Erin (she/her) is an experienced developmental and line editor with two secret skills: decreasing word count while retaining voice, and figuring out the one thing that needs to shift in order to make a story truly excellent. She loves working with beginner writers on craft and with experienced authors on in-depth skills like objective correlatives, theme, misbeliefs, and character arcs.
A big fan of getting the words on the page, NaNoWriMo, and sprints, Erin is excited to find the gems in the roughest of your rough drafts. An accomplished author in her own right (she’s written more than 40 books under several pen names), Erin believes deeply in the importance of representation in literature.
As a former middle- and high-school English and French teacher, Erin has a soft spot for middle grade and YA, but she’ll read anything except gory horror, and she’ll even read that if you bribe her with sour candy. Erin loves speaking at conferences, teaching writing courses, and writing her own queer stories.
Her most recent couldn’t-put-it-down book was FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley; she can’t wait to read her children THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart; she binge-read all of Angela Pepper’s WISTERIA WITCHES MYSTERIES; and when asked for her favorite book, she still has to recommend THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Philip Pullman.
Erin spoke on the Doing Diversity in Writing Podcast
Sensitivity / Expert
- Teaching middle and high school
- French language and culture
- Traveling, specifically to and around Europe
- Women's representation
- Bisexuality, pansexuality, mixed-orientation marriage
- ADHD, dissociative disorders, anxiety, depression
- Child of narcissist, gaslighting
- Religious and spiritual abuse, religious deconstruction
Preferred Genres
Fantasy Historical Middle Grade YA Magical Realism Cozy Paranormal Mystery
Avoided Genres
Slasher Horror
What Clients Say
I was lucky enough to receive a full developmental edit from Erin Olds with Salt & Sage Books.
I turned in a 117k raw manuscript and received an editor letter and in-line commentary that was insightful, comprehensive, and absolutely invaluable to my edits and overall story.
Erin addressed prose, story arcs, character development, and plot holes. She pointed out what was working well, outlined story elements that were weak, and highlighted sections that needed more explanation to avoid confusion— all in a professional and constructive manner. There is no limit to how useful and insightful these kinds of edits can be for authors of all levels of experience.
I cannot recommend Erin and Salt & Sage Books enough! Professional, insightful, fast!
Erin has been a fabulous editor. Not only does she had a tremendous knowledge base, but she researches to be sure to give you correct advice. Her response is timely, accurate, and hugely helpful. Can’t recommend her enough! She addresses what other editors miss.