You’re trusting someone with your book.
We take that responsibility seriously.

We’re a founder-led publishing studio providing high-level editorial and publishing services for authors who want their manuscript handled with clarity, care, and uncompromising professional standards.

Order Editing Services
Explore Done-for-You Publishing
Use Our Tools & Guides

A modern publishing studio for independent authors

After more than a decade working with authors — including years inside large freelancing marketplaces — I’ve seen how often serious manuscripts are reduced to transactions within anonymous systems and faceless content mills never designed for complex, multi-stage projects.

Your book deserves better.

As founder and managing editor, I personally oversee every project from end to end, supported by a small, close-knit, curated team of experts operating under rigorous standards — including documented workflows, quality control review, and clear, accountable communication at every stage.

I built this studio for authors who value precision, craftsmanship, integrity, and kindness — and who expect their work to be treated accordingly.

You always know who is responsible for your book.

— Robin Schroffel
Founder & Managing Editor, Golden Starling

  • "I came into my book project with 100% zero experience on the publishing side. Not only did she help me edit, but she provided a full service experience. You definitely get what you pay for. Robin is worth every penny and is the best investment I made for my book project."

    —Jon “Jags” Nee, How to Eat Like a Grown-Up

  • "There really aren't enough words to fully express how thankful I am to have worked with Robin. This was my first time writing and publishing anything and I know this process would have been completely different without Robin's guidance and support. I know that if/when I write again it will be Robin that I come to first. If you are looking at partnering with her I cannot stress this enough- go for it! You won't regret it! Robin, you are the very best part of this process. Thank you!"

    —SK Holt, Her Name Was Chas

  • "Robin is incredible to work with. They are professional and truly deliver the highest quality of work. Every dollar spent was well worth it. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We had some issues with the cover design last minute and had to make several tedious changes, and they were so exceptionally kind and patient with me that I appreciate them so much. If I ever have another book project to work on they will be the first I contact!"

    —Paola Merrill, The Woods and Wisp

  • "Working with Robin was an absolute joy. She understood my vision, strengthened every chapter, and brought my book to life with so much care . Her guidance and talent, made the entire process easy and enjoyable. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a professional, and truly supportive editor/publisher."

    —Jordan Nicholas, Teen Boss

  • "As always, working with Robin was an absolute pleasure. Her depth and breadth of knowledge in all matters publishing is exceptional and her timely attention to my requirements means that I know I am in completely safe hands when I am working with her."

    —Morten Hansen, Geopolitical Intelligence for the Boardroom

How We Help

Choose between hands-on publishing support or DIY tools.

Hands-on publishing support

  • Editing and proofreading

  • Book formatting for print and ebook

  • Professionally designed covers

  • SEO, metadata, and description optimization

  • Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital setup

Best if you want expert support or want things done correctly the first time.

Practical tools you can use yourself

  • Publishing guides

  • On-demand courses

  • Book formatting templates

  • Checklists

  • Low-content publishing kits

Best if you want clarity and structure without full-service support.

Why Golden Starling?

In publishing, experience is irreplaceable. We’re a small studio led by pro editor and Amazon KDP self-publishing expert Robin Schroffel, who has directly worked with more than 5,000 editing clients since 2013. We’re not interested in creating mediocre work or doing things halfway. We’re committed to excellence, and for that, we go above and beyond to create great books that authors can truly stand behind with a carefully curated team of experts, each putting their best into every step of the process.

Having worked on thousands of books across fiction and nonfiction, from academic to personal to commercial projects, we’ve seen what platforms reject, what readers notice, and where authors lose time and money.

That experience shapes everything we do—from how we edit, to how we format, to the advice we give, to the books we create.

  • We’ve worked on thousands of books across genres.

  • We simplify the complex self-publishing process.

  • We create professional-quality books you’ll be proud to put your name on.

  • We offer honest, practical publishing support steeped in real experience.

  • We value diversity and support authors of all abilities and backgrounds.

  • We consider trust and accountability paramount.

Explore Our Services

All-Inclusive Publishing Package

Most Popular!

Our signature service takes you from draft to DONE! Sit back as we transform your Word document into a beautifully designed, professionally published book uploaded to your own Amazon KDP account, with all royalties going directly to you. We’ll take care of every step for the ultimate hands-off, stress-free self-publishing experience.

Included:

Editing

Your manuscript, polished till it shines.

Cover Design

An eye-catching, professionally designed book cover that sells.

Formatting

Print and ebook layouts readers love.

SEO

Research and optimization to ensure your book gets seen and converts into sales.

Amazon KDP Upload

Publishing in your own Amazon KDP account.

End-to-End Project Management

We handle all the details—you’ll simply approve files and provide feedback.

Post-Project Support

30 days of unlimited messaging support.

Learn More

À la Carte Services

Don’t need a full package? Explore our range of services designed to help you move forward with confidence.

Order Now

  • So your book is clear, polished, and error-free.

    Choose from:

    Proofreading

    Correcting technical spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, catching typos, and more.

    (1 round of proofreading)

    Signature Editing

    Our signature style offers the best of all worlds, combining copyediting and line editing with select developmental feedback to get you publish-ready.

    (1 round of editing + 1 round of light revisions)

    Full Developmental Editing

    A dedicated developmental of your manuscript with extensive feedback and notes on which to base your rewrites.

    (1 round of editing)

  • So your book looks as good as it reads.

    Eye-catching professional design for ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats.

  • So your files meet platform standards and look professional.

    Attractive, reader-friendly interior layouts for print and ebook, tested in Amazon’s back end to ensure no problems uploading.

  • So your book is positioned clearly and reaches your target readers.

    Professional keyword research, categories selection, and sales copy optimization to ensure your book gets seen, is competitively positioned, and converts into sales.

  • So your book is uploaded correctly—without confusion or rework.

    Available for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and more!

Why Authors Choose Golden Starling Over Large Editing & Publishing Companies

  1. Direct Accountability

    You’ll communicate directly with our founder, who personally oversees your manuscript—not a rotating pool of anonymous contractors.

  2. Boutique Attention

    We take on a limited number of projects to ensure quality and responsiveness.

  3. Affordable Pricing

    We keep operations agile, which allows us to charge lower prices than most bigger companies.

  4. Long-Term Partnerships

    Many of our authors return for multiple projects because they value consistency, quality, and relationships—not just a one-time transaction.

  5. Professional Publishing Insights

    We don’t just talk the talk. We deeply understand:

    • Market positioning

    • Publishing standards

    • Technical requirements

    • Submission expectations

Work with a publishing studio that has your best interests in mind and goes the extra mile to get you to an end result you can be proud of.

Whatever part of the publishing process you’re stuck on, we can help.

Get in Touch