“Kay edited four of my books with a fine-tooth comb, a razor-sharp wit, and a generous heart. I couldn’t be happier with the work she did. Both on the level of developmental editing and down in the nitty-gritty of copyediting, I felt so grateful to be in capable hands like hers. She pushed me to think deeply and suggested thoughtful rewrites, and she cleaned and tidied all my prose, down to the very foggiest of footnotes. Basically what I’m saying is: she’s the bee’s knees, and you all should hire her immediately. She is that good.”

—Courtney Ellis, author of

Present: The Gift of Being All In, Right Where You Are,

Happy Now: Let Playfulness Lighten Your Load and Lift Your Spirits,

 Almost Holy Mama: Life-Giving Spiritual Practices for Weary Parents, and

  Uncluttered: Free Your Space, Free Your Schedule, Free Your Soul

“It was a pleasure to work with Kay! As a researcher and academic, I’m constantly writing and generating content, but no matter how much I feel I can do on my own, I believe everyone can benefit from the professional touch and expertise of an editor.  Kay is friendly, meticulous, and supportive.  I’ve had the chance to work with her on some of my academic projects related to the environment, peace and conflict resolution, international relations, and social justice, and the projects that have gone through her are certainly much more polished than the ones I’ve published without her.  If you need help on any of your academic projects, I would warmly recommend Kay.”

—Ambreen Ben-Shmuel, PhD Candidate in Sociology (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

The Azrieli Foundation Fellows Program,

The Lafer Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, and

The Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace

“I hired Kay Ben-Avraham as a developmental editor on my historical/gothic novel, The Dark Fire. I was looking for someone who could grasp the novel’s vision, and who could provide solutions to problems I could not even see (the forest-for-the-trees effect was at play here). I am a professional writer and editor, so I can tell when someone is competent. Kay is not just an excellent writer and a superb editor, she is the best editor I’ve worked with. She is an insightful, close reader of texts with a strong literary background, and her talent stack shines through in her developmental suggestions. Not only was she able to speak intelligently of meta-issues such as character traits and narrative stance, but she was able to zoom in on micro-issues and give excellent writing advice in scenes where the flow of the writing was choppy, or where the wording was off. Kay understands narrative structure, and she was able to provide valuable advice about scenes that were unnecessary, along with suggestions on how essential scenes could be made stronger. An unexpected bonus is that she gave frank assessments on how a modern reader might react to certain character traits such as race, sex, and body composition. Even if an author decides to depart from modern sensibilities, it is still useful to have an idea of how certain readers may react. Kay is amazing, and I recommend her without reservation.” 

—Christine Silk, PhD, author of

Chase the Sun: Nine Short Stories of Passion, Betrayal, and Revenge, 

cooking blogger at A Writer's Kitchen

"I hired Kay to help me put together the book proposal for my teaching memoir, What Needs to Be Said: Speak Your Truth, Release Shame, Find Oneness. Then, when it got picked up for publication, I hired her to help me prepare the manuscript, and I’m so glad I did! Kay is an extraordinary editor who possesses an uncanny ability to truly understand and enhance the essence of your written work. With her exceptional talent, she effortlessly taps into your thoughts and experiences, helping you transform your ideas into your very best work. She has a remarkable gift for recognizing the common thread that runs through various pieces of writing from different periods, and she skillfully weaves them together into a cohesive and meaningful whole. Importantly, her edits seamlessly blend with your unique voice, preserving the authenticity of your writing.

Kay’s versatility shines through as she fearlessly tackles a wide range of subjects, always approaching each project with an open mind and a genuine desire to bring out your creative brilliance. Working with her guarantees a collaborative and inspiring journey, where she will guide you in creating your most exceptional writing yet. Trust her expertise to refine your work and take it to new heights.”

—Alex Reegan, interfaith minister and author of

What Needs to Be Said: Speak Your Truth, Release Shame, Find Oneness

“Kay ben-Avraham has been a huge help to me with the English edition of my first book. She is a true editor, improving the coherence and clarity of the raw material she is given. Her challenges and her encouragement made all the difference in the often-lonely process of getting published. I will certainly ask her to edit my next two books.”

