Other Specialists
Subject-matter experts consult on specific fields — medical, legal, military, forensics, science, and more.
When to hire: Hire an SME early enough that their input can shape scenes — during outlining or first draft — and again during revision to verify final details. Rates vary widely by field.
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Former prosecuting attorney with 15 years of courtroom experience in criminal law who now consults authors on legal accuracy. She reviews manuscripts for realistic courtroom procedure, criminal law, and law enforcement protocols, and has worked with writers in mystery, thriller, and legal drama genres. She is particularly skilled at translating dry legal process into dramatically compelling but accurate narrative.
Award-winning war correspondent, journalist, and comic book author who has reported from Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Chad, and other conflict zones, and consults authors on ground-level combat realism, war journalism, and modern warfare. He has written extensively on defense topics for Reuters, The Daily Beast, and Wired, and brings a civilian-journalist perspective to military accuracy consulting.
Emergency medicine physician with over 18 years of clinical experience in Level I trauma centers who consults novelists and screenwriters on emergency medicine realism, trauma surgery, and hospital procedure. He reviews manuscripts for accurate portrayal of wounds, resuscitation, drug dosing, and ER culture, and has worked with authors across thrillers, medical dramas, and crime fiction. He is known for being author-friendly and turnaround-efficient.
Forensic scientist with a background in crime scene investigation and trace evidence analysis who consults crime and mystery authors on procedural accuracy. She has worked in UK forensic laboratories and offers manuscript review services covering evidence collection, chain of custody, laboratory analysis, and the realities of forensic testimony. She is particularly skilled at correcting 'CSI Effect' misconceptions common in fiction.
Retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer with over 20 years of active duty service including deployments in multiple combat theaters. He consults fiction authors on military authenticity covering tactics, weapons, chain of command, culture, and the psychological realities of combat. His consulting work spans thrillers, war fiction, and action-adventure novels.
Forensic psychology professor at DeSales University and prolific author of over 60 books on forensic science, criminal minds, and true crime. She consults widely on forensic accuracy for fiction and nonfiction writers, with particular expertise in criminal profiling and crime scene analysis. A frequent media commentator and established expert witness.
Experienced fiction author and manuscript consultant who offers subject-matter consultation on psychiatry and mental health portrayals in fiction, drawing on deep research partnerships with clinicians. She is listed on Reedsy and works with literary and commercial fiction authors to ensure authentic, non-stigmatizing depictions of mental illness, therapy, and psychiatric settings.
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