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

Editing – fiction

MS_A_la_recherche_du_temps_perduAs an experienced writer with in-depth knowledge of the speculative genres, especially fantasy, I enjoy reading works that other writers are preparing for publication. I will be happy to copy-edit your work and offer informed comment on plot, style and technique.

One of my great loves has long been Speculative Fiction – an umbrella term for such sub-genres as Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. I’ve been reading it since I was in my teens – earlier, in fact, since Enid Blyton and numerous fairy story books filled my book shelves from pre-school days. My fascination for fantasy has never palled.

Stories of long-ago-and-far-away, replete with magic and wonder, are my favourites. These fall under various sub-genres and even sub-sub-genres – high fantasy, epic fantasy, historical fantasy – as long as it has that element that teaches me something about what it means to be human through the struggle inherent in the universal human dilemmas, depicted in allegorical or symbolic terms, I will read it and love it.

As a writer myself, I know how important it is to have input from my peers and those more experienced in the craft than I am. I already beta-read for some fine writers and have been lucky enough to receive mentorship and teaching from some of them. I’m happy to pass on what I’ve learnt. If you’re thinking of self-publishing and need a professional eye over your ms, get in touch with me and I’ll give you a quote. As a rough guide, see under Charges.