Testimonials
Holly didn’t just help me improve the quality of my book, she helped me grow as a writer and an artist. I would not be who I am today without her assistance, and my books certainly wouldn’t be as good as they are. Holly is the best editor I could have hoped to meet, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to make a career out of the written word. Thank you, Holly!
I first worked with Holly when she was doing a little freelance work on the side. I went in expecting a self-important, clinical, and unpleasant person who wore their degree like a badge of honor, but what I ended up with was a mentor. She was an absolute joy to work with, a wonderful, charming, friendly person whose skills strongly spoke for themselves. Over the year I worked with her on my project, we did argue from time to time, but it was always amicable, and I dare say I learned more from her than any teacher in school. I’ve jealously guarded my work in the hopes that someday I’d find her again so I could work with her again, specifically because I trust no one else to handle my material as well as Holly did.
Working with Holly was a great experience. She is open-minded, ready to both compromise and suggest new, interesting ideas. I’ve learned a lot and broadened my writing skills, which is very important, as I am a non-native English language author.
I cannot thank Holly enough for the hard work she put into my book. With the text, footnotes, and the ending bibliography, she had a lot to keep track of. She not only did an excellent job editing, she even helped with some fact checking.
Holly has brought a writer’s sensibility and a sharp copyeditor’s eye to a wide variety of projects. She is especially good at adapting herself to the needs of her clients, whether that means providing a light copy-edit for established authors, helping to shape manuscripts for inexperienced writers intending to self-publish, or working with students to give them the foundational skills that will see them through high school or college. She is patient and easy to work with, and she commits herself to the success of her client’s project. She is an ideal answer to anyone in need of experience and skill in an editor, tutor, or writing partner.
Dr. Victoria Simmons, PhD
College Instructor
Holly is not only a meticulous editor but provides feedback in a direct and compassionate manner. She carefully corrects errors and explains areas for growth to the writer. Her feedback is as important as her corrections and assists the writer in continued growth and development
Dr. Heather McNamee
Arkansas State University History Department
“Hanna’s Birthday” deeply affected me. The plot was interesting and unique, and the characters and their actions made me want to invest more into those I love. The twist Holly Simmons created drove deep the themes of family and what really matters. I loved this story and I hope its lessons always stay with me and make me more deliberate in my interactions.
Holly Simmons’ writing is original and thought-provoking with a true sense of wonder. It’s always a treat to immerse myself in her unique perspective. I know I’ll never look at the Titanic the same way again after reading her story “The Big Beast on the Ocean.”
Katie Hanna
Author & regular contributor to Havok Magazine
After working with Holly Simmons twice, I have had the pleasure of seeing two sides to her writing. One was a twist on historical fiction, and the other was a fantastical contemporary work. She writes smoothly and uses her words carefully, giving the reader intense imagery and amazing dialogue. I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future. She often does the unexpected and it throws me off every time. Her plot twists are what sets her apart from a lot of other writers.
Alex Silvius
Editor: "The Depths We'll Go To" & "The Heights We'll Fly To" anthologies
My granddaughter was struggling in high school English class, with analyzing readings, critical thinking and writing papers. We asked Holly to tutor her in formatting the papers. She worked with her on multiple occasions. Holly was able to break the concepts down into ideas that my granddaughter was able to understand. She showed her how to understand the key takeaways in a reading, and how to format a paper. My granddaughter used this advice through the rest of high school and did well on all her papers.
My granddaughter also struggled with her French class, a language Holly had studied. She helped her with learning the basics of grammar and pronunciation. She was again able to break concepts up and clearly explain each step.
Holly is a people person. She listens well and has an easy manner when teaching. She can break concepts into small enough pieces that one can see the building process. I definitely recommend her.
My granddaughter also struggled with her French class, a language Holly had studied. She helped her with learning the basics of grammar and pronunciation. She was again able to break concepts up and clearly explain each step.
Holly is a people person. She listens well and has an easy manner when teaching. She can break concepts into small enough pieces that one can see the building process. I definitely recommend her.
L. Greason
Student's guardian