—Tom Bloomer, author of

Cinderella and Her Sisters: Identity, Authority and Inheritance

“I hired Kay to assist me in getting my novel about the lives of adult children of divorce ready for publication. The novel was originally part of a Masters program project and needed some help to be ready for a wider audience. I was amazed at the way Kay was able to pay attention to the small details of page breaks, chapter length, punctuation, etc., while at the same time grasping the overall scope of the story and noticing which parts needed more work or greater clarity. Kay is also a fabulous writer, creating the content for the back cover of the book and help with other passages that gave me trouble.

“As a first-time author, I had many things to learn: including how to work with an editor in getting my work ready for publication. Kay encouraged me to find my voice, never being pushy with her opinion or perspective. She was incredibly thorough in her work, kept the project moving forward, met her deadlines, cheered me on when I needed encouragement, gave advice and suggestions when I felt stuck, and always treated me and my work with respect and kindness.

“I look forward to working with Kay again on my next project!”

—Tanya Lyons, author of

Come Home Laughing: A Novel for Adult Children of Divorce

“As a first-time author, I found Kay’s service prompt, thorough, and of the highest quality. I could tell she read through my manuscript (an autobiography) several times, getting the feel for how I write and trying to understand my overall message. Then she very gently, yet specifically, laid out my strengths and highlighted places where I lost the reader. She helped me clarify where my writing grew vague and encouraged me to dig a little deeper to connect more strongly to my audience. She communicated with me while she was editing, letting me know the portions she enjoyed reading and always encouraging me to not give up. She understood that the process of writing a book is hard: like handing someone your newborn baby and hoping she handles it correctly! Kay handled my ‘baby’ with the utmost care and helped me nurture that babbling child to grow into something others could read and understand. I would highly recommend her!”

—Julie Steck, author of 

No More Secrets: Set Free from Fear, Shame and Control by Discovering True Grace

“Kay worked with me editing my doctoral dissertation. Through the course of the project, I found myself more and more grateful for an editor who could take my writing and put the final polish on it after I had exhausted my own energies producing and reviewing my writing. I would recommend her services to anyone undertaking the overwhelming work of earning a doctorate. The peace of mind that came from handing off my drafts to her was priceless. And the results spoke for themselves; dissertations often come back from the review board with hours and hours of further work to be done, but mine came back with only a few minor changes. I know this was greatly thanks to Kay’s eagle eye."

—Dr. David Miller, author of

Lord of the Nations

“Kay came highly recommended by another author friend, and let me tell you: I was thrilled to work with her on two of my books. I was so grateful for her excitement and encouragement around my projects. (And also that she knew what to do with semicolons and gross stuff like that.) After a few months working with her, I decided I’m keeping her. I don’t want to write another book without her. I’ve been recommending her to every writer I know; just try and stop me. (Yes, she edited this recommendation blurb and told me to put that semicolon there.)”

—Steve Austin, author of

Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church, and

Slow Miracles: A Daily Companion for Healing from Trauma and Loss (forthcoming from Broadleaf Books)

“I first was introduced to Kay’s work through a dearly departed mutual friend who said (and I quote): ‘She will rock your world. The whole world.’

“As it turns out, she was undersold. 

“An editor of worth must be able to do more for their client than simply correct errors in structure or word choice—they must see deeply, intuitively into what the author is trying to accomplish in their work, and bring it to pass. Kay has the aesthetic sense and wisdom to draw out a writer’s best possible work, and she does so with the joy of one who is truly grateful to walk the path with you.” 

 —Joshua M. Casey, author of

Tracking Desire: A Memoir(ish) Walk Through Faith, Failure, and Finding God Under My Feet

“As a first-time trade nonfiction author, I found Kay’s work indispensable. Her insightful reading and generous comments improved my book immeasurably. She was an excellent person to work with, always giving clear guidelines, expectations, and updates as the editing work progressed. Her written comments were also delightful! She was supportive and encouraging but also critical in the most constructive and necessary ways. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a thorough, professional edit.”

