Early this year, I was honored to work with a few authors I've had the pleasure of helping in the past. It's such an honor when a client returns to me with a new manuscript. Their works include a collection of letters written to explore faith and mental health and a previously written doctoral thesis, now revised for general readers. Additionally, a few authors I edited for in 2023 have just released their works: one is a memoir/devotional that explores overcoming trauma and addiction to gain a vibrant spiritual life and the other is a book for children to help them deal with trauma.
I've line edited, formatted, and created the cover for a new author's novel. I helped a previous author I've edited and formatted for with a brand new edition of their work, a manual focused on spiritual growth. In one of my newest projects, I've helped a family by line editing, formatting, and creating a cover for their late father's memoir.
I feel fortunate to be able to work on such a great breadth of topics with independent, ambitious writers, and I'd love the chance to work with you, too!
Contact me now to reserve time on my schedule in late winter/early spring for work on manuscript editing, interior design and layout, or ebook formatting.
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Coming Soon!
Bruce Littlejohn's memoir, Around the World and Back to God: How One Man Found Faith Across the Ocean, is being published by his family. It's a wonderful collection of memories of his time growing up in Canada, traveling the world, meeting his wife, Kerstin, raising his family, and using his talents as a mechanic to bless and train others in life skills and faith. Later in life, Littlejohn would welcome international students and help them feel at home abroad. The story is a heartwarming, cross-cultural, inspirational glimpse into a life well-lived that leaves readers wanting to make sure they are leaving a legacy of love and worth!
I was honored to work with the Littlejohn family committee on editing, interior design, and cover for this memoir.
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Ion Grumeza, born in Romania and now a citizen of the United States, has lived under two vastly different cultural, political, and social systems. The entertaining short stories he’s written in this collection open windows for readers to see the opposing worlds of Communism and Capitalism between 1970–2000.
This is the 4th book for which I've served as editor and interior formatter for Mr. Grumeza. I'm impressed with his focus and determination to share his research, personal knowledge, and life experiences with readers everywhere.
You can find My Stories and Reflections of Communism and Capitalism (along with all his other works) on Amazon in print and eBook versions today.
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Open Door Publishing has released a second edition of the classic An Introduction to Spiritual Direction: Tools for the Journey by the Chester P. Michael.
As old as humanity are the questions we ask: “What’s my purpose?” “Who is God?” “Where should I go in my life?” On the path to greater self-understanding, to fulfillment, and for Christians, to sainthood, are spiritual directors, people who guide, support, and help illuminate the way. Monsignor Chester Michael was a parish priest and spiritual director for 72 years who, in the late 1980s, launched a two-year, ecumenical course to train lay people as spiritual guides. Originally published in 2004, Introduction to Spiritual Direction builds on his insights and the content he created for his classes. This updated edition focuses on the tools for becoming a spiritual director offering guidance, practical applications, and wisdom for walking with others on their journeys.
Working with the Open Door staff is always a pleasure. It's personally a joy for me to help them bring new life and modern formatting to classic, well-loved books so today's readers can enjoy them.
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In this updated edition of Amy Howard's Kingdom Ministry Training Manual, I was honored to once again serve as editor and interior formatter. Reverend Howard has updated this edition and published it under a new imprint. It's available on Amazon and is used in Encounter Culture Mission Collaborative's training seminars.
Kingdom Ministry Training has helped leaders, churches, and hundreds of every-day Christians to move beyond fear and into a courageous life of faith. Once you have received the love of God, you have something to share with the world. But often, our desire to join God in the work of healing and freedom is hindered by lack of confidence, absence of trustworthy tools, or the damage that follows bad experiences with healing prayer. The Kingdom Ministry Training Manual is a stand-alone introductory guide to a biblical and theological framework for healing, basic tools for ministry, and some best practices for individuals, small groups, and churches to employ when stepping out to follow Jesus in ministry. Kingdom is also the textbook for Encounter Culture Mission Collaborative's training seminars, where seasoned practitioners come alongside ordinary believers to move from information to experience, and from bystanders to activated followers and disciples of Jesus.
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Lucie Costa Spencer orginally released Empowered to Live with a publisher, but has now re-released it under her own imprint. I was honored to work with her as editor for the previous version, and as formatter for this version. Empowered to live is part narrative and part workbook which helps readers live with "authority, freedom, and purpose." Find it on Amazon today!
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I've been honored to work with new author Marci Young on editing her manuscript, designing and formatting the paperback interior and eBook versions of her book, and helping design her book cover.
