Overview
My career has developed over the years from editing books to editing magazine (specializing in travel), then to writing travel, craft, and popular history books and publishing magazine articles focused on the arts, places, and personality profiles. Meanwhile I've continued to collaborate with other writers on their book manuscripts. I've worked on memoirs, nonfiction narratives, business books, cookbooks, and essay collections. One of the projects went on to become a long-running TV series.Nonfiction is my specialty, and I've worked closely with writers at every stage of book development, from initial ideas, to organization, pacing, and tone, and seeing that the manuscript is ready for the printer. My goal is always to create the most engaging book possible, preserving the author's voice and providing a clear, enjoyable reading experience for the audience.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Management
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits
Travel
True Crime
Languages
English (US)
Awards
- Gold Lowell Thomas Award (SATW) for Island Dreams: Caribbean (Thames & Hudson)
- PATA Journalist of the Year (1995)
Work experience
Self-employed
Jun, 2002 —
Present
My early career was in book publishing. In 1979 I joined the National Geographic Society as a book editor and later became the founding editor of National Geographic Traveler. I later moved to Santa Barbara to become the editor of Islands Magazine, a post I held for 13 years. For almost two decades I've been a freelance writer and editor, writing 8 books and hundreds of magazine pieces, and working with countless authors to bring their own books to fruition, both with conventional and custom publishers and self-publishers. One of the best known projects—Army Wives by Tanya Biank— went on to become a longtime TV series in the United States.
Portfolio
Joan has 2 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Leo M.
Mar, 2026
Sally S.
Aug, 2020
