The art of storytelling is in our veins. We’re wired to create and connect—to spin tales for others and ourselves. Our memories, languages, histories, and collective hunt for meaning in this vast, turbulent world are the marrow of the human condition; they are the lifeblood of the stories we weave.

My name is Ari Augustine. I’m a professionally trained independent book editor, author of adult speculative fiction, and a lover of stories that speak to the humanity in all of us.

I’m a sucker for riveting tales set in immersive worlds, stories inspired by S.E. Asian folklore, and slow burn romantic subplots. Bonus points if it includes characters with complex (and psychology-based) motivations, POVs, emotional reactions; all the plots (cozy plots, quiet plots, earth-shattering plots, twist twirly plots); and, of course, stories that break the mold of convention in exciting ways!

My editing approach is uniquely holistic, blending creativity, psychology, reader-based interpretation, and common sense logic to help authors forge stories that resonate with their readers.