Nice stuff people have said about me
“Kimmy Beach was the final reader and editor of my book Tiny Lights for Travellers before publication and her eye for the smallest errors to the broadest thematic confusion was invaluable. Thanks to her careful and multiple considerations of the text, the book went out into the world in the best possible shape.” Naomi K. Lewis (UAP). Shortlisted for the Governor-General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Winner of the Vine Award for Canadian Jewish Literature: Nonfiction. Winner of the Wilfrid Eggleston Award for Nonfiction. Winner of the Pinksy Givon Family Prize for Nonfiction. Finalist for the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Award)
“I was delighted with Kimmy's work on my short fiction manuscript. Her insight was invaluable, and her recommendations—from line edits to more substantive suggestions—really made my words sing.” Hollay Ghadery (author of Fuse: A memoir of mixed-race identity and mental illness)
“If you ever needed a perceptive reader for your manuscript, an editor and encourager as well, Kimmy Beach is just the best possible choice I can recommend. I enjoyed every moment of working with her on my short story collection. Kimmy is amazing! She knew what phrases and sentences worked well; she fished out bits that dulled my writing and guided me in polishing them. By the time I reworked the parts she’d suggested I review, I felt proud of the shape my work has taken. Kimmy understood the rigour demanded of writers and so she helped me further appreciate the nuance that defined the particularity of each of the stories in my collection, while retaining its overacting theme. With her editorial assistance, I realized that I had a collection that readers wouldn’t mind spending their hard-earned money on. And did I mention that she delivered within the agreed schedule? I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Kimmy to anyone who is serious about having a professional editor go through their manuscript.” Uche Peter Umez (author of Aridity of Feelings and there’s more)
“Kimmy Beach is a wonderfully insightful editor. She approached my novel, The Rogue Wave, with a clear understanding of what I was trying to do, and a firm sense of what I needed to do to realize my own vision. The edits she suggested were thoughtful and carefully considered: she was not afraid to suggest some radical cuts, but she made me feel that she respected my narrative and was committed to seeing it shed its fat, flush its arteries, and leap off the page. I recommend her services without reservation.” Paul Nicholas Mason
'“Kimmy unearthed underneath issues in my long poem [Selah] – not snags in individual fragments (of course she did that too) but subtleties that reverberated throughout. The truly lovely part was that she didn’t fix my writing. She indicated what needed attention and gave me feedback on my responses. Kimmy pointed out parts that worked and articulated the how and why of them. She was professional, friendly, and generous.” Nora Gould, Selah (Brick Books. Shortlisted for the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, and for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry)
“Kimmy Beach is the best investment I’ve ever given to myself. She saw what was good and real and didn’t make me feel small. She gave me the best of her experience, her humour, and her soul. Kimmy helped me see the cracks in my words, the way things don’t tumble but stumble. She gave me the courage to believe that I could get it published.” Norma Dunning, Annie Muktuk and Other Stories (University of Alberta Press. Finalist for the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize. Shortlisted for the Howard O’Hagan Award for Short Story. Winner of the INDIE Book of the Year Award for Short Fiction. Winner of the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. Shortlisted for the Book Publishers Association of Alberta—Trade Fiction)
“Kimmy Beach is passionate about editing, wildly talented, and a great communicator. From the first email to the final zoom meeting, Kimmy explained the editing process, showed me how to sharpen my narrative, and made me feel challenged and enthusiastic about my written work. As an author of several books, Kimmy will inspire you to become a better writer. Thanks, Kimmy, for editing my manuscript. I look forward to working with you again.” K L Grace
“From the moment I chatted with Kimmy about my non-fiction book project, I trusted her. She is an honest and open human, a sensitive and detailed editor. I’ll be forever grateful for both her line edits and her structural advice. My book is far better for the detailed attention and honest conversation.” Carissa Halton, Little Yellow House: Finding Community in a Changing Neighbourhood (University of Alberta Press. Shortlisted for the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize)
“Kimmy Beach is a reader of rare generosity and insight. I am immensely grateful for her editorial eye on my manuscript, which I am confident helped it win the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry. In fact, it was Kimmy who helped me develop the work into a book-length series after she spotted an early poem in filling Station. She believed in the work before I did! Her criticisms were clear and specific, with plenty of positive feedback, while still somehow never letting anything slide. Do your manuscript a favour and work with Kimmy.” Jeremy Stewart, Hidden City (Invisible Publishing. Winner of the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry)
“I hired the generous Kimmy Beach to do a manuscript evaluation of the novel. Her generous and thoughtful evaluation was beyond any of my expectations. She is a joy to work with and I would like to highly recommend her services to all of my writing friends!” Rayanne Haines, Stained with the Colours of Sunday Morning (Inanna Press)