“I have been very fortunate to benefit from Amanda Lewis’s sharp editorial eye, as well as her political wisdom. Over the years I have been deeply impressed with her fierce dedication to quality publishing, and by the positive attitude she brings to her projects. It is a joy to work with Amanda, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything
“It’s thanks to Amanda’s incredible thoughtfulness, through a combination of an astute eye and the best of big picture thinking, that this book was able to come to fruition and find an incredible publisher. Our working relationship provided the most supportive foundation to explore large systemic ideas and distill them into a work of nonfiction that was also driven by personal narrative. She challenged me, and asked the right questions while always giving space to come naturally to the book I was most happy with. I’m forever grateful for our collaboration.”
Devyani Saltzman, author of Exiting: Toward a Future of Work That Serves Us All, sold at auction to Random House Canada, in a very nice deal, for publication spring 2025 (Canadian English)
“Amanda is a gift to the world. A first class editor and writer, Amanda is adept at grasping the big picture while honing in on the finer critical details—both essential ingredients for crafting great stories. Her honesty, expertise, integrity and care shine through from story arc to final edit. She skillfully calls forward what is required from the writer with wisdom and tact, and guides the writing process along at just the right pace. Amanda is indeed a writer’s best friend, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her.”
Michael Schauch, author of A Story of Karma
“While I was several drafts deep in writing a non-fiction manuscript, I sought out Amanda’s expert editorial eye and counsel. Six months earlier, my editor had asked for a rewrite of the manuscript and I was anxious to resubmit. I felt far too close to the story and subject matter. Was it really ready for market? Had I effectively woven together the main narratives? Amanda stepped in and provided such a detailed, thoughtful read on the manuscript. I was struck by her exceptional attention and care to the story; and the specificity of her advice to remedy some of the issues. She offered constructive suggestions, raised essential questions, and flagged passages where I could more seamlessly blend together the two central narratives. Indubitably, Amanda’s support helped me to reorganize and strengthen the manuscript—which I’m pleased to report was later accepted for publication.”
Trina Moyles, author of Black Bear, coming from Knopf Canada in 2025
“Amanda Lewis has been one of the first readers of my work for years. First drafts are a crucial, vulnerable time for any writer, and Amanda’s close reading, insightful comments and palpable excitement about story and craft, are both clarifying and motivating. She’s a true pleasure to work with.”
John Vaillant, award-winning author of The Golden Spruce
“If I might speak honestly here … editors typically hate me. I’m pedantic, elusive, exhausting and overly opinionated. So it takes someone special to manage my ego, nudge me forward, and bring out my best, both as a writer and a person. Amanda Lewis is all that. I love The Advice Trap, and she held my hand through every stage of its creation, from roughing it out at the start to the fine finishing required at the end. And all without me going into diva mode!”
Michael Bungay Stanier, international bestselling author of The Coaching Habit and The Advice Trap
“Amanda Lewis provided superb editorial work and keen insights to my book manuscript, and it has been a true delight to work with her. What many might not know is that she also has a great sense of humor that always appeared at just the right moments! She stood by my side to the very end with incredible dedication to the project.”
Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International; author of The Story Is in Our Bones
“Working with Amanda on my book is a highlight of my career. She asked questions that no one ever asked me before and helped me see where I could make the book even more clear for people and myself. Before I worked with Amanda, I thought an editor was someone who fixes your writing; it wasn’t like that. Amanda coached me to see a clearer narrative without losing the me-factor in the book. It was a delight to work with her.”
Kerri Twigg, author of The Career Stories Method
“Above all, an author needs an editor who ‘gets’ the story, not to mention the writer. It was my good fortune to be paired with Amanda Lewis who―with brio―skillfully and thoughtfully edited my latest book. She is the rare combination of brilliant, hardworking, and fun. A total pro. I would work with her again in a flash.”
Howard Green, author of Railroader (#1 bestseller, finalist for the National Business Book Award)
“I had the good fortune to work with Amanda as the editor of my most recent book, The Good Fight. The opportunity to work with a true editorial partner like Amanda is exactly why I left traditional publishing to move to a hybrid publisher for my third book. From development through substantive editing, I felt like Amanda had the perfect deft touch…knowing when to push me to make my ideas clearer and when to let my unique voice and my idiosyncrasies shine in all their glory. The Good Fight is a better book because of its excellent editing, something I wish my other books could have benefited from. Now if only this recommendation had the benefit of Amanda’s editing!!!”
Liane Davey, author of The Good Fight
“You hope your editor will seem as excited as you are about your work and will inspire you to make it better and then better again, but you also hope your editor will bring a combination of experience, knowledge, creativity, insight, kindness, encouragement, flexible thinking, rigour, professionalism, fun, and the ability to see issues and solutions on both the large and small scale. All those hopes were realized when Amanda Lewis worked with me on my novel, my twentieth published book. My novel and I couldn’t have had a better experience.”
Gary Barwin, author of Yiddish for Pirates
“Amanda is generous, meticulous, deeply incisive, and an extraordinary champion for writers and their work.”
Sean Michaels, author of Us Conductors
“Amanda helped me take an embarrassingly rough, disconnected manuscript and turn it into a book that I am proud of. She helped me structure the book, improve the clarity and impact, and remove aspects that weren’t helpful to my readers (there were lots!). She’s very easy to work with and a great communicator. Highly recommended.”
