Tamara L. Austin

Hi, I’m Tamara Austin—a certified freelance editor based in Southern Illinois. I specialize in editing nonfiction books, blogs, and articles, with a trained eye for recipe editing as well. My academic background and diverse professional experience provide a broad knowledge base that enhances every project I undertake.

About Me

My Approach

Whether I’m refining a historical article or polishing a cookbook, I’m committed to preserving your voice while improving clarity, consistency, and readability. I believe that good editing respects the writer and serves the reader.

Off the Page

Background

Life away from editing and writing is full of action, dirt under the nails, and fresh air. My husband and I farm in southern Illinois, raising registered cattle, growing hay, and managing woodland for diversity. I also garden, keep chickens, and bow hunt. When I’m not working at my desk or on the farm, I enjoy cycling, hiking, camping, and kayaking. I’ve also competed in eventing, dressage, and show jumping, and once served as a riding director at a summer camp in Wisconsin.

My path to editing has been anything but traditional, and I think that’s a strength. Before becoming a freelance editor in 2021, I worked as a long- and short-term substitute teacher, certified to teach history, political science, sociology, English literature, grammar, and social studies in. The shift to editing was a longtime goal, finally realized during the pandemic.

I hold:

• Two editing certificates from the Poynter Institute

• A B.A. in History from Eastern Illinois University, with additional coursework in sociology, political science, and education

• An A.A.S. in Agricultural Business, with further credits in business, accounting, and economics