THE FINAL GIRL

Editing & Author Services for Suspense, Thriller & Psychological Fiction

As an independent author, your manuscript doesn't get the built-in safety net a traditionally published book does — no acquiring editor, no in-house team catching what you can't see anymore after the tenth read-through. I fill that gap. I bring genre-specific insight into what makes suspense and thriller fiction actually work, matched with the structural precision and obsessive attention to detail that gets your book ready to compete — without losing the voice that makes it yours.

Rates start at $75 for a query letter critique and run to $650 for a full manuscript critique — every price, deliverable, and turnaround is listed below.

Start Smaller — $80Not ready for a full edit? Try a low-risk sample firstSee Options → Full List of Services Every service, price, deliverable & turnaround, in one place View All → Editing Services Developmental, copyediting, proofreading, critiques & more Explore → Author Support Services Query letters, coaching, launch planning & reference tools Explore →

Proof in Action

  • "Working with L.M. was an absolute game changer for my manuscript. Her feedback was thorough, insightful, and exactly what I needed to take my story to the next level. She has a sharp eye for pacing, character consistency, and those small details that make a huge difference. I couldn't have asked for a better editor to help polish my book!"

    Jenn Lehman

  • "L.M. O'Reilly is a phenomenal editor with a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of storytelling. She helped tighten my manuscript, catching inconsistencies and offering thoughtful suggestions that elevated the entire book. Professional, communicative, and genuinely invested in the author's vision — I couldn't recommend her more."

    Martin S. Vale

Payment, Revisions & Refund Policy

We know handing your manuscript — and your money — to someone else is a leap. Here’s exactly what to expect, no fine print required.

  • Your payment plan is based on manuscript length, so you’re never paying more upfront than makes sense for the size of your project:

    Under 60,000 words: 45% deposit to book your spot, 55% due at delivery.

    60,000–100,000 words: Deposit, a midpoint payment, and a final payment at delivery.

    Over 100,000 words: A custom installment plan, built around your project.

    Invoices are due within 15 days of signing your contract, with a 3-day grace period — plenty of time to get payment sorted.

  • Line editing & copyediting include one round of revisions — after you get your edited manuscript back, you have a follow-up window to ask questions or flag anything you want a second look at.

    Developmental editing includes a follow-up call to walk through feedback together, since the deliverable is a full editorial letter rather than in-line edits.

    Proofreading includes one round, consistent with its role as your final pass before publication.

    Need more than that? Additional revision work is always available — just billed separately, and never a surprise.

  • Your deposit reserves your spot on the calendar and is non-refundable — it’s what lets us turn away other work to make room for yours.

    Cancel before work begins: your deposit is forfeited, and that’s the end of it — no additional balance owed.

    Cancel after work has started: you’re billed only for the work completed so far, prorated. That work isn’t sent to you until it’s paid for; anything you’ve paid beyond that is refunded, or your remaining balance is simply waived.

    Once your final deliverable has been sent, refunds aren’t available — the work has been completed.

    If you need to reschedule or cancel, just give us 7 days’ notice whenever possible — it helps us keep things running smoothly for everyone.

  • Edited manuscripts are delivered as Word documents (.docx) with Track Changes, so you can see exactly what changed and why. Editorial letters and style sheets come as PDFs for easy reading on any device. Need something different? Just ask before your project begins, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

    Questions about your specific project or timeline? Reach out — we’re happy to talk it through before you book.