Thoughtful editing. Professional production. Your book, still in your voice.
Lioness Press helps independent authors turn completed manuscripts into polished, publication-ready books without surrendering ownership of their work or losing the voice that made the story theirs in the first place.
Founded by editor and author Anne Jones, Lioness Press launched in Hendersonville, NC, in 2018, and has since grown into a fully remote practice serving independent authors everywhere. Lioness Press provides copyediting, proofreading, editorial assessments, book formatting, and practical publishing guidance for writers navigating the independent-publishing process.
With more than 25 years of experience in publishing, editing, document production, design, and quality assurance—including nearly two decades as a freelance editor for Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Sterling Publishing, working on more than 1,200 books—Anne understands that a manuscript needs more than corrected punctuation before it becomes a finished book.
An Editor Who Understands the Writer’s Side
Anne is also a novelist writing as Williamaye Jones, holding an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University and a BA in Literature from UNC-Asheville. She understands how personal a manuscript can be and how difficult it is to hand your work to someone else.
The goal of editing at Lioness Press is not to rewrite an author into someone they’re not. It’s to identify what may be weakening the manuscript, explain why it matters, help the author make informed decisions about the work.
Feedback is thoughtful, direct, grounded in the needs of the story.
Professional Support Without the Mystery
Independent publishing can feel unnecessarily complicated. Lioness Press was created to make the process clearer.
Every project includes a defined scope, transparent pricing, realistic turnaround times, direct communication. There are no anonymous production teams nor any one-size-fits-all editing packages. Each manuscript is reviewed according to the service selected and the needs of the individual project.
Lioness Press works with authors who want to publish professionally, understand their choices, and remain in control of their books.
From Manuscript to Finished Book
Services include:
- Editorial assessments
- Copyediting and proofreading
- Print and ebook formatting
- Independent-publishing guidance
- Author resources and practical publishing tools
Whether you are preparing your first book or improving the publication process for your next one, Lioness Press can help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Your story remains yours. Lioness Press helps you finish it well.