Overview
I edit books that help people. This includes fiction and nonfiction books that deal directly with difficult issues like grief, injustice, and illness, as well as educational and reference texts.
I specialize in historical fiction, short stories, YA, literary nonfiction (memoir, etc.), and therapeutic self-help books that deal with mental health, difficult family relationships, social and racial justice, and healing. My passion for these topics stems from my own struggles and healing process, my years of teaching in alternative education settings, and my experience as a former foster parent and the adoptive mom of two wonderful kids with special needs.
One of my favorite projects was completing a developmental edit for the award-winning A Series of Small Maneuvers by Eliot Treichel. This YA novel deals with the teenage protagonist's grief over the death of her father. Another highlight was copyediting Ruth Tenzer Feldman's The Blue Thread, which deals with women's rights through a historical fiction lens. The Blue Thread won the Oregon Book Award for Young Adult fiction. I have also copyedited and proofread multiple poetry and short-story collections with related themes.
Another passion of mine is working on educational and instructional/DIY texts. For example, editing and project managing for the book, We Belong in History: Writing with William Stafford was a joy. This book offered educators ideas for teaching William Stafford's poetry in the classroom and included a collection of student poems modeled on Stafford's work. In the instructional/DIY space, I really enjoy working with fiber arts texts. I have been sewing for the past 35 years, knitting for 25, and have edited a variety of garment-sewing pattern booklets for Fabrics-Store dot com.
Please reach out with any questions or thoughts about your book project. I will be happy to talk with you and see if we would be a good fit!
Services
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- Master of Arts in Writing with a Focus on Book Publishing
- Master of Arts in Teaching with Specialization in English Language Arts
- Oregon Writing Project Fellow
- TESOL Certification
Work experience
Cuesta Community College
I teach writing, English grammar, and English as an additional language to students at Cuesta Community College. I cover the editing process extensively in my classes.
Self-employed
I provide developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading services for authors. I completed a developmental edit for A Series of Small Maneuvers by Eliot Treichel, which debuted with a starred review in Publisher's Weekly and earned high praise from the Huffington Post. This YA novel won a Readers Choice Award at the Oregon Book Awards and a Reading the West Award. In addition to book editing, I also edit sewing pattern booklets for Fabrics-, as well as blogs and newsletters for various private therapists' practices.
Ooligan Press
Provided developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading services. I worked on the The Blue Thread, a YA novel by Ruth Tenzer Feldman, and Close is Fine, a short story collection by Eliot Treichel, both of which won Oregon Book Awards.
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
I provided writing and editing services for science-related educational and reference materials. Please see the State of the Bay reports from 2014 through 2023 on the Morro Bay National Estuary Program website () for examples.
MINDBODY, Inc.
I copyedited technical articles, blogs, and how-to content. I also created MINDBODY's first company-wide style guide.
The Portland Review
I copyedited and proofread short stories, poetry, and short-form memoir.
Arts and Technologies High School and Summit High School
Taught academic and creative writing, literature, and visual arts to high school students. This experience gave me insight into YA fiction from my students' perspectives.
Portfolio
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Rachel has 14 reviews
Professionalism
Quality
Value
Responsiveness
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A B.
May, 2023
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Sarah H.
May, 2023
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Ana M.
Mar, 2023
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Ana M.
Jan, 2023
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Wendy S.
Dec, 2022
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