About Kat
Hello! My name is Kat Harvey. Welcome to my website.
I am a book editor, specialising in sex, sleuths, swords and spaceships. I work on fiction and narrative non-fiction books. Reading and writing from a young age has made me passionate about developing books. I love that my work allows me to read so many books before anybody else does. It's even better knowing that my editorial training and experience help those books to soar above the crowded market place. For a lifelong bibliophile, working with authors and being an integral part of the publishing process is endlessly rewarding.
I live in Scotland with my two cats and one dog. When I'm not editing, I will be devouring a wide range of genres and subjects by reading, writing or watching movies, TV and documentaries. I like to get hands-on too and can be found dressing up in historical costume for living history/educational events, shooting my longbow, helping out on movie sets, attending sci-fi/fantasy conventions and exploring the great outdoors. New experiences and adventures are always on the agenda.
I love owls which is why I have chosen one as my logo. This little guy, the Ural owl, is my favourite. My work space is surrounded by all kinds of owl paraphernalia. The owl is the symbol of Athena, goddess of wisdom and knowledge -- attributes that are fundamental to the art of editing and proofreading, so I am well supported in my endeavours.
Training and Professional Development
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Chapterhouse Proofreading and Editorial Skills
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SfEP* Proofreading 1
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SfEP* Copy-editing 1
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SfEP* Editing with Word
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SfEP* Introduction to Fiction Editing
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SfEP* Brush up your Grammar
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SfEP* Annual Conference 2018 and mini conferences 2017, 2018, 2019
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CIEP Coaching Skills for Fiction Editors
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Club Ed Developmental Editing 1 to 6
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Club Ed Developmental Editing for Nonfiction
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Professional Editors' Guild 30th Anniversary Online Conference 2023
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IPEd Conference 2023
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Write Successful Crime Fiction
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CreateSpace & Kindle Self-Publishing Masterclass
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TEFL
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Introduction to Screenwriting, Napier University, Edinburgh
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World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention: Montreal (2009), London (2014), Helsinki (2017), Dublin (2019), Glasgow (2024)
* The SfEP was the previous name for the UK editing and proofreading professional body, now the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP).
Kat Harvey is one of our strongest editorial team members. She is thorough and efficient in her method.
Luna Press Publishing, award-winning small press
I have been nothing but impressed with Kat Harvey's editorial prowess. She helped make my story the best it could be; let her do the same for you!
Anthony Laken, The Infinity Machine trilogy
Kat takes great care to ensure that she completes her work to deadlines and undertakes the initial ground work with necessary diligence ensuring that she fully understands an author’s intentions. Her suggestions are insightful but are only ever made with the weight of experience and she maintains a great respect for an author’s style and work.
Alistair Hall, Bears in the North
The edit was brilliant and picked up on all those things that slip past you when you become totally embroiled in your own work. The formatting skills and consistency you brought to the process will make for a sharper, punchier novel. Oh and thanks for the advice on genre and pace.
Brian Ledsom, Back of Beyond
Kat’s editing was attentive to even minor details. She picked up on inconsistencies and repetitions and added recommendations for change based on her own extensive knowledge and insight.
I am eternally grateful to her for the transformation of the manuscript. Her efficiency in delivering on time, and in advance, was remarkable.
Anna Koenig, ESL author
I cannot thank you enough for the work you have put in, in making my dream of completing and publishing this book come true. Without your professional eye for spotting my, all too frequent, errors, your advice and your questioning of the parts, which if they had been left, would have confused the reader, this book may never have been ready to face my discerning readership.
Hiram Dunn, Borderers in Uniform from 1689
I employed the wonderful services of a professional editor, Kat Harvey of Athena Copy, who I cannot recommend highly enough and who has been amazing throughout this final process, a font of knowledge for a literary Neanderthal like myself.
Lee-Michael Keegan, Dr Magnesium Mg2+
