremacist Find Forgiveness After Hate

Arno Michaelis, Pardeep Singh Kaleka

The powerful story of a friendship between two men—one Sikh and one skinhead—that resulted in an outpouring of love and a mission to fight against hate.One Sikh. One former Skinhead. Together, an unusual friendship emerged out of a desire to make a difference.When white supremacist Wade Michael Page murdered six people and wounded four in a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin in 2012, Pardeep Kaleka was ...read more

The powerful story of a friendship between two men—one Sikh and one skinhead—that resulted in an outpouring of love and a mission to fight against hate.One Sikh. One former Skinhead. Together, an unusual friendship emerged out of a desire to make a difference.When white supremacist Wade Michael Page murdered six people and wounded four in a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin in 2012, Pardeep Kaleka was ...read more

The Adults: A NovelThe Adults: A Novel

The Adults: A Novel

Caroline Hulse

Two divorced parents. Their daughter. Their new partners. A family holiday...of sorts. What could possibly go wrong?Meet The Adults.Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that what's best for their daughter Scarlett is to have a "normal" family Christmas. They can't agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest Holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners. B...read more

Two divorced parents. Their daughter. Their new partners. A family holiday...of sorts. What could possibly go wrong?Meet The Adults.Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that what's best for their daughter Scarlett is to have a "normal" family Christmas. They can't agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest Holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners. B...read more

Homeward Hound: A Novel (Homeward Hound: A Novel (

Homeward Hound: A Novel ("Sister" Jane Book 11)

Rita Mae Brown

“Sister” Jane Arnold returns in a colorful mystery featuring four-legged sleuths—and the breathtaking thrill of the chase—from the New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Like a Fox. As winter deepens over the Blue Ridge Mountains, even the threat of snowstorms cannot derail this year’s Christmas run, not as long as Sister Jane has a say in it. With spirits high and traditions strong, a glo...read more

“Sister” Jane Arnold returns in a colorful mystery featuring four-legged sleuths—and the breathtaking thrill of the chase—from the New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Like a Fox. As winter deepens over the Blue Ridge Mountains, even the threat of snowstorms cannot derail this year’s Christmas run, not as long as Sister Jane has a say in it. With spirits high and traditions strong, a glo...read more

Formerly Known As Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies, and CultureFormerly Known As Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies, and Culture

Formerly Known As Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies, and Culture

Kristin Lawless

One of Bustle's "17 Best Nonfiction Books Coming Out In June 2018" • One of The Revelator's "16 New Environmental Books for June" • One of Equinox's "5 Books High Performers Should Read in June" • One of Foodtank's "18 Books Making a Splash This Summer" • One of CivilEats' "22 Noteworthy Food and Farming Books for Summer Reading—and Beyond"From the voice of a new generation of food activists, ...read more

One of Bustle's "17 Best Nonfiction Books Coming Out In June 2018" • One of The Revelator's "16 New Environmental Books for June" • One of Equinox's "5 Books High Performers Should Read in June" • One of Foodtank's "18 Books Making a Splash This Summer" • One of CivilEats' "22 Noteworthy Food and Farming Books for Summer Reading—and Beyond"From the voice of a new generation of food activists, ...read more

Frank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance That Created the Modern Democratic PartyFrank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance That Created the Modern Democratic Party

Frank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance That Created the Modern Democratic Party

Terry Golway

“这是历史上对传统的方式。book is only as long as it needs to be, the adroit narrative full of heroes (Smith, Roosevelt, big-city Democratic bosses) and villains (William Randolph Hearst, William Jennings Bryan, the Ku Klux Klan). The scenes are vivid and the anecdotes plentiful." ―The Wall Street Journal"Frank & Al is the latest of Mr. Golway’s several captivating books...read more

“这是历史上对传统的方式。book is only as long as it needs to be, the adroit narrative full of heroes (Smith, Roosevelt, big-city Democratic bosses) and villains (William Randolph Hearst, William Jennings Bryan, the Ku Klux Klan). The scenes are vivid and the anecdotes plentiful." ―The Wall Street Journal"Frank & Al is the latest of Mr. Golway’s several captivating books...read more

Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the WorldYoung China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World

Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World

Zak Dychtwald

《华尔街日报》:“引人入胜…[Dychtwald]writes with an infectious energy."The Washington Post: "Enlightening...we learn that Chinese millennials, unlike their jaded American counterparts, are still dreamers and strivers, and have faith that they can achieve their dreams." Christian Science Monitor: "Fascinating... a remarkably revealing portrait of China's youngest generations."Randa...read more

《华尔街日报》:“引人入胜…[Dychtwald]writes with an infectious energy."The Washington Post: "Enlightening...we learn that Chinese millennials, unlike their jaded American counterparts, are still dreamers and strivers, and have faith that they can achieve their dreams." Christian Science Monitor: "Fascinating... a remarkably revealing portrait of China's youngest generations."Randa...read more

Brooks has 167 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

Philip Gasiewicz
Murder Down Deep is the third novel on which Brooks Becker has worked, and as in the past, I have been extremely satisfied with our working relationship. She is prompt, courteous, professional, and supportive, and in each instance, has made my writing better for her work on it.

Philip Gasiewicz, February 2023


Jashaswini Mishra
Brooks is amazing to work with. I will reach out to her for my future books.

Jashaswini Mishra, January 2023


Meg Brackenbury
Brooks was impressive overall. She worked within the deadline and the budget that I needed. She was in contact with me both before the project was begun and while the project was being worked on. Brooks retained my unique voice while continuing to edit/perfect the novel. 10/10 would recommend.

Meg Brackenbury, January 2023


Zack Thoutt
I look forward to working with Brooks more in the future.

Zack Thoutt, January 2023


Katherine Webster
不坏但没有什么特别的价值。这个职业fessional did precisely what she said she would do and not an ounce more. Her recommendations were close to what I would have had with Grammarly so overall I guess I think the cost of this venture was a little on the high side. I think I would have been more impressed if she would have gone above and beyond what she was paid to do but she did n...
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Katherine Webster, December 2022

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