“Marco is sharp-eyed, insightful, conscientious, and wise—an editor of exceptional skill and an ideal ally in the fight to take a manuscript from ‘just there’ to just right.”

MAX GLADSTONE
Hugo Award winner

"Marco brings his A-game to every project. His editorial instincts are first-rate and he's wonderful to work with, skillfully helping his writers make every story and every character the best possible version of itself."

MOLLY BARTON
Co-Founder & CEO, Reallm

“It was a delight to work with an editor who picked up the vision and direction of my story right away, saw how it could be coaxed farther in that direction, and identified other sources for me to read and watch that helped make the final story much more than it would have been. What's unnecessary to mention to anyone who knows Marco is that he has also been unfailingly courteous and kind to me.”

E. LILY YU
Hugo Award finalist
 

“Marco guided my book from raw draft to bookstore shelves. His precise suggestions on craft and structure helped me find the right shape for the story, and his instinct for storytelling saved the life of a vital character who had more stories to tell. Writing full time is the dream Marco helped make a reality.”

SETH DICKINSON
Dell Magazines Award winner

"Getting to work with Marco has been a fantastic experience. He elevates my writing by knowing just what to cut and where things are too lean. I’ve had the privilege of getting to work with him on five novels so far, and I’m continually grateful to the careful eye he brings to the process. Working with Marco has helped me improve to help make me a stronger author, and he has taught me techniques that I will use for the rest of my career.”

David R. Slayton
Author of the Adam Binder series

“Marco is brilliant at finding the possibilities inherent in a piece of writing. Instead of trying to drive a book toward his own vision, he meets every story on its own terms, discovers the best elements in each scene and character—often elements lying dormant or unnoticed—and helps to bring those to the surface. He has helped me transform routine secondary characters into unforgettable scene-stealers, and hum-drum set pieces into surprising developments. He does all of this while managing to keep a clear view of the whole novel, the themes and character arcs, the major dramatic beats and subtle emotional rhythms that are the breath and blood of every story. My books would not be what they are without his wide-ranging perspective, keen insight, and gentle guidance.”

BRIAN STAVELEY
David Gemmell Award Winner

“Marco was a huge help throughout the development of the script for our game. His suggestions helped us discover solutions to several pacing and characterization issues that we had been struggling with before he joined the project. Marco guided us through the process of figuring out how each scene would fit into the big picture, with a keen eye for finding the details that really make a scene feel special.”

JUSTIN KUIPER
Senior Writer, Route 59 Games

"Marco's got a great eye for character and story, zeroing in on opportunities to take a manuscript to the next level (as well as keeping readers from tossing the book across the room!). He's very open and collaborative, making for a very positive and productive experience. Teamwork, empathy, and deep knowledge of story are all hallmarks of Marco's approach to editing. You can trust Marco knows how to make your story bulletproof."

BRIAN ASMAN

“Marco's vision for what Steal The Stars could be was at that time unprecedented: a 14-part fiction podcast miniseries featuring over 30 performers and an accompanying novelization. The sheer number of moving parts would've daunted anyone. But Marco loves trying new things—like bringing theater and publishing together—and he knew we could pull it off. Marco helped oversee the Steal The Stars process with an editorial approach that was equal parts detail-oriented and joyful, and the success of the project—and the great time we had making it—are testament to that.”

MAC ROGERS
Award-winning audio-dramatist and playwright

"Marco Palmieri has a sharp eye for picking out fresh new talent. He's also not afraid to take chances on stories and writers that don't fit in the same tired old categories. His name is on any number of strange, diverse, and label-defying books from a plethora of talented authors, my own included." 

BROOKE BOLANDER
Nebula Award Winner

“As my editor at Tor, Marco helped me refine my ideas and avoid narrative pitfalls without ever sacrificing my vision and voice. His guidance and insights have stayed with me, going forward, and continue to make my work better.”

ILANA C. MYER

“Marco Palmieri has been instrumental in helping me improve my prose style, my story structures, and my character development. He possesses a rare editorial gift: the ability to see how myriad tiny details constitute the 'big picture.' He has been a patient teacher, an imaginative collaborator, and a shrewd judge of what does and does not work on the page. Every author should have the good fortune to work with an editor of Marco's unparalleled caliber.”

DAVID MACK
New York Times bestselling author

“Marco is a delight to work with and has an exceptional ability to tease out errors and gently encourage writers to question their choices. It was great to know my book was being guided through the editing process by such a capable pro.”

KAMERON HURLEY
Hugo Award winner

"Writing can be a lonely job, but working with Marco means you're never alone in the trenches. From the very start, he always seems to know exactly what a story needs and how to get you there. His eye for detail extends to everything from worldbuilding to characterization; his sense for structure and pacing is something I refer back to constantly. I recommend him to anyone looking to take their project to the next level, but more importantly, anyone looking to level up their writing for every project going forward, too."

