Founder Interview With Karis Rogerson, Editorial Services
Photo Credit: Karis Rogerson
Karis Rogerson (she/her), a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ voices, founded her editorial services business to help authors refine their stories and amplify their narratives. With a focus on copy editing, line editing, and providing detailed feedback, Karis specializes in genres such as YA—covering contemporary, fantasy, and romance—as well as all categories of children’s literature and adult romance. Her global perspective, shaped by her upbringing in Italy and education in Germany, Kentucky, and New York, deeply informs her work. Now based in New York City, Karis combines her passion for storytelling with her editorial expertise to help authors bring their stories to life.
During our interview, Karis shared insights into her professional journey, how being openly queer has shaped her business, and the challenges she has faced along the way. She talked about the importance of helping LGBTQ+ authors find their voices and discussed her dedication to creating stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Karis also reflected on the unique experiences that inspire her work and her vision for the future of her editorial services. Let’s jump right in!
Can you walk us through your professional journey and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in South Carolina, but my parents, who were missionaries, moved the family to Italy when I was four. I attended Italian public schools and then went to an American boarding school in Germany for high school. From there, I pursued my undergraduate studies in Kentucky, where my passion for writing and editing really took off. I studied journalism and was hired by my school's newspaper as a section editor, where I discovered a love for helping others craft their stories. I also found that I had a knack for grammar, punctuation, and line editing — all the hallmarks of crafting good sentences on a line level.
After graduating, I moved to New York where my worldview did a 180. I began a graduate program in journalism at NYU, aiming to become an investigative journalist. Unfortunately, after one year, I had to drop out due to mental health and financial pressures, which led to the end of my journalism career. However, I continued writing and honing my skills, picking up editing gigs along the way. I've copy edited multiple picture books for KiwiCo, Inc., as well as self-published books. In 2021, I was accepted into the Writing for Children & Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and I graduated in January 2024!
Photo Credit: Karis Rogerson
What inspired you to offer the services you provide?
As I mentioned above, I have a love of editing, which includes both fine-tuning sentences and paragraphs until they shine, but also of helping authors and writers figure out how to tell the stories they wish to tell. As an author of seven novels myself, I know just how life-changing it can be to have someone else read my work, because sometimes they see things that I can't.
"As a writer, my focus is on queer stories, because those are the ones I lacked when I was growing up, and those are the ones that have changed my life since my 20s. As an editor, I want to help other queer writers tell their stories to the best of their abilities. That's why I offer these editorial services!"
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey as a service provider, and what did you do to overcome this?
Honestly the biggest challenge has been marketing — finding clients. The field of freelance editing is pretty packed, and I've struggled to find a niche for myself. Ultimately, I think I'm best suited for helping self-published or unpublished queer authors tell their stories; now, I just need to find them.
If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ service providers within your field, what would it be?
Don't be afraid to be loud—about what you offer and how your expertise helps others. This can be tough, especially for marginalized people who’ve been taught to take up less space. As a woman, and growing up religious, I was taught to be humble, not proud, and not to take up space. But it’s crucial to recognize that what you offer is valuable. My advice is to practice affirming your worth, first to yourself, then to trusted people, and finally to the wider world.
How does being openly queer inspire or impact your business?
I came out in my late twenties, and it was through writing that I truly discovered my identity. Before realizing I was queer, I had written four novels, but once I came out, an entirely new way of thinking and writing opened up for me. My identity—as a queer woman, someone who is mentally ill, and as a physically disabled person—now informs everything I do in my writing because these are the characters whose stories I'm passionate about. In my editorial services, I aim to work specifically with LGBTQ+ authors. I have a vision of helping authors who are either trying to break into traditional publishing or who need assistance fine-tuning their self-published works. I particularly want to support those writing queer stories, whether they focus on romance, platonic queer love, or simply existing as their true selves in the world. My goal is to use the skills and abilities I've honed over the years to help others share their stories, speak their truth, and make their mark on the world.
Photo Credit: Karis Rogerson
What brands or services by LGBTQ+ founders are your go-to's and why?
I'm going to talk about authors because being a full-time author is a business! I love Casey McQuiston, Adrienne Tooley, and Jennifer Dugan.
Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity?
Honestly, right now I have to go with Renee Rapp and Chappell Roan!
Can you share one fun or unusual fact about yourself?
I didn't realize I was queer until I was 27, and it took until I was 31 to realize I was a lesbian. Life takes time!
