Our co-founders
Co-founded by E.R. Whyte and Rue Lennox, Indie Story Studio blends bestseller instincts with teaching-first craft.
E.R.—a USAT bestselling author and editor—pairs clear, encouraging line and developmental edits with lesson-rich explanations authors can carry into every book.
Rue—a multi-time USAT bestselling romance author turned developmental editor—specializes in trope execution, pacing, and emotional contouring.
Together, they along with the rest of our team, protect your voice while diagnosing structure gaps, sharpening beats, and delivering market-savvy guidance—from polished pages to blurbs and launch assets—so your story lands with swoon, structure & sell-through.
“The nicest thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.”
—Margaret Carty
Our Team
E.R. Whyte is a developmental and line editor who believes every edit should be a lesson, not just a markup. With a teaching-driven editorial style, she goes beyond surface fixes to explain the why behind her suggestions, giving authors tools they can carry into every future manuscript.
As both an editor and a USAT Bestselling romance author, E.R. understands the delicate balance between protecting a writer’s voice and strengthening their craft. Her feedback is clear, encouraging, and practical—designed to help authors grow their confidence while producing polished, compelling books that resonate with readers.
She specializes in contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy romance of all subgenres—from steamy small-town love stories to dark paranormal twists and sweeping romantasy epics. Through her work, E.R. combines sharp editorial insight with a deep love for the genre, helping authors craft stories that are not only structurally sound but addictive, market-savvy, and emotionally powerful.
Rue is a multi-time USAT Bestselling romance author turned developmental editor and proofreader who helps romance authors turn good manuscripts into can’t-sleep, can’t-breathe page-turners. Known for her ruthless kindness and market-savvy notes, she pinpoints structure gaps, flat beats, and muddy character motivation—then maps a path to swoon, scorch, and a hard-earned HEA.
She specializes across romance of all genres—dark romance, romantasy, paranormal, small-town, contemporary, billionaire, sports, Christian/Clean and why-choose—bringing a sharp eye for trope execution, pacing, and emotional contour. Expect margin notes that cut to the heart, an editorial letter that’s equal parts craft roadmap and hype, and if you’re looking for a proofer you’ll get a final proofread that protects your prose, continuity, and credibility.
Maye is a story architect and worldbuilder who turns sparks into bingeable series. An American writer based in South Korea, she specializes in all types of dark romance, paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
Maye spends her days mapping bulletproof series arcs, crafting chapter-by-chapter outlines, and building immersive worlds readers want to live in (and never leave).
Expect market-savvy planning, character-true beats, and trope-aware structure that make drafting faster and launches smoother.
Whether you need a one-book blueprint or a multi-season saga, Maye’s frameworks balance heat, heart, and momentum—with dominant alphas, fierce, sassy heroines, and a city’s worth of shadows humming under the surface.
Heather Young-Nichols is a USA Today bestselling author turned behind-the-scenes problem-solver for romance writers. She offers proofreading, plotting consults, and manuscript support that sharpen voice, strengthen hooks, and smooth pacing—without sanding off what makes a story yours.
Known for swoony heroes, snarky heroines, and market-aware storytelling across contemporary and paranormal romance, Heather helps authors move from “almost there” to “couldn’t put it down.”
Kimberly is a Midwest-based line editor with 15 years of experience helping authors elevate prose, tighten pacing, and polish voice. She’s edited across romance and beyond—contemporary, romantasy, paranormal, thriller, mystery, women’s fiction, YA, and more—bringing a meticulous eye for clarity, rhythm, and continuity.
Collaborative and detail-driven, Kimberly preserves each author’s voice while refining sentences, streamlining paragraphs, and flagging inconsistencies that pull readers out of the story. When she’s not editing, she’s with her family, doting on her animals, or walking a trail with a bookish podcast. Clean pages, strong style, and smooth reads are her signature.
Keeva is a line editor, proofreader and author assistant who’s been supporting writers since 2015. She keeps manuscripts clean, calendars sane, and launches on track—catching typos, continuity slips, and style glitches before they reach readers.
A lifelong bookworm, she spends most days happily immersed in story worlds, especially those touched by magic and romance.
When she isn’t reading or wrangling words, you’ll find her with her family, recharging for the next great book.
