Hi! I’m Joanne, and I’m a book shepherd.
That means I know a good bit about the publishing process and can lead you through whatever steps you need me for. I specialize in serving self-publishing memoirists and other writers with a deeply personal story, whether it’s expressed in fiction or nonfiction form.
My contributions to your book’s production
Manuscript evaluation
I take a look at your story flow and help you craft that engaging experience for your readers without interfering with the beauty of your own literary voice.
Line/copy editing
I take a practical and flexible approach to the grammar-and-puncuation thing that honors your voice and also gives everyone a smooth read.
Design/layout
I specialize in simple interior layouts for self-published books. For cover layouts, I enjoy referring you to one of my more visually artistic colleagues!
Proofreading
If you are all set with your writing, editing, and layout, I can provide that extra set of eyes to check your book for typos and layout irregularities—the final polish.
Distribution and printing
Serious book shepherding now begins. I get to be your guide through decisions on where and how to get your book distributed to online, and if you wish, brick and mortar bookstores.
Marketing
I take a very practical approach to marketing your book. We get to work with agents, proposals, niche publishers, websites and maybe even social media campaigns to enhance your visibility over the long term.
From my clients . . .
For The Sacred You and The Heart Knows
Joanne was a great help in proofreading and helping me get across the message I was writing about. She gave insightful feedback that helped me understand the reader’s perspective and where within my writing I had failed to fully clarify my meanings. She was astute, friendly and caring in her work.
For My Dogs
Joanne served as my partner in publishing my memoir. She shepherded me expertly through developmental editing, book design and the often bewildering steps to finally get self-published. I recommend Joanne highly for help with your book. Read more . . .
Great editor with a sharp eye for detail!
Joanne edited my first book, Wonder and the Medicine Wheels: A Rainbow Warrior’s Tale. She helped prepare my work for publishing with a keen eye, patience and understanding. Joanne also came up with some great ideas and suggestions that helped to bring flow to my book as a whole. A great editor with an open mind for different kinds of literature. Thanks Joanne! All the very best!
An indispensable voice in the writing of my memoir
She has edited two books for me at this point, and her guidance never fails to provide the direction I need to sharpen my focus and strengthen my story. I so appreciate that her expertise is offered with humor, wisdom, kindness, and intuition. I am so grateful for Joanne’s invaluable presence and assistance through the incredibly intimate process of memoir book writing!
Let's talk about your creative spark, and the process of publication.
