Mary Wilcox
Vice President and
Associate Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Books for Young Readers

“In my ten years of working with Cynthia Platt, she has been an abidingly professional, creative, and hard-working editorial partner! Her insights into the craft and business of writing have helped to bring the best possible books to the widest audience.”
Bridget Heos
Author of numerous books for
young readers including the
Just Like Us series, Shell Beak Tusk, Stronger Than Steel, and the Mustache Baby series

“Editing is the most important part of the writing process. As a writer, I reach the point where I know the manuscript could be better, but I don’t know how. That’s when I need a REAL editor. Cynthia has been my editor for five years. I can always trust her to ask important questions, tease out clarifying details, and provide ideas for sections that drag. Her enthusiasm for stories shows, and she makes the process fun while getting results! After working with Cynthia, I read the revised manuscript and think, ‘So that’s what it needed (quite a lot actually).’ The difference really shows.”
Rebecca Rupp
Author of The Return of the Dragon, After Eli, The Waterstone,
Sarah Simpson’s Rules for Living,
Octavia Boone’s Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything
and more
“Cynthia Platt has shepherded me through many books and I couldn't have done without her. She is an extraordinary editor and writing facilitator: insightful, knowledgeable, honest, creative, and—you know how nervous and sensitive we writers are—supportive and kind-hearted. She has a unique ability to make one’s writing better and bigger than it was before. ‘A good editor,’ someone once said, ‘is like tinsel to a Christmas tree—they add the right amount of sparkle without being gaudy.’ Cynthia makes us sparkle.”
Elizabeth Rusch
Author of numerous books for
young readers including
Ready, Set…Baby!, Impact,
Eruption!, and The Next Wave
“I have worked with editor Cynthia Platt for more than five years on a variety of books. She is wise, thoughtful, skillful and delightful. She’s the kind of editor who helps you bring out the best in your project based on your vision of it. And somehow she always seems to find really graceful solutions to the most nagging trouble spots. Highly recommended!”

Kelly Sonnack
Senior Literary Agent
Andrea Brown Literary Agency

“Cynthia is a dynamite editor with a keen eye and the ability to see how a manuscript needs strengthening. She’s wonderful to work with.”

Maria Gianferrari
Author of Penny & Jelly: The School Show and Penny & Jelly: Slumber Under the Stars as well as
numerous other picture books

“Cynthia is a dream editor! I am so fortunate to have had the chance to work with her both on my debut, Penny & Jelly the School Show, as well as its companion book, Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars. Cynthia’s feedback was smart, insightful, and spot on. Not only is Cynthia a brilliant editor, she is also extremely organized and very responsive. Her prompt replies were in stark contrast to the general glacial pace of the publishing industry. I would relish the chance to work with her again!”

Kay Frydenborg
Author of Wild Horse Scientists, Chocolate: Sweet Science and
Dark Secrets of the World’s
Favorite Treat,
and A Dog in the Cave:
The Wolves Who Made Us Human

“I have had the great privilege of working with Cynthia on three nonfiction books for young adult and middle grade readers, all published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All have received multiple starred reviews and honors, and I can honestly say that this would never have happened without Cynthia’s invaluable input at every stage of writing and revision.

“Cynthia brings a remarkable set of skills to the business of helping writers shape their books into the very clearest, most engaging version of what the author meant to say. She is knowledgeable and experienced in multiple genres, both nonfiction and fiction, for all ages. She has the ability to envision a book’s natural shape and organization when the author may be too close to the material to see it; she is discerning in all elements that go into making a great book, from the smallest details to the big picture. She gets it. Above all, she’s respectful of the author’s vision, but unafraid to point out things that aren’t working, and tactful in suggesting ways to make them work better. I was beyond lucky to have her on my team.”


Jamie Michalak
Former editor at Candlewick Press, and author of the Joe and Sparky series as well as numerous
other books

"How lucky for writers to get the opportunity to work with Cynthia Platt! Cynthia is an absolute pro with many years experience as both an established editor and published author. I met Cynthia fifteen years ago at Candlewick Press, where we both worked as editors, and I saw first-hand the care and attention she gave her authors. As a fellow member of an ongoing writing and critique group, my stories have greatly benefitted from Cynthia’s keen editorial eye, thoughtfulness, and tremendous knowledge. I sometimes wonder if my stories would have been published without her invaluable feedback. On top of it all, she’s one of the most kind-hearted people I know."
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Senior Agent
Erin Murphy Literary Agency
“Cynthia is smart, savvy, and extremely insightful. She has the rare gift of a well-honed editorial technique coupled with strong organizational and communication skills. A pleasure to work with in any capacity!”