Corey Quinn, author of Anyone, Not Everyone
“Amanda is a delight, but that’s a crappy testimonial, so here goes: When we first connected and she told me her pricing, I thought, ‘I can’t afford that.’ Having been a freelancer and consultant all these years, I should have realized that developmental editing is like anything else: You get what you pay for. But I forgot that fact, and made up my mind that I wasn’t going to hire Amanda. She said she understood and that she’d still like to get to know me and hear about my book. I thought why not, and we hit it off from the start. After the call, I hired her. When was the last time someone else cared about your writing as much as you? From high-level ‘how am I going to position this book?’ considerations down to tactical ‘this metaphor seems off,’ she rolled up her sleeves and helped me turn an ugly duckling manuscript into a full-fledged swan of a book. Let me be clear: Amanda is not a ghostwriter. Every word in my book to be my own, and Amanda’s role was sparring partner. She helped me articulated what the book needed to become. She helped me put in the work and make structural and stylistic choices that felt good for both of us. The more we worked together, the more possibilities and angles emerged. The book is much better because Amanda co-created it. Worth every penny. No regrets.”
Austin L. Church, author of Free Money
“In today’s publishing whirlwind, editors rarely buy unpolished drafts. Amanda Lewis, with her impressive knowledge of story telling and narrative structure, helped me shape my memoir Too Big. The result? Lots of bids and a publishing deal with HarperCollins.”
Susan Swan, author of The Wives of Bath and Too Big
“Every time someone tells me that my book is well-written, that they read it in one sitting, or says, ‘everyone should read this,’ my first thought is of Amanda. Although readers credit authors for writing good books, those authors often credit their editors. I am one of those authors who wrote a good book because I had a great editor: Amanda Lewis.”
Tom Morin, author of Your Best Work
“Amanda is a brilliant editor. She effortlessly brings out the best in the writers she works with through her keen insight into both where the reader will be coming from and what unique voice the author has to offer. In particular, she understands authors who are striving to create a better world and how to bring their insights and talents to life on the page. She was truly a delight to work with and made the editing process such a joy.”
Nell Edgington, author of Reinventing Social Change
“One of my biggest fears as a writer is to publish a book that’s only mediocre. That’s where Amanda’s brilliant editing comes in! I’m incredibly proud of my book, and able to hand it over to readers with all the confidence in the world. If you work with Amanda, you’ll quickly learn she is an editor who understands the importance of honest, direct feedback as well as the power of encouragement. I absolutely loved working with her, and while I was thrilled when the editing process was over, I really missed the process of working with Amanda. I would hire her again and again!”
Amy Davies, author of A Spark in the Dark: Illuminating Your Path to a Brilliant Career in a Reorg World
“Exceptional editors are rare, and that is why I am grateful to have found Amanda Lewis. She is both a gifted editor and a pleasure to work with. Amanda’s thoughtful, detail-oriented and professional style vastly improved my book. I offer the strongest possible endorsement without hesitation.”
Micah White, author of The End of Protest
“I had the good luck to work with my first novel, All True Not a Lie In It, with Amanda. Without her, the manuscript wouldn’t have been picked up, polished, and reshaped into its final form. She’s the reader you dream of—inspiring, encouraging, clear-minded, and eagle-eyed.”
Alix Hawley, author of All True Not a Lie in It
“Amanda Lewis is an astute and insightful editor and publishing professional. She is also deeply engaged in the arts, the environment, and other issues and causes that contribute to making our communities thrive. Not least, she is a delight to work with.”
Anne Giardini, author, director, and Chancellor of Simon Fraser University
“Working with Amanda is both a pleasure and a challenge because she asks all the right questions to ensure you dig deep and produce your strongest work. I couldn’t have asked for a better editor. She is creative, thorough, and thought-provoking.”
Tzeporah Berman, author of This Crazy Time
“The first thing that impressed me when we started working together was that you understood and were interested in what I wrote. You asked the kinds of questions that required me to look again at what I had written and to reconsider whether a piece of information or a story helped the flow of the main theme or slowed it down. You are clear about the next steps I need to take. It’s so helpful to be told what to do next when there is so much that can be done. You understand my circumstances as an Alzheimer’s caregiver and are willing to work around my schedule. I would have discounted your opinion about the value of my story if you had not told me the reasons why you thought the story was good. You speak like you edit. You allow me to babble on in our conversations and then respond only to the important items. I feel that the story is still all mine but that you have helped me most by making it interesting to the reader.”
Daphne, memoir writer
“Amanda was highly recommended to me by one of her authors as the editor/book coach to hire to help me complete a book project I’d been working on for far too long and was starting to think I may never complete. Her enthusiasm, warmth, encouragement, and sense of humour are beyond inspiring. After only two sessions I already have a concrete plan for moving forward and a renewed sense of excitement for my project that I haven’t felt since I wrote the first few lines over three years ago. Her vast experience in the editing field makes me feel confident that she will be able to help me shape my unruly manuscript into something that will inspire and entertain readers. I can’t wait to get back to work on it!”
Lynn Jennings, memoir writer
“Loved Amanda’s feedback on my script. Very specific, honest, but also practical tips on what I can improve. This has saved me days, if not weeks of revisions.”
Philipp Humm, author of The StorySelling Method
“I had written and rewritten eight drafts of my novel (and had my manuscript turned down by more editors than I wanted to think about) before turning to Amanda for help. She offered insights, solutions, and approaches that no prior reader or editor had suggested—not just for plot, but for process. What Amanda gave me was not only keen editorial advice, but also empathy and inspiration when I needed it most. Draft nine would be the charm; if only I had sought her out for draft three.”
Shelley Wood, author of the #1 bestseller The Quintland Sisters. Her second novel, The Leap Year Gene, sold in a pre-empt to HarperCollins Canada and Union Square & Co., New York