On this site….

....you will find information on the various services I offer as well as meanderings about reading, writing, editing and publishing, and odd snippets about genealogy, astrology, meditation, belly dancing and who knows what else?

Free sample!

Of course, you'll want to check out the quality of my work and decide if I'm the right person to handle your precious manuscript, thesis, dissertation, family history or website - or, in fact, any other kind of editing job! If you are a new client, e-mail me up to ten pages of your work and I will give them my best attention within two working days, absolutely free!

If your work totals more than 100 pages I will edit ten pages or 3,500ww, whichever is the less, completely free of charge, and if the work is shorter I will edit a proportional amount: e.g. if you have a twenty page essay or short story, I will edit the first two pages or the first 700 words, whichever is the less.

Or, if you'd like a taste of the fascinating information in your natal horoscope, send me your place, date and time of birth. (Sorry - I only do horoscopes for which this information is known.)

Sign up for these free offers here. (Note that these offers are for new clients only.)

About me
I'm an experienced writer and editor of both non-fiction and fiction.


Editing - non-fiction

Much of my editing work comes from academics, especially PhD students, but I also research, write and edit other non-fiction work, especially reviews, biographies and family and local histories.

Editing - fiction

I am a well-practised beta-reader and critic of speculative fiction and am currently a sub-editor for The Specusphere, an e-zine for the Speculative Fiction community, an e-zine for the Speculative Fiction community that features book reviews and articles about fantasy, sci-fi, horror and more.

Historical fiction and high fantasy are my specialist sub-genres, but I’m delighted to edit or proof-read books in most areas of fiction writing.

My experience

From a background in the performing arts, principally dance and music, I switched to writing in these areas in 1987. I have written reviews and feature articles for various prestigious publications including ArtsWest, Dance Australia, Music Maker and The Australian.

I pride myself on having a broad general knowledge, and have written or edited in non-fiction areas ranging from the arts (both performing and visual) and humanities (Astrology and Genealogy as well as academic disciplines such as History, Social Work, Women's Studies etc) through to Physiotherapy, Law, Business Studies, IT, and even an occasional Engineering effort. I critique, proof-read, edit and read "slush" for historical and speculative fiction writers and publishers, too.

Fiction wise? Well, a decade or so back I was bitten by the fantasy bug and I have just about written the million words they say you have to write before you are any good. Any morning now I will wake up to find that I’m as good as some of my favourite authors. (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)

My bits of paper

I hold a BA in Religious Studies, an Associate Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) and the certificate of the Federation of Australian Astrologers. For what it’s worth, I also have a Certificate in Rural Studies – I’m the only person I know who’s been both a ballet teacher and a pig farmer!

And how did this strange combination make me into an editor? Click here to find out!

Fun things

In my spare time I enjoy:

Family History


Astrology



Meditation


Yoga
(This will have its own page eventually!)

Belly Dancing



Although I regard these primarily as hobbies or life skills these days, I will write you professional family history - or help you write your own - and I occasionally offer workshops in meditation. I will also write astrological reports to order. Click on the links above to find out more!

Archives

All gone Min-con – until another day!

Sunday’s mini-con went off without a hitch, thank heavens. Panellists, readers, and audience all seemed to have a good time, and many compliments have come in, some asking when the next one will be! This was the second mini-con the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre’s Speculative Fiction Group has held, and although neither one has been hard to organise, the many little jobs that have to be done – mainly in the realms of telephone and email – do take time. I spent at least two days last week doing little but fire off emails, answer the replies, pass information on to others, going back and forth with Qs and As. I know my co-convenor Helen Venn was also rushed off her feet during what was a busy enough period for her without the mini-con!

Readings from Adrian Bedford, Juliet Marillier, and Laney Cairo were especially well received and there is little doubt that the favourite panels were “How to Handle Rejections”, with Adrian Bedford, Russell Farr, Simon Haynes and Bevan McGuiness and “How to get out of the Slushpile”, with Lyn Battersby, Janet Blagg, Stephen Dedman, Alisa Krasnostein and Tehani Wessely.

Helen and I were more than ably assisted by a wonderful team including Annette Backshall, Toby Coulstock, Dorathy Duperouzel, James and Margaret Hansen, Sonia Helbig, Karen Laneaux, Yvonne Lewis, Joanne Mills and Carol Ryles. Lots of others, some of them unknown to me, pitched in and helped on the day, too, helping to create a really worthwhile event. Hugs and thanks to you all!

Lee Battersby, among others, got some great pics. Check ‘em out and see what a great day we had!

Update: More pics, these being from Toby Coulstock, can be seen here!

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