Jenny Bowman is a Children’s Book Editor specializing in developmental editing for Picture Books, Chapter Books and Middle Grade Novels.
Jenny Bowman is Children’s Book Editor with over fifteen years experience providing developmental editing and children’s book coaching for Picture Books, Chapter Books and Middle Grade Novels. She works with authors from around the world, and has edited books on the New York Times bestselling book and series lists, and books with international acclaim. Working on such successes as author Tim Harris’s Exploding Endings series and Robert Beatty’s NYT Bestselling Serafina series, Jenny skillfully helps author’s reach their dreams with each story she’s given. Passionate about what she does, her children’s book editing capabilities will carry your stories to their highest potential.
Jenny received graduate training in Children’s Literature from Hollins University’s world renowned program, best known as the birth-place of one of the most celebrated children’s books of all time, Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown
In addition to her editorial services, Jenny Bowman author’s her own books. You can learn more about Jenny’s books here.
A Tailored Approach to Every Manuscript
No two books are alike, and no two authors are either. That’s why Jenny’s approach to children’s book editing is fully tailored to each client and each project. Rather than simply marking up a manuscript with line edits, Jenny takes a holistic view of your work — examining the big picture alongside the finer details to give you a complete understanding of where your story is, and where it can go. Every editorial project includes a thorough overview of your manuscript’s strengths and opportunities, so you walk away with a clear roadmap for revision, not just a list of corrections.
Getting to Know Jenny
Most of Jenny’s editing projects also include a one-on-one follow-up call — just you and Jenny — which can be used however is most helpful to you. Whether you want to walk through the edits together, talk through next steps, or simply ask anything that’s on your mind, that time is yours. Not quite ready to dive into a full editorial project? A consultation is a wonderful way to get to know Jenny and her approach before committing. It’s a low-pressure, high-value conversation that many authors find invaluable at any stage of their writing journey.
Testimonials
“Working with Jenny has been invaluable to me. When I first consulted her about my children’s book, she helped me rework my query letter, and shortly afterward I received an offer of representation. Jenny is incredibly knowledgeable about the publishing industry. Her advice on everything from self-publishing to navigating agent relationships has been so insightful. I recently turned to her for advice about a complicated situation. She offered perspective I hadn’t considered, which completely changed how I proceeded. I feel very lucky to have her in my corner.”
“I’ve worked with Jenny on all of my books, and I can’t imagine publishing without her. As an indie author, it’s especially important to me that my books are as polished and professional as those from traditional publishers, and Jenny has been invaluable to that process. She catches inconsistencies, helps keep my storylines on track, and has a wonderful way of pointing out things I might not have considered, especially how something might come across to young readers. Her suggestions are always thoughtful and constructive, and she never loses sight of my voice or the story I’m trying to tell. I genuinely believe my books are better because of her, and I’m grateful to have her on my team. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
“Jenny made all the difference in my first exploration into writing a children’s book. I was terrified by the process of taking my idea and turning it into a reality, but Jenny was patient, clear, and direct in her editing and guidance throughout. Without her, I wouldn’t have had such a great end written product to hand my illustration partner to visualize and bring the vision to life.”
“Jenny is incredible. She is warm and thoughtful in her collaborative approach. I learned a great deal from her and from the process. From start to finish she was a complete professional. She was quick to reply to any questions I had and returned edits in a timely manner. I would absolutely recommend hiring her to edit your project. She gently, but clearly, guided me through the process until the book was at it’s very best. Thank you Jenny, I look forward to working with you on the next project!”
“Jenny is an excellent developmental editor. She’s been a critical part of my success as a #1 New York Times Best Selling author. She worked closely with me on my middle grade novel Serafina and the Black Cloak, and the additional two books in the Serafina Series published by Disney-Hyperion. When I started working on my fourth book, Willa of the Wood, I drew upon her expertise and feedback once again. She provides highly detailed feedback, which I use to revise and improve my manuscripts. I find her suggestions to be insightful and very useful. Jenny is one of my go-to editors for improving and refining my work. I highly recommend her.”
