I love story! Learning to write fiction naturally followed my years of reading pleasure. My writer’s journey now spans over 30 years.
I wrote and published three novels in adult women’s contemporary fiction – Night Cries (women’s fiction), ConneXions (psychological suspense), and SeaStruck (paranormal romance). Go to Thelma’s Books for details.
My training ground was the “confessions” market. I sold over 40 short stories to women’s magazines such as True Story, True Confessions and True Experience (issue-based, dramatic and often romantic stories written by professional writers). These magazines were produced by NYC publishers including Sterling/Macfadden, Dorchester Media and Harris Publications and had a mass readership of 150,000 to 200,000.
To improve imagery in my prose, I studied poetry and became an award-winning tanka poet. My tanka (a short, lyric verse that originated in Japan) has regularly been published in literary journals and anthologies.
For ten years, I worked as a life coach and motivational speaker to help people overcome limiting beliefs and go after their dreams. Then I refocused on my own dream of fiction writing.
When writing novels, I wanted a clearer understanding of story structure. To that end, I took Michael Hauge’s Story Mastery Seminar, attended conferences (including the Florida Suncoast Writers’ Conference) and participated in multiple workshops given by bestselling authors. I also studied the teachings of literary notables like Pearl S. Buck, Elizabeth George, Sol Stein, and Donald Maass and led local writers’ critique groups.
My writing has often been praised for its clarity. I freelance edited at the corporate level of a major multinational and also published dozens of articles in the self-development field, primarily on the Web. Fiction, though, is what makes my heart sing.
I learned that I enjoy EDITING other people’s books and engaging in THEIR imaginary worlds as much as my own. Today’s marketplace demands excellence in writing. I work with authors to improve characterization, fix plot holes, increase story tension and more.
Recently I made the Best Book Editors list at kindlepreneur, a well-known marketing site for Indie authors.
I offer developmental editing services for ADULT WOMEN’S contemporary fiction. My preferences: Women’s Fiction, Family Saga, Mystery/Suspense, Romantic or Psychological Suspense, Mystic Realism, and Light Paranormal/Fantasy.
(I do NOT handle Erotica, Horror, or Dark Paranormal/Fantasy. This means no demons, black witches, vampires or their ilk.)
I thrive with teamwork and welcome the opportunity to help make your story better. Please go to editing services to find out more.
Thanks for visiting!