I have worked in book publishing since 1991, starting with an in-house production assistant position in a tiny books department at a professional association. That first job exposed me to and gave me hands-on experience in all aspects of book publishing, from acquisitions to warehousing.
Stints as a production editor and electronic journals production manager at a university press and then as a project manager and developmental editor at a textbook packager followed, but I knew since the early days of my career that I was most suited to running my own publishing services business.
Pax Studio LLC was formed in 2014, but I had been a full-time freelancer for more than nine years at that point, and I had been going editorial work on the side since almost day one of my career. Additionally, I had a second business in the art space. I learned a few things along the way, so in 2013, I started giving presentations on the topic of running a successful solo business.
I have a BA in journalism from Ohio State University and completed the Capstone program (equivalent to a business minor, which wasn’t a thing at OSU back in the day), and I’m one course short of a minor in both art history and sociology. What can I say? My interests are diverse.
I completed the Stanford Professional Publishing Course in 1996 and returned for their alumni program in 2002.
I am a co-author of Cat Lover’s Daily Companion (with Kristen Hampshire and Iris Bass; Quarry, 2009).
Presentations & Appearances
Podcasts
January 2025: The Editor’s Half Hour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqudtASFB4k)
March 2025: Leaving Academia (https://youtu.be/DwNbUKGuSK4)
2020: That Word Chat (Zoom-based chat show for all things lexical), guest with the Quad (mastermind group) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZklzVe_i4)
ACES: The Society for Editing Conference
2016: Amp Up Your Freelance Business with Systems
2017: Streamline Your Business with Systems
2023: Act Like a Business (panel); Systems & Shortcuts
2024: Get It (and Keep It) Together: Project Management Basics for Individuals
ACES: The Society for Editing Virtual Conference
2024: Systems & Shortcuts
2025: Pack Your Parachute: Contingency Planning for Freelance Editors
Editorial Freelancers Association National Conference
2019: Systems & Shortcuts
2023: Styles from the Ground Up; Systems & Shortcuts; What We Wish We’d Known before We Started Freelancing (panel with Amy J. Schneider and Jeanette Fast Redmond)
Editorial Freelancers Association Virtual Conference
2025: Pack Your Parachute: Contingency Planning for Freelance Editors (scheduled for September 2025)
Editorial Freelancers Association Chapter Meetings
2015: Systems & Shortcuts (Ohio)
2016: Systems & Shortcuts (Ohio)
2018: Systems & Shortcuts (Florida)
2020: Systems & Shortcuts (Florida)
Northwest Editors Guild Red Pencil Conference
2023: Systems & Shortcuts for Working with Indie Authors; Level Up Your Business (panel with Amy J. Schneider, Erin Brenner, Laura Poole, and Sarah Grey)
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK)
2020: Editorial Mastermind Groups (panel)
Editors Tea Club
2025: Presentations Ask Me Anything (two parts; with Julie Willson and Jennifer Yankopolus)
Communication Central
2016: Systems & Shortcuts
Memberships
ACES: The Society for Editors
Editorial Freelancers Association
Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading (UK) — Professional Member