“Communicating complex science ideas comes naturally to me. Writing a children’s book was way out of my comfort zone. Jenny helped me transform a deeply personal story into something that could connect with young readers. She quickly understood my mission of inspiring children, especially girls and those who may not see themselves represented in STEM. Her thoughtful feedback made the book stronger and I am so grateful for her help.
“The day that a Google search sent me to Jenny’s website was a turning point in my writing journey. I was very nervous about sharing what I knew were very rough drafts, but Jenny immediately put me at ease. She is equal parts gentle, real, challenging and encouraging. Not only did my writing improve, but my confidence grew. I will always, always recommend Jenny to writers at all stages.”
“I have worked with Jenny Bowman on three picture books and have had a very positive experience. She went over each manuscript carefully, gave very useful suggestions, and worked with me as I revised drafts more than once. She also got back to me quickly when I had situations that were time sensitive. She is a supportive and goodhearted person. Working with her has been a pleasure.”
“When I contacted Jenny about a developmental edit on my debut Middle Grade novel, I knew she would be a good fit, but her schedule was full. I would have to wait to get on her calendar. She was worth the wait. Jenny was a pleasure to work with, providing just the right blend of insightful critique and enthusiasm for my project. Her assessment of my manuscript was very in-depth and her line edits were thorough and spot-on. I would definitely hire her again if she’s available for future projects.”
“Jenny is an absolute pleasure to work with. She understands children’s books and has a wonderful way of identifying exactly what a manuscript needs while still respecting the author’s voice and vision. Her feedback is thoughtful, honest, and incredibly helpful, and my manuscripts are always stronger because of her insight. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Jenny again…and again…again!”
“I was confident from the start that my manuscript was in expert hands. With a keen eye for plot details, consistency, and general structure, Jenny provided invaluable feedback and edits to help make my manuscript sing. Always professional yet encouraging, she seemed just as interested in the success of my project as I was. I highly recommend Jenny as your children’s book editor and will definitely use her again.”
“Jenny is a fantastic children’s book editor! She gave my books the structural edits they needed, which helped lead to my first publishing deal. On top of her great service, she is a joy to work with. She is a wonderful communicator, be it through email or Skype. Highly recommended!”
“I was very impressed with Jenny’s editorial expertise. Her comments were very detailed, suggesting changes where necessary and also highlighting the strengths in my manuscript. Throughout the process she was very encouraging. Working with someone to edit a story you have spent much time and energy writing can be difficult, but Jenny made it an enjoyable, learning experience which culminated in a much better book.”
“For a first-time author like me, Jenny’s guidance was game changing!”
“I worked with Jenny on my debut novel LarkFall and it was a wonderful experience. It is hard to balance encouragement while critiquing a manuscript but Jenny has a gift for both. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any aspiring writer. Even after our contractual work was done she has stayed in touch and continues to offer support and guidance.”
“Jenny was a delight to work with, very professional, and helped make my middle grade novel significantly stronger. She clearly identified the weaker spots in the story and helped me know how to fix them. But she also pointed out the strengths which was encouraging. And she was dead-on right about both. I’ll definitely work with Jenny again…and again.”
“Jenny was very efficient, professional, and helped the flow and language of our children’s book.”
“As a first-time middle-grade book author, I found the entire writing process both exciting and overwhelming. Over the past year of working together, Jenny has been fantastic, patient, and deeply supportive. She understood the heart of my story right away and helped me develop my plot and characters with great expertise while preserving my unique voice. Now that we’re in the final stage of the book, I realize my story simply would not have come to life without her expert guidance. If you need a children’s book editor who truly invests in you, Jenny Bowman is your editor.”
“Jenny Bowman provides high quality middle grade developmental editing services and is a pleasure to work with. She has a clear understanding of what is needed to bring a project full circle and works with the author to deliver work timely, professionally and in line with author expectations. I have used Jenny for two books thus far and plan to use her again!”
Interested in Children’s Book Editing Services
Ready to bring your story to its highest potential? Whether you’re writing your first picture book or polishing a middle grade novel, Jenny would love to help. Explore Jenny’s editorial services here.