Publishers Marketplace: Alice Peck

Alice Peck has what I call a "magic touch" when it comes to editing and writing. She knows exactly what to add, delete,
and rework to make a piece sparkle. Alice is that rare commodity: a truly superb editor who is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Hannah Seligson
author of New Girl on the Job (Citadel 2008)
and A Little Bit Married (Da Capo Press 2010)
Hannah's web page

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Alice Peck is an outstanding editor. But she is more than that. She is also a heartfelt, kind, and thoughtful person. From the moment she takes your story into her hands, you will feel she is not just your editor, but your friend. A master at her craft, her insights into story, character development, plot, and marketability are first rate--but she also possesses the unique ability to look beyond a normal editor's scope--to guide writers to focus the intent and purpose of their story. Alice's particular talent proved enormously helpful to me as I worked on my novel and, as I have come to find, is a rare magic.

K. Wolf
author of The Way (Crown/Random House 2011)

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Alice Peck loves books more than maybe anyone else I know, and because of that, she's the perfect person to get your book into fighting shape. She does it with a gentle spirit and a soft voice, but don't let that fool you into thinking she's going easy on you--a session with Alice is like boot camp. She might say some of those things you don't want to hear, but already knew in your gut were problems. She'll praise some things, and jet-set you to the top of the world. She'll use her pencil and "edit letter" like a scalpel. I know I'm mixing a lot of metaphors here, but that's like working with Alice: a little bit of everything, and everything you need to get your book on the shelves.

Kim Powers
author of Capote in Kansas (novel/Carroll & Graf, Da Capo Press 2008)
and The History of Swimming (memoir/Carroll & Graf, Da Capo Press)
Kim's web page

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It is no exaggeration to say that without Alice Peck we most likely wouldn’t have a book deal. This being our first book and an especially odd one, Alice got us to find our voice and pushed us to have the confidence to work in it. Her patience is legendary and she can give strong criticism and you won’t feel hurt in any way—you’ll only feel supported and cared for. You are always aware that she has only your best interests in mind and that her heart’s desire is that you create something unique, smart, and beautiful. We trust her implicitly and are so very grateful for all the help she gave us.

Sue Bailey, co-author of Grave Expectations (Cider Mill Press 2009)
Grave Expectations web page

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Alice Peck is an editorial goddess as well as the best friend a writer can have. She has the keen ability to focus on the details while keeping the big picture intact. When working with her, you begin to think that you’re a genius and she lets you believe that until it dawns on you that your brilliance is not your writing--it’s the fact that you had the good sense to hire Alice and do everything she tells you to do.

Carmen Flowers, co-author of Grave Expectations (Cider Mill Press 2009)
Grave Expectations web page

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Alice has an innate ability to see where a manuscript has run off course as well as the skills to communicate the problem(s) to the author and to assist in fixing the leaks...It's not for nothing that I call her my literary midwife.

Tim Cockey aka Richard Hawke
author of The Hearse You Came In On (Hyperion)
and Speak of the Devil (Random House)
Tim's web page
"Richard Hawke's" web page

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I approached Alice as an editor when I was feeling discouraged about a novel I’d been working on for a long time. I was stalled after showing it to my writing group and my agent. Alice’s suggestions were fresh and insightful. She opened up the novel for me again, helping me to find a way back to the material. I plan on integrating all of her suggestions into the book and in employing her, as an editor, on all my future novels!

Alice is a uniquely gifted reader and editor. She’s also a lovely, warm person who genuinely likes writers. I can’t recommend her highly enough!

Nicole Bokat
author of What Matters Most (NAL)
Redeeming Eve (Permanent Press)
Nicole's web page

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Alice believed in my book proposal, renewed my own optimism and then "doctored" my proposal for me. When my agent shopped the new proposal, I sold my book! Her fresh eye, keen insights and wonderful understanding of topical issues and interests were invaluable.

Margaret A. Mackenzie
author of Courting the Media (Praeger)
Marti's web page

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Alice Peck gave me genuinely helpful editorial advice on two projects: a novel, The Cutting Room and a teleplay, Me and Jezebel (written for American Movie Classics.) She had valuable insights into pacing, coherence, and, God help me, commercial viability. (She was also friendly and compassionate, underrated attributes when working with writers.) I would highly recommend her services.

Laurence Klavan
author of The Cutting Room (Ballantine)
Laurence's web page

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Got to thank you again for casting your expert eye on an early draft of Requiem. You had an intuitive feel for my story, and the care and precision you took analyzing my work, before giving some terrific pointers how to improve it, made me glad I’d entrusted you to give my manuscript a read through...I was truly thankful for Alice Peck. And you played no small part in me securing a two book deal with a major UK publisher.

Jack Ross
author of Requiem & Dark Waters (Hutchinson/Random House UK)

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Her keen insight into the craft of story-telling is like a compass navigating the author down the right path to create better structure and well-rounded characters. Working with Alice is totally delightful. You know instantly that she cares about the project and will give the manuscript the individual attention, care and detail it needs in order to be successful. My life is my work and I totally trust Alice with it! The results--a two book deal with Random House.

Elaine Meryl Brown
author of Lemon City (Random House) & Playing By The Rules (Ballantine)
Elaine's web page

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Alice Peck's brilliant insights into story and character gave me the map I needed to shape Blue Blood into a project worthy of a three-book contract with a major New York publisher.

Susan McBride
author of Blue Blood (Avon)
Susan's web page

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Alice Peck, my brilliant sparring partner, gives this street writer-fighter a serious beatdown at least six times out of ten...Alice has bullied, babied, and generally bossed me around for two books now, and soon there will be another...If you want to turn a good book into a GREAT book, no question about it, she's your girl!

Slim Lambright
author of The Justus Girls & The Sweethearts of Soul (Harper Collins)

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You know those scenes in movies where the hero is dangling from the edge of a cliff, his fingers slipping, a terrible drop waiting below? That’s what failing to publish your first book feels like....I made a huge mistake when I submitted my first novel to agents: not hiring Alice Peck ahead of time. Her insight into writing is tremendous. She can take a sentence and buff it until it shines and, even better, she effortlessly understands a writer’s voice and vision...It's not just the writing. Alice has an expertise in publishing and entertainment that no book or web site can provide. She’s a good editor, ally, and friend. And if your manuscript is hanging onto the end of that cliff, Alice is the person who will pull it up, dust it off, and send it out, refreshed, rejuvenated, riding glamorously into the sunset.

Ed Aymar
author of Within