A Brief Bio (Warren Layberry)

I’ve been making a living as a full-time freelance editor and ghostwriter on Vancouver Island for more than twelve years. In that time, I’ve worked with traditional publishers such as Heritage, Touchwood, and Brindle & Glass; self-publishing firms such as FriesenPress, Tellwell Publishing, and IndiePublishing Group; and of course, directly with countless authors.

Five years ago, I also signed on with Reedsy.com, which has afforded me the opportunity to connect with clients around the world.

I’ve had clients of my own go on to find traditional publishers, and many of the books I’ve worked on for traditional publishers have found their way onto the BC Bestsellers List. I find this all incredibly gratifying and cannot imagine a job that would suit me better.

I derive a profound sense of purpose from the work that I do and consider it a privilege to be trusted by authors with their manuscripts.

– Warren Layberry (Feb. 2024)

Some Books I’ve Worked On

I’ve had the privilege to work on so many terrific books over the years that those mentioned below are but a small sample.

Fiction

One Good Thing by Rebecca Hendry
(Brindle & Glass, 2018)

It Begins in Betrayal by Iona Whishaw (Touchwood, 2018)

Meteorites by Julie Paul (Brindle & Glass, 2019)

A Deceptive Devotion by Iona Whishaw
(Touchwood, 2019)

A Match Made for Murder by Iona Whishaw
(Touchwood, 2020)

Nonfiction

E.J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island by Robert Amos (Touchwood, 2018)

The Bulldog & the Helix by Shane Morrow
(Heritage House, 2019)

The Flora and Fauna of Coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest by Collin Varner (Heritage House, 2021)

Failed to Return: Canada’s Bomber Command Sacrifice in the Second World War by Keith C. Ogilvie
(Heritage House, 2021)

New World Dreams: Canadian Pacific Railway and the Golden Northwest by David Lawrence Jones

(Heritage House, 2023)

R. Douglas McBride

Ghostwriting
Trajectory: My Twelve-Year Battle with the Canadian Armed Forces (FriesenPress, 2015)

In the summer of 2014, I approached Warren with a manuscript that I knew needed help. I had an important story to tell about how the Canadian military had abused its power and unfairly derailed the career of a promising young officer who happened to be my son.

This had all started in 2001. As a lawyer, I could clearly see inconsistencies in the trumped-up case being made and was appalled at the heavy-handed tactics being used to force the issue. Our fight with the Canadian Armed Forces lasted twelve punishing years, and when I approached Warren, I was looking to produce something that would speak to what my son and I had been through and maybe help make a difference.

Unfortunately, the manuscript I had produced was not working. It was full of legal arguments, analysis, and opinions, but it was dense and disjointed and hard to follow for anyone who hadn’t been through the twelve years I’d just been through. After performing an evaluation on the manuscript, Warren put forward a number of possible courses of action we could follow. One such course of action involved abandoning the manuscript wholesale, starting from scratch, and telling it as a coherent narrative from beginning to end.

I liked the idea immediately, but I knew I wasn’t up to the task. Apart from the fact that I was too close to the story to see it clearly, I’m no writer. Warren offered to ghostwrite if I made myself available to answer questions and fill in details where I could. It was the perfect solution.

In the months that followed Warren was dogged and insightful, and his story instincts were always right on the money. There were hundreds of email threads back and forth, and his questions were always on point – by the time we had finished, even I had a better sense for what had occurred. What I most appreciated was Warren’s ability to really capture my voice and speak on my behalf. Honestly, I could not have asked for a better experience. The book is everything I could have hoped for, and I feel that those who have read it really understand what my son and I went through, not just on a legal or technical level, but on a human level as well.

Gary Shapero – Developmental Editing / Copyediting
Homogenized Sapien
(Unpublished Manuscript, 2024)

I am a first-time author with the good fortune of working with Warren Layberry this past year on my
novel, The Homogenized Sapien. Warren worked on both the developmental and copy edits. I cannot
speak more glowingly of his skills as an editor.

On the first round, Warren succinctly directed me on the deficiencies within my draft – he couldn’t have
been more accurate- and in doing so, focused my storyline and opened it up to far greater development.
During the copy edit, he once again identified weaknesses that once corrected, pulled the story together and made for a more honest read.

His notes, formatting and attention to detail were exemplary. His editorial wordsmithing was in tune
and insightful.

Warren was communicative and instructive as he skilfully helped me tell my story, in a more
comprehensive and refined way. He was professional and trustful in all aspects of the editorial process.

My manuscript is a profoundly better read for all the efforts Warren poured into his editing.
I will most certainly return to Warren Layberry for ongoing editing with future works.

Marijke van de Water, B.Sc., DHMS

Developmental Editing / Illustration
Healing Dogs Their Way
(Sapphire Publishing, 2018)

Warren was the editor for my third health book. I couldn’t have made a better choice. Out of any editors that I have worked with in the past he was by far the most competent and reliable, as well as professional. I found his editing style to be concise, organized and skilled. In addition, he is knowledgeable on a variety of different subjects, enabling him to give valuable input and ensure accuracy no matter the topic.

All of Warren’s communications were prompt and effective which is so very important with book writing. So many times work projects get held up due to communication delays, untimely emails, and lack of attention. This is not the case with Warren; he was focussed and dedicated to the project from beginning to end.

And, as an extra bonus, Warren doubled as the illustrator and drew numerous well-done sketches for the book as well.

With his experience and expertise in writing and editing, as well as the ins and outs of the book industry Warren is more than qualified to help any author produce a top quality product.

Ian Sharpe – Developmental Editing
The All Father Paradox
(Outland Entertainment, 2018)

Warren is a superlative editor, able to quickly grasp and grapple with the vagaries of the authorial mind. He works quickly, incisively and diligently but most importantly, creates a rare sense of partnership and involvement that goes beyond mere words. Highly recommended.

Joel Nedecky – Developmental Editing
The Broken Detective

(Run Amok Crime, 2025)

Warren provided a developmental edit for my debut novel, The Broken Detective. His feedback was thoughtful and direct without being discouraging, and he made some great suggestions to improve the plot, character development, continuity, dialogue, pacing, and quality of the prose.

We worked together throughout the summer of 2022, talking often, and Warren went above and beyond to make the manuscript as good as it could be. He provided detailed in-text feedback, an editorial letter, and responded to emails and a Zoom call weeks and months after his editorial duties had been fulfilled.

His expertise is a huge reason why The Broken Detective was shortlisted for a 2023 Arthur Ellis Award, and why the novel found a home with a publisher.

More testimonials can be found at the bottom of my Reedsy Marketplace Profile

Gmail: darkwaterediting

Reedsy profile: reedsy.com/warren-layberry