Objective
Using my writing, editing and/or web design skills to help attract and retain clients for clients’ businesses.
Work experience
Writing, editing, publishing and proofreading (print and digital), 1995-present
Nutrition writer, Demand Media (supplies content to Livestrong.com, SFGate.com, et al.). Ongoing.
Contract proofreader, Aon Hewitt, fall 2012. Proofread (and sometimes edited) a variety of print and web materials on employee benefits.
Author/co-author of eight food-related books, including Wok Every Day (Chronicle, 2003) and Very Merry Cookie Party (Chronicle, 2010).
Recipe developer for Rodale’s Sunday Dinners cookbook, 2008.
Publisher, Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child (1999, 2003)
Web development and design, digital book conversions, 2000-current
Proprietor of V3 Graphics, part-time Web development firm. Most recent project is redesign of Chicago-North Romance Writers of America chapter’s website. Have also converted several print books to ebook formats.
Chicago Sun-Times, 1977-1994 (500,000+-circulation daily newspaper)
Food/nutrition reporter (1986-1994)
Was part of a four-person team that helped make the Food section one of the Sun-Times’ most popular and profitable features sections. Duties included:
- Interviewing chefs, home cooks, academic researchers, et al.
- Writing and editing
- Working with graphic designers on cover concepts
- Recipe testing
Features copy desk chief (1983-1986)
Supervised a staff of 13. In addition to copy editing duties, duties included:
- Devising editing tests for job applicants
- Conducting job performance reviews
- Acting as interpreter/arbiter of copy style for Features department
Features copy editor (1977-1983)
Education
B.A. in journalism, Indiana University.
Digital Design Certificate from Sessions.edu, an accredited online school of graphic design.
Skills
Expert/advanced: AP style, Chicago Manual of Style, HTML, CSS, PHP, LAMP stack, WordPress, InDesign, Mac platform
Proficient: Photoshop, Acrobat, JavaScript/jQuery, Windows platform, e-book conversion, responsive web design, Gregg style manual