Where it all Began
About Mystic Canyon Publishing
Mystic Canyon Publishing started with a single manuscript in 2011. Our founder, Liane Larocque, had just retired from a scientific career when a colleague asked if she’d edit his wife’s novel. She expected something technical. Instead, she found a story.
That one project revealed what Liane had been missing in her scientific work: the chance to help people bring their creative visions to life. Authors appreciated her clarity and honesty. They valued the way she strengthened their manuscripts without overriding their voice. Most importantly, they felt heard throughout the process.
What began as Edit Expert grew into Mystic Canyon Publishing, a boutique editorial-first small press. Today, we’ve edited more than one thousand manuscripts across every genre. Three of our authors have had their books adapted into films. Others have won awards or reached bestseller lists. Many are cherished memoirs that exist for an audience of one family.
Every project matters because every author deserves a partner who’s genuinely invested in whether their book gets finished.
OUR MISSION
Publishing Built on Partnership
The publishing industry can feel impersonal and expensive. Authors get shuffled between departments. Manuscripts get outsourced to editors they never meet. Fees pile up for services that should have been included from the start.
Liane built Mystic Canyon to work differently. Here, you work directly with the editor-in-chief from your first sample edit to your final published book. No handoffs. No confusion about who’s touching your manuscript. No surprise charges.
What we offer instead:
Direct collaboration with an experienced editor who cares about your story
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or upsells
Multiple rounds of review included in every project
Authors retain full rights and creative control
Honest feedback that respects your voice
A clear process from manuscript to finished book
Publishing a book is a big decision. You shouldn’t have to navigate it alone or wonder if you’re being taken advantage of.
ABOUT THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Meet Liane Larocque
Liane brings the precision of a scientist and the heart of a storyteller to every manuscript she edits. After decades writing and editing scientific papers, she discovered that her real calling was helping authors shape the books they’d always wanted to write. Her scientific background taught her to think systematically, communicate clearly, and never rush through important work. Those skills translated directly into editorial work that authors describe as thorough, encouraging, and transformative.
Books Edited:
1000+
and counting
Founded:
2011
serving authors wordwide
Adaptations:
3 clients with films currently in production
Accolades:
award-winning authors published
She’s edited more than one thousand manuscripts, ghostwritten projects that became bestsellers and films, and built long-term relationships with authors who return for every new book they write. Her editorial philosophy is simple: It’s your book. It’s your voice. Her role is to make it stronger, clearer, and ready for readers without ever making it sound like someone else wrote it.
When Liane isn’t editing, she’s strategizing cover designs, coordinating print proofs, or walking authors through their first KDP upload. She answers her own emails, takes her own calls, and personally manages every stage of production. Authors often say the best part of working with Mystic Canyon is knowing exactly who they’re working with.
Her pricing philosophy reflects her values: “I was never in it to get rich. I saw what some companies charged and how little they delivered. I didn’t want authors to feel taken advantage of. Helping writers publish their book—seeing that excitement when they hold it for the first time—that’s the best part of this work.”
HOW WE WORK
Editorial-First. Author-Focused.
Mystic Canyon Publishing is not a volume-based operation. We don’t outsource your manuscript or rush projects to meet quotas. We’re selective about the work we take on because every book deserves our full attention.
When you work with us:
You collaborate directly with Liane from start to finish
You receive multiple rounds of review as a part of your project
You know what you’re paying upfront with no surprise fees
You maintain full creative control and ownership of your rights
Your manuscript is edited with Track Changes so every suggestion is transparent
You get real answers to your questions, usually within 24 to 48 hours
If you publish with us, the same level of care continues through design, formatting, and distribution
Our process is structured but flexible. Some authors need three rounds of editing. Others need five. Some want full publishing support. Others just need a manuscript polished and ready to self-publish. We adjust to what your book actually needs, not what fits our template.
The timeline depends on the manuscript and your responsiveness, but most projects are completed within one to three months. You’re never waiting weeks to hear back or wondering what’s happening with your book.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Why Authors Choose Mystic Canyon
Authors come to Mystic Canyon for the editing and stay for the partnership.
Here’s what clients tell us matters most:
You work with the person who founded the company.
Not a project manager. Not a rotating team of contractors. Liane edits your manuscript, answers your emails, and guides your project from beginning to end.
We don’t nickel-and-dime you.
Many publishers charge separately for every deliverable: editing, formatting, cover design, revisions, distribution setup. Our pricing includes what your book needs to be publication-ready.
You feel supported, not pressured.
Authors consistently describe the experience as encouraging and collaborative. You’re not being sold on upgrades or rushed through production. You’re being helped through a process that can feel overwhelming when you’re doing it alone.
Your book gets our full attention.
We take on a limited number of projects each month to ensure quality never suffers. Your manuscript isn’t competing with fifty others for our time.
We’re honest about what your manuscript needs.
Some editors oversell services or avoid difficult feedback. We tell you the truth about your manuscript’s strengths and what needs work. Authors appreciate knowing they’re getting real editorial insight, not just encouragement designed to keep them paying for more rounds.
We help you actually finish.
Many authors come to us after stalling with other editors or getting lost in the self-publishing maze. Our clients finish their books because someone is walking beside them every step of the way.
Why Mystic Canyon?
The Story Behind the Name
Our business began as Edit Expert, but as the work deepened, the identity evolved into Mystic Canyon Publishing.
Authors often describe the experience of working with us as entering a space where confusion clears and the path forward becomes visible. Where someone finally sees what they’ve been trying to say and helps them say it better. Where a manuscript that felt stuck suddenly finds its shape.
The canyon represents depth and patience. The mystic element represents the transformation that happens when a story finds its true form. It’s a name that reflects both the craft we bring and the journey authors experience.
Looking Ahead
Growing Without Losing What Matters
Mystic Canyon Publishing continues to expand, but we’re not chasing volume. Our goal is to serve more authors without sacrificing the personal partnership that defines our work.
As we grow, we’re adding:
Expanded marketing support and author visibility services
Educational workshops and resources for writers
Audiobook production capabilities
Strategic partnerships with designers and publicists who share our values
But we’ll never outsource the editorial work. We’ll never automate the communication. And we’ll never prioritize speed over quality.
The foundation remains the same: one editor-in-chief, one manuscript at a time, with the same care we brought to that very first novel back in 2011.
Let’s Talk About Your Manuscript
If you’re ready to explore editing or want to learn how we work, we’d love to hear from you. Every project starts with a complimentary five-to-seven-page sample edit so you can see our approach before committing.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. You just need the right partner.