About Me
Helping fiction authors build strong stories—and stronger careers
Hi, I’m Angela James. I’m a #1 New York Times bestselling indie editor and author career coach with over two decades in publishing. I help authors write better books and build sustainable, satisfying careers—on their own terms. Whether you’re indie, trad, or hybrid, I meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go, using clear editorial feedback, coaching, and frameworks that support both your storytelling and your career growth.
Together, we create stories that connect with readers, and an author business that works for you.
20+
Years in publishing and editing
1000+
Books edited
#1
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING EDITOR
SPEAKER
RWA NATIONALS, TOOLS OF CHANGE, DIGITAL BOOK WORLD, NINC, & MORE
Editor of the year
NYC RWA, 2013
FEATURED
IN FAST COMPANY
Why I Do This Work
I didn’t start out aiming to become an editor. But what drew me to it—and what’s kept me in publishing for over two decades—is the authors. The joy of helping someone shape their story, clarify their voice, and build something meaningful.
Over the years, I’ve seen the burnout. The gatekeeping. The confusion around craft and business. So I created a business that doesn’t just give feedback—it offers support, strategy, and sustainable tools for a long-term career.
That’s why I do what I do. Because authors deserve better. And because I love seeing you win.
MORE ABOUT ME
Get to know me in under a minute
01. My favorite drink
Decaf black tea
02. My favorite season
Summer
03. Most important lesson
Follow your own path to success
04. I can’t live without
My support squad
05. My perfect hobby
Reading
06. My Favorite TV Series
Firefly
Instrumental in my career.
I owe so much to Angela James. From her self-editing course, Before You Hit Send, that helped polish my first manuscript into a Golden Heart Finalist, to my first publishing contract, to the careful pen that expertly handled edits on the book of my heart, Angela has been instrumental in my career as a published author.
Layla Reyne / RITA Finalist & Bestselling Author
Places I've been featured:
Angela’s Official Bio
Angela James is a professional book editor and author career coach with over two decades of experience, specializing in romance, mystery, thriller, fantasy, romantasy, and women’s fiction. She has edited more than 1,000 books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers, and has led two major digital-first publishing imprints.
Angela is the creator of Before You Hit Send® and the Book Boss® suite of resources, helping authors write stronger books and build sustainable, satisfying careers—without burnout.
She offers manuscript critiques, developmental editing, and coaching to support authors at every stage of their publishing journey.
MORE ABOUT ME
Where it all began and how it´s going now
2004: I began my editing career
Since I was a kid, I’d dreamed about becoming an editor. I’ve been a voracious reader my whole life, and I wanted to support the next generation of authors. In 2004, I got my start in the publishing industry working at Ellora’s Cave before moving on to Editorial Director of Samhain Publishing.
2009: I started Carina Press
Thanks to Harlequin bringing me on the team, I started the first digital-first press, Carina Press, at a traditional publisher. At the time, a press like this was totally unheard-of, but it was time the industry adapted to keep up with emerging technological trends.
2010: I’m featured in Inc. Magazine
The same year we started Carina Press, I was featured in Inc. Magazine as a digital publishing trailblazer. In the article, they said that I was “helping authors in a revolutionary way” through the way I advocated for a digital-first approach to traditional publishing.
2010: I launched Before You Hit Send
Six years after becoming a professional editor, my signature course, Before You Hit Send (BYHS), was born. Since its beta launch, this program has helped 1000s of authors learn how to edit their own manuscripts, and it’s consistently had rave reviews.
2019: I started my own business
After 15 years as an editor working with traditional publishing houses, I was laid off from my then-position as Editorial Director at Harlequin’s Carina Press. I made the decision to become an independent editor and help authors in a way I could have only dreamed of when I was working at a large traditional publishing house.
2023: We launched our Book Boss® store
After working as an independent editor for several years, I realized that many authors wanted access resources that allowed them to have “quick wins” on their author journey. To address this need our community had, we created our online store with tools, templates, and courses to support authors at every stage of writing, editing, and publishing.
2024 and beyond
BECOME THE AUTHOR YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
Ready to experience success on your own terms?
Want to get in touch?
You can send an email to angela@angelajames.co or fill out this contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
If you’re an author who is interested in booking editorial services, please check out my Services page before sending an inquiry.
Please note that I tend to book out 2-3+ months in advance for partial and full manuscript reviews.