K ARSENAULT RIVERA

“A great editor is like having a third lobe of your brain, or a writing angel sitting on your shoulder. Marco is like that—a whisper when you want it, a thunderbolt when you need it.  You can trust him—I do!”

STEVEN BARNES
New York Timesbestselling author

“More than simply an editor, Marco was and remains a mentor, an advocate, and a friend. What I remember most about the novels and short stories I wrote under his stewardship was the collaborative nature of the process. Along with keen insight and unwavering attention to the smallest details, Marco always brings a simple yet contagious passion to the job. He has a gift for challenging a writer to step up their game and deliver their best possible work, and his thoughtful, honest, and ‘firm hand on the tiller’ approach to editing never failed to encourage me. I look forward to working with him again at the earliest opportunity.”

DAYTON WARD
New York Times bestselling author

“Marco was a level-up editor for me. He took a novelette that I had put through months of workshop and other feedback, and while everyone else had given me valuable notes on what didn't work for the story, Marco was the person who unclogged my brain and released exactly what the story needed. I still sometimes try to study just how he did that. He didn't suggest plot or story elements, didn't want the characters to become different people than I made them; he just tried to listen to them deeply as human beings, discussed their histories and motivations with me just like you'd discuss people you knew in real life. That kind of empathy and insight are rare and valuable qualities in any person. Channelled into editing, they work something like magic. My characters did not feel violated or misunderstood, only motivated to show more sides of themselves on the page, because Marco was interested in hearing about them. No other editor has made my story grow so organically before.”

MIMI MONDAL
Hugo Award finalist

“Marco is a fantastic editor—taking a firm guiding hand when necessary while letting the authors' own voices have a chance to breathe.”

JULIAN YAP
Co-Founder, Realm

“Marco doesn’t simply see the diamond in the rough of a writer’s manuscript, he goes into the mine, editorial pickaxe over his shoulder, and hours or days later returns to the surface with the gleaming goods.”

LAWRENCE M. SCHOEN
Hugo Award finalist

“I was recommended to Marco Palmieri by a mutual friend, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.  Marco's in-depth assessment of my work was professional, thoughtful, and candid.  His recommendations for areas of improvement were immensely helpful and his sense of humor was a pleasure. Marco Palmieri is the real deal and I'm looking forward to working with him again soon.”

C. L. SCHNEIDER
Self-published author

“As a writer, what you need first and foremost from an editor is a combination of the following elements: honesty, knowledge, directness, integrity. You need a partner, a cheerleader, a collaborator, and I was lucky enough to find an editor who had all these qualities when I started working with Marco Palmieri.”

JAMES SWALLOW
New York Times bestselling author

“One of the best descriptions of an editor's job I've ever heard is that they make sure what is on the page is what I thought I was writing in my head when I did my draft.  This is what Marco Palmieri has always done for my work. I rarely find myself disagreeing with his notes, because they inevitably lead to a stronger product. He has a keen eye for my excesses, but always manages to suggest changes that remain true to my voice.  I trust him with my words, and as a writer, I can offer no higher praise.”

KIRSTEN BEYER
New York Times bestselling author

“Marco’s contribution to my professional writing career has been crucial. He commissioned and guided me through writing my first novel, provided the support and direction that turned my second novel from a mass of ideas into publishable work, and gave me the inspiration and then the freedom to work on my award-winning third novel. His editorial advice is clear and precise. He unerringly hits on ‘the problem’, and then suggests workable solutions. He is generous with ideas, and creates a supportive and collaborative working space which is aimed at producing both the best book possible and a happy writer. He is practical, creative, and, most importantly, fun to work with—even when he’s holding you to a deadline!”

UNA McCORMACK
British Fantasy Award finalist

“Marco Palmieri is one of the best editors in the business, hands down. No one cuts through exposition or tightens loose ends like Marco—he has a clear vision for each project he works on, to get a book market-ready ASAP. I am a much better writer for having working with him—and he's a nice guy, too!”

S. D. PERRY

“I count myself beyond lucky that I got to work with Marco on my very first novel. Not only is he an immensely talented editor and story-crafter, with decades of experience and killer instincts, he's also a patient, kind, and generous human being. He helped me take risks, try alternate approaches, and ask all sorts of silly questions, all while making sure I felt safe and supported. Collaborators like Marco are to be cherished - I absolutely cannot wait to work with him again. (Also, get a little whiskey in him and try to stump him on obscure Star Trek trivia, I DARE YOU.)”

NAT CASSIDY
Award-winning playwright & novelist