—Caitlin G. DeAngelis, PhD, author of

The Caretakers: War Graves Gardeners and the Secret Battle to Rescue Allied Airmen in World War II

“Rarely have I so delighted in opening edited manuscripts! Kay’s comments and queries are always deeply insightful and thought-provoking, and her good humor acts as the spoonful of sugar to even the most medicinal edits. I have engaged Kay for several projects and authors always love working with her—as do I. Kay maintains the most professional standards in all arenas, providing reasonable, accurate estimates and schedules, and delivering without fail. Five stars for Kay and her services!”

—Lynnette Pennings, Rose Publishing and Aspire Press,

imprints of Tyndale House Publishing

“I hired Kay to work with me on three very different and challenging book projects: a children’s book, a book about surviving cancer, and a book on art and architecture in distinctive homes around the globe. As a native Hebrew speaker, I was particularly focused on making sure my books came across well in English, and Kay helped me accomplish that. Two of the books we worked on together reached Amazon's bestseller list! Kay was fun to work with, cooperative, informative, and prompt in responding to my questions along the way. She jumped into the projects without fear and was an important part of getting my books to print. I’d recommend her editing skills to anyone.”

—Michal B. Peleg, author of

Art & Home: Decorating with Art in 21st Century Homes, 

Cancer: 100 Things to Do Besides Chemo, and

Dot, Dot, Dot

“Kay is not only an editor, but she’s also a teacher of all things related to writing and publishing. She was recommended by the leader of my critique group to help with editing a non-fiction book I was writing and did an outstanding job. I found her to be quite resourceful and knowledgeable with her editing skills, and also any questions I had related to writing and editing. She was easy to work with and diligent to respond in a timely manner during the six-month process that I used her help. I’d highly recommend her services!”

—Gayla Grace, author of

Stepparenting with Grace: A Devotional for Blended Families

“Kay is a brilliant editor on many different levels. I have worked with her on several projects, from leadership training materials to science fiction to a devotional series. She has a sharp mind and reliably catches anything I am missing. She works with me on concepts, logic, and flow of argument or plot, and then she transitions smoothly into copyediting, helping me tighten up the structure of my prose and phrase my thoughts in the most cogent way. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her and would recommend her to anyone needing editorial help."

—Matt Rawlins, PhD, founder of Broken Top Leadership Institute and author of

Effective Leadership in Uncertain Times,

Courageous Relationships in Uncertain Times, and

Humility 

“Kay’s kind words and overall support for my first project have been such an encouragement. I was quite insecure about my ability to write, but Kay reassured me all along the way. Even though I was miles away in the UK, I felt close to her. I will recommend her to future authors at the writing seminars and schools that I work on, and I’m looking forward to working with her on my next books.”

—Mary Martin,

author of God’s Fingerprints Everywhere

“Kay was a perfect match for me with her editing knowledge and supporting comments to bring my autobiography alive: to give me my voice. Kay rejoiced with me and danced over injustices with me as she helped polish my story, encouraging me to be real with my feelings. Kay was gentle and yet firm when I needed to rethink a point. She discovered in my writings my intent and heart and helped me put into words what I couldn’t express for myself. I was not an educated author, but I had a call to write. She helped me take all the years of journaling and memoirs and to put them into a book. I could not have done this without her. I would highly recommend Kay to edit any project: and I do.”

—Joyce Shankland, author of

Threads of Hope: A Story of Healing

“Kay’s influence in my life was transformative. I will never forget the role she played in getting me to one of the most successful achievements in my life—my doctoral degree. I loved that we shared the same work ethic and a dedication to the pursuit of excellence. Her outstanding technical skills and editorial expertise working with me on my final thesis project not only got me to where I needed to be, but enabled me to keep pushing from idea to idea until I at last completed all five chapters.

“Years later, I secured a book deal with Wipf & Stock Publishers and asked Kay to help me to adapt the manuscript for trade publication. I knew I would love to work with her again and was so excited when she accepted!”

—Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez, cofounder of

The Place of Refuge, Philadelphia, PA, and author of

Christ and the Marginalized: Bringing Refuge to the Broken