Overview
I am a freelance editor and writer with experience in both the newspaper and publishing industries.
I have worked at two daily newspapers in South Africa (the Evening Post in Port Elizabeth and the Daily Dispatch in East London), as well as at two of South Africa’s leading education publishers (Oxford University Press and Pearson Education).
Over the years, I worked my way up the publishing food chain. I moved from cub reporter to features editor, from desk editor to managing editor and from senior editor to senior commissioning editor.
I have helped develop English language learning and teaching materials for schools in many different African countries, including South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Cameroon, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The materials I work on range from early childhood development through to the school exit years.
My particular interest is in making English accessible to second language learners, but it is not limited to this field. I also work on academic text and trade publications.
I currently work independently as a freelance editor and writer from my home office in Cape Town.
I write a blog (which is currently in development) on language and grammar issues.
With a profound knowledge of the book production processes, I am able to offer a comprehensive and professional editorial service tailored to your needs.
No job is too big or too small.
Services
Non-Fiction
Education & Reference
ELT
Health & Wellbeing
Sports & Outdoors
Writing & Publishing
Fiction
Holiday
Literary Fiction
Short Story
Languages
English (SA)
Works with
WordPress
Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts degrees in Translation/French and Applied Linguistics
Work experience
Self-employed
Feb, 2010 —
Present
I offer freelance writing, editing and proofreading services tor companies such as Oxford University Press, Pearson Education, Cambridge University Press and Juta Academic. The work entails taking titles from raw manuscript through to printed/published book.
Pearson Education, Cape Town
Jun, 2009 —
Feb, 2010
(8 months)
Nature of job: Manuscript development/overwriting, editing and proofreading (contract position).
Pearson Education, Cape Town
Feb, 2004 —
Jun, 2009
(over 5 years)
Nature of job: Commissioning manuscripts for schools in Lesotho, Swaziland and the Democratic Republic of Congo, liaising with UNICEF on a girl child initiative, liaising with NGOs and ministries of education, interpreting and translating from French/English, people management, budget control, writing, manuscript development and editing.
Longman, Cape Town
Feb, 2003 —
Jun, 2004
(over 1 year)
Nature of job: Managing titles for a number of African countries (Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana and Malawi), author liaison, management of freelancers, budgeting and scheduling.
Oxford University Press, Cape Town
Feb, 1999 —
Jun, 2003
(over 4 years)
Nature of job: Editing, proofreading, artwork commissioning, project management and budget control for academic and educational titles.
Evening Post, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Jan, 1991 —
Nov, 1991
(10 months)
Nature of job: Cub reporter, news writer.
Daily Dispatch, East London, South Africa
Jan, 1989 —
Nov, 1992
(almost 4 years)
Nature of job: Managing features department, sub-editing and writing.
