Shooting Star Editing

about the

EDITOR

Hi, I’m Mary Furse. I love stories with characters who feel real (whether they’re human alien, animal, or robot), characters who may struggle in ways that real people relate to. I love stories of growth, heart, and adventure that, through the lens of the fantastical and the futuristic, make us think about who we are and what kind of world we’re creating.

I have studied developmental editing through the Editorial Arts Academy and the Editorial Freelancers Association. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, which involved the study of history and in-depth story analysis. I served as a member of the acquisitions intern team for Future House Publishing, where I found myself silently cheering for the authors. I realized I wanted to work with authors directly to help them reach their goals for publishing and for connecting with their readers.

Above: Smoky teaching me about life… and how to write about horses.

Ironically, reading and writing didn’t always come easily for me. I struggled with both during the first year or two of school. I don’t remember exactly how I figured things out, but I suspect that my strong interest in stories gave me the motivation I needed to learn.

Since my early struggles, I have written over a million words of fiction. It was an education. So were the many hours of exchanging feedback with other writers. For over ten years, I’ve also been attending writers conferences, braving the crowds to drink in everything I can about the craft of writing fiction, the publishing industry, marketing strategies for authors, etc.

Helping other writers find ways to bring their stories to a new level is meaningful to me. I love seeing them light up when a new idea clicks.

Left: Hobbes “helping” me write. (He really liked the texture of paper.)

Right: Malena likes to walk on my keyboard. Or stare me down when she wants my food.

If I’m not caught up in my writing obsession, I’m studying other topics of interest, drawing, or making costumes. Or napping. Napping is necessary when my brain decides to force me into working on my story subconsciously . . .

When I venture out of my shell, I’m spending time with friends and family, animals, and nature.

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