Overview
“The world of publishing is growing more complicated, but also more interesting for those willing to think outside the box. I know I am, and having Phil Athans out there as a resource takes the scare out of it.”
—R.A. Salvatore, author of The Legend of Drizzt
It's not just my job to find what's wrong with a book, but to preserve and encourage what's right about it.
No two manuscripts, and no two authors, are exactly the same. No two edits will be either. So what do I look for when I start an edit?
Everything.
And I mean literally everything from big-picture issues like story structure and worldbuilding to grammar and usage--always with your unique goals and your unique voice in mind.
I’ve worked with a wide range of publisher, author, and other clients including Pixar Animation Studios, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Amazon/57 North, Pyr, Appalachian Mountain Club Books, Wizards of the Coast, Permuted Press, and almost too many indie authors--at all experience levels across a range of genres and categories--to count.
I’ve worked extensively in fiction (primarily fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but other genres as well), non-fiction (from books on the software industry to camping and kayaking guides), gaming (digital and tabletop), and more.
I've been working in publishing since 1986.
IF IT’S GOT WORDS, I CAN HELP MAKE IT BETTER.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Wizards of the Coast
I had primary responsibility for the strategic and tactical goals of a multi-million dollar adult and children’s trade publishing enterprise. I created or was instrumental in helping create several brand identities, including the Discoveries and Mirrorstone imprints, led a cross-functional team with representatives from all areas of the company, crafted marketing and sales communications for both consumer-facing and business-to-business strategies, worked with licensees in everything from audiobook creation to electronic gaming, managed P&Ls, scheduling, and other aspects of getting products into the marketplace, and led a staff of professionals through complex and unforgiving workflow demands.
Self-employed
Founder and sole proprietor of a creative services consulting agency, specializing in all aspects of transmedia expression and brand development, such as creative IP development, branding, licensing and distribution, and recruiting. My specific skills in this agency include writing and editing; traditional, e-book, and audiobook publishing; marketing communications (consumer-facing and B2B); copywriting; advertising; and marketing.
Portfolio
