About Me

Me with blonde hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a black and white floral dress stands on a wooden pier, gazing at the sunset at the beach.

Hello, lovely writers!

I’m Leila Sanders, and I’m a developmental editor and book coach specializing in MM romance, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and dark romance. I help first-time ESL romance and fantasy writers finish writing their outlines and manuscripts.

As a developmental editor, I analyze big-picture issues to get you one step closer to line editing and/or copyediting..

My specialization in romance and fantasy…

While I’ve always loved watching romance and fantasy stories on the big screen, I fell in love with reading romance stories. It was another way of seeing a movie playing out in my head, but the experience is more immersive with relatable interiority and detailed Victorian England world-building.

As a young woman, my tastes in romance evolved from YA romances to historical MM romances and dark fantasy dragon stories. My reading taste has made me an empathetic developmental editor and human being.

I used to think my social anxiety was a detriment to my business, but it’s only allowed me to hone my attention-to-detail skills and become a patient listener for my developmental editing and book coaching clients.

Open book with plant sprouting from its center, symbolic of growth and knowledge.

Portfolio


Book cover of 'Paint Our Song' by Maia Kinley, featuring two young men with casual clothing and a guitar, against a blue background.

Paint Our Song

by Maia Kinley

Editorial Service: Customized Manuscript Evaluation

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance


Other Developmental Editing Projects

DARK FANTASY MM ROMANCE

The King of Ironwall by A. Ang

Editorial Service: Developmental Edit with Book Scene Map

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Fathom by M. Cooke

Editorial Service: Developmental Edit with Book Scene Map

by TT Hanna

Editorial Service: Developmental Edit

Genre: Dark Romantasy/Aladdin Retelling

Our Own Light

by Logan Sage Adams

Editorial Service: Developmental Edit

Genre: Historical MM Romance

Awards: Finalist for 2025 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Romance

Quirks & Obsessions

A Siamese kitten lying on a blanket with a dark background.

  1. Devoted cat mom: My furry editorial assistant is Miss Buttons (also referred to as “my little Angel” and “Angel of Darkness”). Buttons is a cranky assistant, but her patience and stress-relieving cuddles soothes the daily work stress.

  2. Devoted to learning history: While I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in creative writing, my obsession with nineteenth century England, medieval Scotland, and Ancient history led to me minoring in history.

  3. Devoted to helping people: I’m an introvert, but I love helping people! But how does that work? I help answer questions romance and fantasy authors might have about how to write or plot their stories, my services, rates, or sensitive topics.

  4. Devoted to music: I’m always listening to jazz, holiday music, alternative, and country music during and after work. I’m also an amateur musician who has splurged playing the drums, guitar, and flute. My collection of vinyl records keeps my books company on the bookshelf.

  5. Devoted travel enthusiast: I desperately want to drink a delicious cappuccino in Italy, explore ancient castle ruins, take in the Scottish Highlands and the Cliffs of Moher, and stand below the Eiffel Tower.

  6. Devoted to being an amateur chess player: I’m not the best chess player, but I love a challenging game of chess.

A sunset over the ocean with pink and purple clouds and a few kite surfers in the distance.
  • I hold a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in history. I’m a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Northwest Editors Guild.

    My special training in developmental editing includes the following:

    • Developmental Editing: In Practice at Liminal Pages

    • Developmental Editing for Fiction class at the Editorial Arts Academy.

  • Midnight Devotion Editing’s Values: Patience, gentle encouragement, inspiration, and integrity.

    I don’t use any AI for my editorial feedback.

  • I support first-time writers, ESL writers, romance writers, fantasy and paranormal writers, LGBTQ+ Community, young writers, women writers, and more.

  • Here are some topics and tropes that I prefer when editing manuscripts:

    • Strong romantic chemistry

    • LGBTQ+ characters and romances

    • Paranormal world-building

    • Low fantasy

    • Detective mystery romances

    • Vigilantes

    • Women’s fiction with a romantic thread

    • Adventure/action with compelling plot or romance

    • Socially conscious

    • Psychopath/sociopath characters

    • Some horror fairy tale retellings

    • Sports romance

    • Enemies-to-lovers

    • Coming-to-age stories

    • Royalty romances