TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Jennifer Finger

​​

For nearly twenty years, Jennifer Finger has made books her business and her passion. As president of KeenReader Inc. and Pen and Pixel LLC, she spends her days surrounded by stories—helping authors tell them, helping readers discover them, and making sure good writing finds its audience. Her background as a CPA gives her an eye for structure and detail, but her heart has always belonged to the written word.

 

KeenReader began in 2004 as a straightforward editing service, built on clarity, logic, and clean prose. Two years later, Pen and Pixel joined the picture, offering creative support and marketing help to authors looking to break into the publishing world. When the pandemic rekindled a love of reading, Jennifer saw a new direction. KeenReader began hosting and supporting book clubs and gathering reviews for readers who wanted to explore new titles. Pen and Pixel leaned deeper into developmental and line editing, focusing on the parts of a manuscript that shape its impact—structure, story, voice, and flow.

 

Both companies continue to evolve, but the goal remains the same: connect people through books, elevate the work of authors, and celebrate the joy of reading.

Q&A with Jennifer

Jennifer, you began your career as a CPA. What ultimately made you change paths?

Burnout was part of it, but curiosity was a larger factor. I was spending my professional life working with numbers and my personal time reading. I’ve always been drawn to books of all genres and at some point, I realized editing could allow me to turn something I already loved into a career. I didn’t want to abandon my analytical mindset; that skill set is very helpful in editing. But I wanted to spend more time reading and thinking creatively. Editing was the perfect combination of structure, logic, language, and engagement.

 

How did your editing practice evolve from copy editing into developmental and line editing?

Originally, I thought editing meant fixing grammar, punctuation, and formatting. But manuscripts began arriving with deeper issues: plot inconsistencies, unclear arguments, characters who didn’t act as they were written, or nonfiction narratives that lacked structure. One client had a promising novel, but only wanted copyediting. Years later, her revisions were completely disconnected from the original storyline. That experience taught me something important: many writers don’t understand that there are multiple layers of editing, and copyediting comes at the end. Developmental editing requires addressing the big questions first: What is the story? Is it coherent? Do the characters make sense? Once I focused on those elements, my work became more meaningful, and authors who wanted deeper help started finding me.

 

How do you evaluate whether you and a potential client are a good fit?

Compatibility matters. Before I take any job, I ask questions:

• What is this manuscript trying to accomplish?
• Is the author open to critique?
• Does the author genuinely want structural, developmental help, or only grammar?
• What is the author’s timeline and goal for the book?

I read the first five chapters without marking anything. I simply assess what I’m dealing with and estimate how long it will take. If someone wants only copyediting, I decline. If they want help with plot, characterization, structure, pacing, or message, then we discuss a plan. We need alignment on expectations or the collaboration won’t work.

 

What role do book clubs play in the mission of KeenReader?

They encourage reading, but they also build community. Some clubs are author-based and explore an entire body of work. Others are genre-based or seasonal. Some are simply social and give readers a chance to share reactions, opinions, and discoveries. KeenReader also provides an advertising platform for external book clubs that are open to the public. The pandemic revived interest in reading, and that interest persisted even when life returned to normal. People still want connection. Book clubs create safe places to discuss stories, ideas, and emotions.

 

Tell us more about how the Book Review Index will work.

It’s very simple: you look up a book and receive links to reviews from multiple sources in one space—Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, major newspapers, and literary publications. I often found myself manually searching across sites, and it became clear there was no centralized resource. The index saves time and helps readers get a broad sample of opinion quickly. It’s not meant to replace reviews; it gathers them. Readers can then decide which reviews matter to them.

 

What is your philosophy when working with authors who struggle with criticism?

Compassion, clarity, and honesty. Writing is personal. Authors have invested time, imagination, and sometimes pieces of their lives into their manuscripts. It’s natural to be protective. But if an author wants a successful book, then the author must be willing to look closely at what isn’t working and be willing to allow changes so that it does. My job is not to judge but to help. I explain why something matters: a character’s motivation isn’t clear, a plot twist needs setup, or a nonfiction chapter lacks structure. If authors understand the “why,” they are more open to change.

 

What have been some of your most rewarding moments as an editor?

When an author tells me, “This is the book I wanted to write,” I know the work succeeded. I’ve seen manuscripts evolve from confusing or inconsistent into cohesive, engaging narratives. I’ve watched clients gain confidence, land agents, or receive feedback from readers that validates their effort. I don’t claim credit for their success. They did the creative work. I simply helped them see their own material more clearly.

​

 

 

Jennifer Finger
President
KeenReader Inc. and Pen and Pixel LLC
Websites: https://www.keenreader.com / https://penpixelllc.com

LinkedIn (Personal): www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-finger-5b160a1

LinkedIn (KeenReader Inc.): https://www.linkedin.com/company/keenreader-inc.

LinkedIn (Pen and Pixel LLC): https://www.linkedin.com/company/pen-and-pixel-llc         

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennifer.finger.2025

Instagram (KeenReader): www.instagram.com/keenreader_inc 

Instagram (Pen and Pixel LLC): https://www.instagram.com/penandpixelllc/