writer & editor
curriculum vitae
EXPERIENCE & ASSOCIATED SKILLS: Management: Supervision and direction of daily operations while supporting the development and direction of staff, both full-time and freelance; managing change; overseeing a production schedule to ensure smooth passage of materials through the art room to print; creating and adhering to a realistic budget, ensuring both quality and profit; forward planning to ensure continued profitability and popularity of the books and magazines produced. Editing: Substantive and copy-editing a wide range of materials including books, magazines, and web content; ensuring spelling, vocabulary, and usage are correct for the US, UK, or Canadian market; acquiring books for publication in Canada and UK. Writing & Research: Varied portfolio of news, feature, and review articles. Marketing and Publicity: Producing press releases and other marketing materials; tip sheets for sales representatives; compiling research to secure reviews, and publicity for a varied list of books.Teaching: Editing Trade Fiction, Ryerson University, G Raymond Chang School Post-Graduate Certificate in Publishing program.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
RYERSON UNIVERSITY, G RAYMOND CHANG SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Publishing Certificate Program
INSTRUCTOR: EDITING TRADE FICTION
Online and classroom
2014 - present
FREELANCE EDITOR
2004 – present
Substantive and copy editing of fiction and non-fiction, both print and online content, for a variety of freelance clients.
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Edited The Earth Remembers Everything by Adrienne Fitzpatrick (Caitlin Press, 2013), shortlisted for the George Ryga Award
MANAGING EDITOR
Second Story Feminist Press
February 2020-present
SENIOR EDITOR
Insomniac Press
September 2005 – December 2019
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Responsible for substantive and/ or copy-editing three to five books (fiction and non-fiction) in each of the spring and fall seasons
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Responsible for publicizing selected titles in spring and fall seasons, including writing cover copy and press releases, arranging some author events, press liaison
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Research and recommend titles for acquisition
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Recent titles edited include: I’m a Registered Nurse Not a Whore by Anne Perdue (Longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, 2011); Red Rover by Liz Bugg (Winner: Best First Novel, Golden Crown Awards, 2011); The Politics of Black Women’s Hair by Dr. Althea Prince (an episode of CBC’s Ontario Today based on this book won a 2010 Gracie Award for Outstanding Talk Show); Being Young: Neil, Scott, and Me by Astrid Young; From Seed to Table: A Practical Guide to Eating and Growing Green by Janette Haase; This One’s Going to Last Forever and The Skin Beneath by Nairne Holtz (short-listed for the Quebec Writers’ Federation McCausland Award and the Lambda Award); Pink Icing by Pamela Mordecai
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Recent titles copy edited include: Bird Eat Bird by Katrina Best (Winner, Canada and Caribbean Region, Commonwealth Prize for Best First Book); Is/Was by Jenny Sampirisi; Dance Hall Road by Marion Douglas; Delible by Anne Stone; Aloha, Candy Hearts (Shortlisted for The Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel, Crime Writers of Canada 2010) by Anthony Bidulka; And Baby Makes More: Known Donors, Queer Parents, and Our Unexpected Families, edited by Susan Goldberg and Chloe Brushwood Rose (Winner: Best Anthology, Non-Erotic, Golden Crown Awards, 2010)
MANUSCRIPT READER
The Humber School for Writers Literary Agency
Humber College, Cottage D, 3199 Lakeshore Blvd, Toronto, On. M8V 1K8
2004 – 2014
Read manuscripts submitted to the agency and write reports recommending representation and/or necessary editorial changes
EDITOR IN CHIEF, Diva magazine
Millivres-Prowler Ltd, Spectrum House
32-34 Gordon House Rd, London NW5 1LP, UK
January 1997 - March 2004
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Head of the Diva Business Group
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Responsible for publishing, financial and other business planning
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Responsible for editorial policy and content of Europe’s best-selling lesbian magazine International circulation: 35,000 copies monthly
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Responsible for developing and updating the content of www.divamag.co.uk, including overseeing the popular user chat rooms and discussion boards
PUBLISHER, Diva Books
Millivres-Prowler Ltd, address as above
September 1999 - July 2003
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Start-up publisher for this lesbian fiction and non-fiction imprint
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Contract negotiation with associated authors and agents
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Acted on a consultative basis regarding manuscripts for publication
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Full participation as member of Books Business Group, which had overall responsibility for financial and strategic planning
Successful publication and promotion of:
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Eleven novels
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Three fiction anthologies, including the Lambda Award-winning Groundswell
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Three non-fiction titles including Girl 2 Girl, the groundbreaking first British book for lesbian and bisexual teenagers
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Paragon Publications Inc, 2 Archer St, London W1
March 1996 - February 1997
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Oversaw production schedules on three monthly men’s magazines
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Responsible for regular digests of stories and quarterly “best of” compilations
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Working with editors, design staff, and pre-press houses, enforcing deadline and schedule
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Sub-edited all editorial content, translating from UK to US English as necessary
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Ensuring text and photographs compliance with US and Canadian law and customs guidelines
MANAGING EDITOR, Capital Gay
Stonewall Press (no longer trading)
August 1993 - December 1994
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Responsible for the editorial content of this weekly free newspaper published in London, UK
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Weekly circulation: 20,000 copies
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Managed five direct report staff
EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION, Gay Times Magazine
Millivres-Prowler Ltd, address as above
September 1987 - July 1993
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Original role as typesetter for two monthly magazines
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By 1990, was responsible for non-UK news section in Gay Times
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Also researched and produced monthly “Round Britain Gay Guide”
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Contributed book and film criticism
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Wrote feature articles
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Sub-editing on the news, features and review sections
EDITORIAL VOLUNTEER, The Body Politic
Pink Triangle Press, Toronto, Canada
(COLLECTIVE MEMBER from 1983)
1981-1986
Held various editorial and administrative positions on the staff of monthly news magazine for Canada’s lesbian and gay community, including:
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Co-ordinator of the features and reviews section
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Wrote international and domestic news, contributed book, film, and theatre criticism, features
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Volunteer co-ordinator
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Administration of classified ads
POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN PUBLISHING, Ryerson University, 2010
MEMBER, CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PINK TRIANGLE PRESS
AWARDS
Marsh Jeanneret Award. Ryerson University. October 2010
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Monthly “World Watch” international news column for Gay Times magazine (1992-2005)
Op-ed column for 365gay.com (2003-2004)
Pornography and Feminism: the case against censorship
Edited by Gillian Rodgerson & Elizabeth Wilson (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1991)
“Lesbian Erotic Explorations” in Sex Exposed: Sexuality and Pornography
Edited by Mary McIntosh & Lynne Segal (London: Virago, 1992)
LANGUAGES
Native English speaker
Conversational and some written French