Herta B. Feely

My passion resides in the written word. Mine and yours! I’ve been an editor and writer for the past 25 years. In 2007, after a brief stint with a literary agency, I established Chrysalis Editorial to serve writers in a variety of capacities, primarily as a developmental editor, a writing coach, and a ghostwriter of memoirs. Numerous clients’ work has gone on to be published. Seeing talented writers receive their due gives me tremendous satisfaction. Favorite projects include memoir, mysteries, women’s fiction, historical fiction and YA, although I am happy to work on just about any genre, fiction and non-fiction.

As a Writer
My first novel, Saving Phoebe Murrow, was traditionally published in 2016 in the US and the UK. Short fiction and short memoir of mine have been published in a number of literary journals and anthologies. I’ve received writing fellowships from the James Jones Literary Society and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. I am currently at work on a memoir and next novel. In 2011, I co-edited Confessions: Fact or Fiction? In this self-published anthology, the stories of 22 writers explore the blurred lines between memoir and fiction. Through these endeavors I’ve learned a considerable amount about the publishing industry and love guiding writers through the maze of finding an agent and getting published.

Personal
I have a BA in Latin American History from UC Berkeley and also did my graduate work in journalism there. My Master of Arts in Writing I received from Johns Hopkins University. I’ve worked as a reporter, press secretary, p.r. consultant and editor. In 1988, I co-founded the National Safe Kids Campaign (now Safe Kids Worldwide), had my first son, then went on to have another boy in 1990.

I was born in Yugoslavia, emigrated to Germany at age three, then moved to the US when I was seven. As a result, I have tremendous empathy and admiration for people of other countries and love working with writers either born overseas or reflecting on time spent there. I have a fondness for orchids, butterflies and exotic travel. My husband and I live in Washington, DC.

Praise for Herta Feely

Here’s the evidence. I self-published my first novel with no professional input whatsoever and it languished, unread, on a virtual shelf in Amazon’s basement. Herta Feely served as editor on my second novel and I have just signed a contract with a literary agent. Herta reviewed the manuscript, offered suggestions on the plot, pointed out pieces of confused writing, helped with presentation, and advised on literary agents. Throughout the process, she was encouraging but always clear in her criticisms; responsive to ad hoc questions; knowledgeable; business-like in approach; and a pleasure to work with.
- Lyn Squire, Writer

Herta is a fantastic editor and wonderful to work with. She is very honest and thoughtful. As a first-time author, I am grateful that she was able to help me develop my book proposal so that a literary agent offer to represent it. I strongly recommend Herta as an editor for your next writing project.
- Richard Simon, Writer, non-fiction, Off by Default: Turning Off Your Smartphone to Live a More Connected Life (represented by Williamson Literary)

I am a first time author who has been consumed with a story which needs to be told. Writing historical fiction is not intuitive and sometimes my prose becomes labored or just plain too detailed to cause the reader to turn pages. Herta has guided me through the editing of my manuscript. Though inured to heavy criticism after 40+ years of feedback on draft documents, I am sufficiently insecure about my venture into writing a novel that discouraging responses to chapters and paragraph might deter me. Herta has a talent in giving advice which both points out problems and identifies text upon which to build.
- Sandy Murdoch, Writer

I have worked with a number of editors during the last decade, but Herta has been the most versatile and talented of them all. Many big name editors I have worked with, who once worked as publishers, were great, but usually only at one or two things (plot or character, setting the scene or dialogue, etc.). Herta does it all; whatever you need, whatever your book needs, she can figure it out and help you on your way. I can’t say enough about her, though I fear she will become so popular it will become harder to schedule my work with her!
- Rangeley Wallace, Author, No Defense

After making the decision to write a memoir about my time living and working in Tanzania, I met Herta at a writing conference where I showed her an early draft of my book proposal. She took the time to briefly look at it, and I recognized immediately her sharp eye for details, her good instincts for what works and what doesn’t, and her capacity to be a trusted advisor and mentor to me in completing my book. I soon discovered that accidentally taking a seat next to Herta at a conference would be to my great fortune. She would become all this to me and more. Over the course of the last several years, I have worked with Herta mostly via email and Skype, as we live in different cities. Her editing skills are exceptional, and she has a good sense of when and how to push me in order to evoke my best work. My book is better and my writing is stronger because of her coaching. In short, I couldn’t have completed my manuscript without her. Herta remains my champion—something every writer needs.
- Julie Cutler, Author, Among the Maasai