About

Editor of Select Fiction and Nonfiction

When I was 5 years old, I lived 100 feet from Carter Glass Library in Reston, Virginia. I haunted the place. When I was 13, Reston’s Used Book Shop opened its doors. I discovered the golden age of science fiction.

I majored in comparative literature at the University of Virginia, graduating at 20 with three journal articles accepted for publication in three different fields. I got my law degree at William & Mary Law School and went to work immediately as a prosecutor.

I am now in my second career as an editor and ghostwriter. I left the legal profession so as to care for a family member whose needs began to escalate in 2012. Today he is an adult and I am his legal guardian, and the only regret I have is in not switching to editing and ghostwriting sooner. I miss the courtroom. I do not miss the conflict baked in to the practice of law. I love editing and ghostwriting.

I made the decision to join the profession on September 30, 2013, but I did not open my virtual doors until early 2015. You don’t go to bed a lawyer and wake up an editor, and I made sure to get the right coursework, training, and mentoring first. I am a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Like every professional, I continue to take continuing professional development classes.

When I am not editing or ghostwriting, I read books in the genres that I edit, as well as select nonfiction. I’m currently writing a police procedural/science fiction crossover. I’m an AstraZeneca Stage III COVID-19 vaccine trial participant who got the vaccine and I’m boosted with the Pfizer vaccine, which kind of makes me feel like a member of a family where two sides like rival sports teams.

In May 2021, when everyone in my orbit was vaccinated, I went back to Tactical Black (a variant of Krav Maga). It took me three months to get my conditioning back!

I also admit to watching medical/first-responder soap operas like Grey’s Anatomy, Station-19, 9-1-1, and The Good Doctor. Favorites are Flashpoint and Code Black, but those were cancelled. There is zero realism to these shows except that some people are occasionally called “doctor.” I’m a Trekkie, and I’m also waiting for The Orville‘s second season. (Also, Archer, Janeway, Kirk, Sisko, my cat, some rocks, Picard. Discovery ruined the Klingons. Change my mind.)

I could tell you my favorite books, but the list is too long. My favorite Scotch is Glenlivet 14 and my favorite wine is Terrain Vineyards Red Blend ($4.99 at Trader Joe’s).

I have two editorial assistants. The senior assistant is Joey, large dilute calico, and the junior assistant is Frederick, an 85-pound mutt.