SOME OF THE BOOKS I’VE WORKED ON

TESTIMONIALS

“Rayhané worked with me on the revision of my book-length memoir. She was thoughtful and meticulous in her reading of the manuscript, sharing generous notes with me, and we had a helpful and encouraging conversation. She made incisive suggestions on the structure and timeline of the narrative--stuff I would never have seen or figured out otherwise! Most importantly, Rayhané balanced a seasoned industry perspective while respecting my particular artistic vision for the story. She also helped me do a makeover on my query which, well, worked, because the book’s going to be published. If you are a writer with a full manuscript needing a seasoned industry perspective, someone with industry knowledge and a deep respect for art and literature, I would recommend Rayhané wholeheartedly.”

Wayne Scott, author of The Maps They Gave Us: One Marriage, Reimagined

 

"You know how when you’re deep at work on your own book you ‘can’t see the forest through the trees’? Well, Rayhané can see your trees, trust me—each one of them—and she’s got every bit of your forest under watch, from the canopy down to the dirt. Her eagle eyes illuminate your words in a hot spot, and she holds your book in her hands like it’s a treasure meant for careful deconstruction and splendid refurbishment. Working with Rayhané has been both the dreamy collaboration and sharp kick in the pants I’ve always wanted. She is detailed, instructive, attentive, generous, considerate, blunt, decisive, and above all an enthusiast. Her edits on my book have helped it grow and transform in ways I’d never imagined. I’m so grateful for her instruction and give her my highest recommendation."

Liz Asch, author of Your Salt on My Lips

 

“Rayhané is a skilled, smart, articulate editor. I appreciate her straight-up, direct feedback. She helped me shrink a significant chunk of my manuscript where I couldn’t see what to pull. She made brilliant suggestions about alternative ways to structure my book. She saw the spine in my manuscript. And her query letter edits were extraordinary. She knows the industry and what works, what doesn’t. Rayhané understands the creative side and the business side—a combination that makes her an excellent guide through the murky process of getting a book published.”

Anne Gudger, author of The Fifth Chamber

"Rayhané is the best: dedicated, insightful, and unafraid of tough love. She spent a great deal of time on my work, going over it with a keen eye and editorial savvy. Especially helpful were her structural suggestions, something that truly needed help. But most important of all, she is easy to talk to, our discussions assisting me to clarify my own vision of my work."

Mary Wysong-Haeri, writer and professor

“Working with Rayhané is a hands-on literary experience; she is willing to swim around inside your work with you and pull out what’s best. She sees how stories are meant to move in the world. She is the most brilliant editor I have ever worked with, and I love entering the creative process with her — I trust her instincts with my whole body. There is no one I'd rather work with. On the planet.”

Lidia Yuknavitch, bestselling author of Thrust, Verge, The Book of JoanThe Small Backs of ChildrenThe Misfit’s Manifesto, Dora: A Headcase, and The Chronology of Water

"With a keen eye for the superfluous, an attuned ear for rhythm, and an uncanny feel for flow and plot, Rayhané was able to turn my first novel into a work I am proud to call my own, and my non-fiction into concise, readable bullets. She is the complete package as an editor and a delight to work with."

Jonathan Weisman, political correspondent at The New York Times; author of (((Semitism))): Being Jewish in America in the Age of Trump and No. 4 Imperial Lane

“I can count on Rayhané's editorial insights to shape my work from the very beginning of a project. For both my books, her feedback has been essential in refining my ideas and voice into their strongest, sharpest form."

Tajja Isen, former Editor in Chief of Catapult Magazine; author of Some of My Best Friends: And Other White Lies I’ve Been Told; co-editor of The World As We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate

 

"Rayhané is brilliantly intuitive when it comes to boring into the heart of the story to find out what is most important; where the nuances lie; and how to craft the language so the narrative voice is unique, sharp, and pulsing with energy. She has an uncanny eye for structure and a pitch-perfect ear for tone. Rayhané has a fierce work ethic, no-BS style, and a huge heart that has made me a better writer. Her passion for helping writers shows in her diverse stable of authors’ stunning books. She will not only make your work better, she will make you a better writer. It has been a gift to work with her."

Devin Murphy, bestselling author of The Boat Runner and Tiny Americans

 

"One of the most difficult aspects of being a writer, no matter where you are in your career, is finding the right people to share your work with for feedback and critique. I feel extremely lucky that I have had the good fortune to have found Rayhané. She is insightful and astute, able to see both the big picture and the small ones. She knows strong, compelling writing, and she also knows better than most what sells in today’s market."

Kerry Cohen, bestselling author of Loose Girl, Lush, and Crazy for You 

 

"Rayhané’s editorial skills help make my writing the best it can be. She respects my vision and helps me find the best way to express it, with both her excellent ear for language, and her deep understanding of narrative structure. Her criticisms and suggestions are sensible, wise, and inspired; and she is a wonderful guide to the uncertain waters of the literary marketplace."