In her first novel: No More Looking Over My Shoulder, we meet Rachel, a vibrant young woman with a promising future as a violinist. Her father, a rabbi, and her doting mother longed for their first child. Rachel’s early years are marked by the close community of her father’s synagogue, supportive family and friends, and the promise of a bright future.
Yet her world turns upside down when she tragically loses a parent and the stability she’d known. She abandons her scholarship to Juilliard and quickly commits to a new relationship, but her married life becomes marked by abuse and more loss. Rachel’s future and faith are uncertain. What can save her?
In a story with surprising revelations of characters’ interconnections, Rachel renews her dreams, finds redemption, and ultimately walks into a blessed, restored future. The message of the novel shows there is true hope and promise extended to all, no matter their past.
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It was an honor to get to work with Sabrina Cotton again, this time on editing the second book in her Jelani J. Sessions series.
Traumasaurus is a beautifully illustrated and sensitively written book that gives young readers a gentle introduction to the concept of trauma and healing. It is an invaluable resource for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to help children understand and cope with trauma in a gentle and compassionate way. It encourages open conversations about emotions and offers young readers inspiration, showing them they have the inner strength to conquer their traumas and fears, just like JJ!
Get ready for an extraordinary adventure as you join JJ and his therapist, Mrs. Bright, on an incredible journey of self-discovery and resilience. Find it on Amazon today.
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Hanna Faulks is an author I've had the pleasure of working with previously as editor and interior designer for her fiction work, The Other World (2021). This time, Hanna has produced a non-fiction work that will help us all to lean in, listen to, and trust the voice of wisdom in our lives.
The challenge of time away from loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent exposure to difficult emotions motivated Hanna Faulks, a practicing mental health doctor, to compose a booklet of encouragement for herself. The writings, designed to be read on some of the darker days, sounded like they came from her stronger self. The habit of tuning in to her own inner source of inspiration grew, and that theme forms the basis of Letters to Myself: A Traveller’s Guide to Inner Wisdom. Hanna’s contemplations on psychosocial themes will help you reconsider your satisfaction with how you are living out your personal life journey.
* Do you make it a practice to listen to your inner voice, which speaks to you from a place of positive guidance?
* Can you distinguish its wisdom from the noise of the outside world and negative influences from your past or present?
* Do you recognize and make space for the voices of fellow travelers who support you and encourage you to pursue your dreams?
Through gentle, meditative self-reflection, you can develop the confidence to follow your inner voice that reflects the goodness of the Divine woven throughout the universe. Informed by psychological science and inspired by spirituality, you can improve your relationships and cultivate a life where you fulfill your innermost longings and dreams. When you lean in, listen, and learn to trust your inner wisdom, you can live life to its fullest while knowing, being, and expressing your most authentic self.
Letters to Myself is available on Amazon as a paperback or eBook.
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Ion Grumeza, PhD, whom I've worked with on three previous books, has released his metaphysical philosophy, Effectology: The Study of Accidents and Their Effects. It is a culmination of his reflections on the importance of accidents and their effects in natural history, science, medicine, human history, current events, and our personal lives. The book contains a massive collection of thoughts and examples. He began formulating and writing on the topic for his dissertation and has now expanded and refined it for presentation to general readers. He invites readers to consider this new philosophy and to add their own thoughtful additions as he believes Effectology has the potential to shape our futures.
Look for it on Amazon as a paperback or eBook.
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Who Told You You Were Naked? is Elizabeth Clements' first book: it's a combined memoir and scripture study. It was my pleasure to work with Elizabeth as her editor.
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If she didn’t confront her problem with consumption, she would surely be consumed by it.
Overwhelmed with anxiety, depression and hopelessness, Elizabeth was at a breaking point. She had a decision to make. Continue down the road of addiction to alcohol and cigarettes, eating disorders, shopping, and men, or figure out why she ached inside and kept running to toxic fetishes to satisfy her unquenchable appetite? Elizabeth chose healing. She sought out multiple forms of therapy and tried out various religions. But it wasn’t until she rekindled her faith in Jesus, instilled in her as a child, that she began to discover the genuine transformation she longed to experience.
Who Told You You Were Naked? is Elizabeth’s uncensored story of who she was before her radical encounter with the Lord and who she is becoming as a follower of Him. Leaning into the unconditional love of Jesus changed the trajectory of her life.
This raw and honest account of one woman’s transformational journey serves as a reminder to anyone caught in the tangles of mental illness, stubborn addiction, or with a downcast and dissatisfied outlook on life that the light of hope shines even in the darkest circumstances.
Available on BarnesandNoble.com or on Amazon.