Overview
• earned my MA in English Literature studying the creative process and analyzing high fantasy with cognitive neuroscience
• former editor at Capstone providing a keen, reptilian eye from initial concept to the final proofreads to ensure each book offers quality, intriguing content (with a nose for snuffling out the content best suited to different reading levels and ages)
• instructor of writing and literature courses, making me an excellent developmental editor—my talon-sharp focus tightens plots, enhances characters, and torches inconsistencies to best showcase author voice and individuality.
With both hatchling and seasoned authors, my collaboration on their projects has added distinct value. This book dragon will find the gems in your treasure trove of words and help you polish them to put on display. Whether they take the form of an indie pub or find a traditional home, feed me your words, and I can help you make that dream become more than a fantasy!
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“Working with Gina gives me a sense of confidence that my manuscript is ready to share with the key players in the publishing industry — my agent and future potential editors. I feel like it's the icing on the cake that lets me know I can submit my work with pride. Gina gets to the point about what I can improve. And I can take her advice and use it as I create my next project. It's worth it to work with a professional, experienced editor like Gina. She wants you to succeed and offers suggestions to help you reach that goal. I am always so grateful I found an editor I can trust.”
—Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Author
Award-winning children's book author
“Gina is an excellent writer and editor, with a fine attention to detail. I had the pleasure of managing Gina at Capstone Publishers. Much of our work was for an International market, and Gina became very adept at ensuring our books and products were suitable for the Australian, UK and International markets.”
—Clare Lewis, Managing Editor, UK
Capstone Global Library
“Her feedback on my manuscript was prompt, positive, and crammed with smart edits. I always felt that she and I were a team and that she believed in my writing.”
—Emma Carlson Berne, Author
Over fifty titles, including stories for Star Wars Forces of Destiny and American Girl Publishing
“Working with Gina as an editor on my novel was a game-changer. She is incredibly gifted at understanding the vision behind the written work while unlocking the potential in a story through thoughtful editing. She was a wizard at keeping me on track and providing critical editing suggestions throughout the process.”
—Victoria Tecken, Author of Phased (2020)
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Work experience
Self-employed
Using brain science hacks, hoarded craft knowledge, and solution-based direction, this book dragon helps science-fiction and fantasy authors get their stories — whether on the page or still in their heads — ready to enchant their readers.
• Provides content and mechanical edits (assessments, developmental edits, copy edits, and proofreads). A complimentary 60-minute post-edit call is offered with each content edit.
• Coaches authors in ideation, story foundations, and revision providing regular calls, chapter-by-chapter feedback, project management, and writing accountability as well as query coaching
• Writes content and copy for publishers, specializing in fiction
• Offers indexing, fact checking, research, and Americanization
Meredith Corporation (now Dotdash Meredith)
Copy edited for the digital team, working with content writers and production to produce high volumes of newsletters across brands, including Allrecipes, Better Homes and Gardens, Food and Wine, Health, Martha Stewart Living, Parents, Real Simple, Southern Living, Travel and Leisure, etc., each with their own styles:
• Reviewed drafts of newsletter content
• Proofed newsletter content
• Implemented a more streamlined editorial process for the digital team
• Created a definitive style guide for the company, which is still in use today
Capstone
Edited products for library, trade, and classroom markets in children's literature:
• Provided feedback to authors on outlines and manuscripts
• Conducted fact checking, indexing, copy editing, and proofing
• Edited assigned children’s titles and professional/teacher products for content, grammar, and style (CMOS) from draft through layout and final proofs
• Wrote captions and back cover copy
• Selected images and provided direction for book layouts
• Provided metadata for searchability
Capstone
• Edited products for the classroom market with attention to content, grammar, and style
• Collaborated with authors and consultants to keep text within specified levels and linked to curriculum
Capstone
• Researched and acquired media content for educational, nonfiction children's books and online products within budgets and deadlines, collaborating with editors and designers
• Wrote image captions
• Recorded media information and usage in a company database
• Confirmed image rights for appropriate usage
Capstone
• Completed edits for over 30 nonfiction children's books in seven different series transferred from the UK ranging in subjects from animals, habitats, country guides, local and family history, international folk tales, and the conservation efforts of selected women.
• Managed book projects by communicating with designers and media researchers to complete books by set deadlines
• Edited and Americanized text for grammar, accuracy, and style
• Incorporated comments from support editors, authors, consultants, and fact checkers
• Rewrote content as necessary for US marketability
• Selected photos for US and UK marketability along with appropriate visual content within a budget
• Suggested design edits/changes for clarity and consistency
• Wrote indexes and captions
• Proofed final layouts
• Followed directions from managing editor and attended weekly update meetings to consult with UK staff
South Central College
Taught Writing and English II in the classroom with online components
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Taught three sections of introduction to composition in the classroom with online components
Bethany Lutheran College
Taught college writing and journalism in the classroom with online components
Henderson Independent
Completed all aspects of the local weekly newspaper:
• Reported, wrote, proofed, and edited newspaper content
• Designed ads and special features
• Took photos and edited them for printing
• Completed newspaper layouts
• Provided customer service and completed local print jobs
• Delivered papers to newsstands
University of South Dakota
Taught two sections per semester of either freshmen composition or introduction to literature
Inkwell
Chose submissions for inclusion in the literary magazine, edited selections, and completed the overall layout and design
Inkwell
Portfolio
Gina has 16 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
Liz H.
Feb, 2022
Pinned
Ashley S.
Aug, 2021
Pinned
Lori T.
May, 2021
Pinned
Jesse S.
Nov, 2023
Laura R.
Sep, 2023
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