Editorial Operations Consulting for Publishing Companies

Your editorial team is stretched thin. Deadlines are tight. AI is changing everything. And, somewhere between acquiring manuscripts and shipping products, things are breaking.

I help publishing companies build editorial operations that work—without burning out your team.

AI-empowered editorial workflows

I help publishing teams integrate AI where it actually helps: first-pass reviews, metadata generation, automated formatting, and quality checks. I build workflows that reduce manual labor without sacrificing editorial judgment.

Automated editorial pipelines

I design and implement systems using tools like Smartsheet and Power Automate to track manuscripts from submission to publication. No more spreadsheet chaos. No more "what's going on with this book?" emails.

Fractional editorial director

Need editorial leadership but not ready for a full-time hire? I step in to manage workflows, mentor editors, build systems, and keep projects moving. On a contract basis. For as long as you need.

Book a free 30-minute consultation now. No pitch. No pressure. Just a conversation about what's possible.

Who I am

I'm Catherine Forrest. I've spent 20+ years in editorial leadership, most recently as an editorial director overseeing workflows, teams, and publication pipelines. I'm ELS-credentialed, and I understand the pressure of balancing quality with speed.

I also build AI-assisted workflows. I'm not afraid of the technology—I work with it. I know exactly where it adds value and where it doesn't.

How it works

Free consultation (30 minutes). We talk through what's working, what's breaking, and what you need. I'll ask about your team size, title volume, current tools, and biggest pain points.
Reserve a time → Book your free 30-minute consultation here.
Proposal. If there's a fit, I'll send a proposal outlining the scope of work, timeline, and investment.
Work. I build, implement, train, or step in as needed. You get a system that works, documentation to maintain it, and a team that actually uses it.