Janet Beard, bestselling author of The Atomic City Girls and The Ballad of Laurel Springs

  

"I feel fortunate and lucky to have Rayhané help me make my books editor-ready. She is detailed and considerate; and edits without interfering (I don't know how she does that, but she does). She pushes hard to make the book better and invests her time, energy, and soul into every book she edits. Her passion for stories is evident in how she works with writers."

Amulya Malladi, bestselling author of The Mango SeasonA Breath of Fresh Air, Serving Crazy with Curry, The Sound of Language, Song of the Cuckoo Bird, A House for Happy Mothers, The Copenhagen Affair, and the Gabriel Praest series

 

"Rayhané's guidance throughout the process of crafting my book was indispensable. She has this profound ability to usher you through breaking down your most complex ideas into accessible writing without losing substance or edge. Though she is firm in her suggestions, her care with words almost always leaves you walking away from her edits feeling even more confident in your story. To top it all off, she's an incredibly warm and inviting person to talk to, and she has a wealth of knowledge to share about how this industry works. My book is so much better because of her."

Hari Ziyad, screenwriter and author of Black Boy Out of Time

 

"What writers need most in an editor is someone who will tell them the truth about the state of their manuscripts, but in a manner that both inspires them to reach higher and gives them the thoughtful, insightful feedback that is a blueprint to do so. Excellent readers, editors, critics are few and far between, but Rayhané has the gift. She’s an astute editor who sees exactly what a manuscript needs, where it’s weak and where it’s shining. I had the privilege of working with Rayhané on two lengthy nonfiction book proposals and an essay collection. The care and thought she invested in each project were obvious, and each project was vastly improved for her honest, sharp observations. Aside from her extraordinary skill with manuscripts, she loves literature and believes in writers. She shows this love, this faith, and her brilliance on the pages of each manuscript."

Maureen Stanton, author of Body Leaping Backward: Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood and Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: An Insider’s Look at the World of Flea Markets, Antiques, and Collecting

 

"Rayhané was able to help me shape a raw idea into a winning proposal and a successful book project. She never gave up on me, even when I was ready to throw in the towel. She inspired and pushed me to dig deeper and write better. Her astute editing skills are matched only by her keen understanding of the publishing world and how to craft the right pitch to the right publishers. She is a detailed editor whose instincts are spot on."

Barbie Latza Nadeau, Rome Bureau Chief of The Daily Beast and former Rome Bureau Chief of Newsweek Magazine; author of The Godmother: Murder, Vengeance, and the Bloody Struggle of Mafia WomenRoadmap to Hell: Sex, Drugs and Guns on the Mafia Coast; and Angel Face: Sex, Murder and the Inside Story of Amanda Knox

 

"Rayhané recognized the worth of our project immediately and worked tirelessly with my co-writer and me to put forward our best book. Editing for one passionate author can be a delicate dance, but corralling and inspiring two can be more like the work of a whirling dervish. Her patience, knowledge, and experience proved invaluable. She knows what works and brings out the best in you with ease. She is absolutely priceless!"

Margaret Witt, retired U.S. Air Force Major and author of Tell: Love, Defiance, and the Military Trial at the Tipping Point for Gay Rights

 

"I've worked with Rayhané on several books and through all phases of development, from the messy first draft all the way to the final proofs while collaborating with a publisher. Rayhané has an eye for taking a story to the next level no matter where it's at. She can work at the level of the sentence, and also understands how to improve a story arc that spans hundreds of pages. She thinks about theme and character. She appreciates humor and gravitas. What I love about working with Rayhané is how she doesn't forget what is working when helping you lift up what isn't—she's able to hold the whole story in her mind at once. Any writer is lucky to work with her."

Yuvi Zalkow, author of I Only Cry with Emoticons and A Brilliant Novel in the Works

 

"Rayhané brings together all the best traits one could seek, combining a truly encouraging and inspiring voice for emerging authors with a critical eye for detail and a capacity for frank and honest feedback. I owe tremendous thanks to her as a coach and collaborator."

An Xiao Mina, author of The Hanmoji Handbook: Your Guide to the Chinese Language Through Emoji and Memes to Movements: How the World’s Most Viral Media Is Changing Social Protest and Power; co-editor of Ai Weiwei: Spatial Matters – Art, Architecture, and Activism

“Rayhané is a brilliant, big-hearted editor with impeccable story sense and sharp instincts. She also happens to be genuinely delightful to work with and very much able to see the forest for all the trees, whether that’s helping tease out a plot or navigating the publishing world. Her combination of assurance, savvy, and ability to spur her writers onto greater ambitions is a true gift, especially for those making their first foray into publishing. She elevates every piece of writing she touches, and I feel incredibly lucky to work with her.”

Te-Ping Chen, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of Land of Big Numbers