About Me

From breaking news to best-selling books—experience that serves you.
 

For three decades, I’ve helped emerging and established authors write, self-publish, and land traditional book deals—including a New York Times best-selling memoir and proposals that have sold to Big Five publishers for six and seven figures.

 

Along with my book experience, I bring a journalist’s eye and a strategist’s insight to every project. At the Washington Post, I covered politics, religion, business, global crises and associated trauma, family life, and wellness. I also did time as a copy editor and fact-checker—so, yes, I obsess over restrictive clauses.

 

 

 

 

 

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I led a media strategy team at the American Bar Association, a professional association for lawyers (think fewer lawsuits, more impact). And I was senior writer for the CEO of the Pew Charitable Trusts, a billion-dollar nonprofit that uses data-based research and advocacy to save the world.

Now, cue the humble beginnings montage: Restaurant server (fired three times); hiking-trail builder; sidewalk Santa; Kelly Girl (80 wpm); and, during one ghastly winter in Syracuse, N.Y., a soda evangelist at Price Chopper.

 

Every job taught me how to listen, adapt, and tell a great story.

 

Smash cut to the current day: I’m based in Charlottesville, Va., which has eight independent bookstores as well as top-tier restaurants (ask for my recommendations). I just completed my third triathlon. My husband, Tim Wendel, has written 16 nonfiction and fiction books. And, cue the proud mama, our daughter is an emergency room physician, and our son is a software developer.

Because I believe in what publishing guru Jane Friedman calls “literary citizenship,” I’m a member of The Authors Guild, the Alliance of Independent Authors, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and WriterHouse. I serve on the board of the award-winning local news site, Charlottesville Tomorrow. And most Monday afternoons, I’m hanging at Charlottesville’s 2nd Act Books, tuning into smart readers of all genres.

If I could ghostwrite for any fictional character, it would be dragon rider and lightning wielder Violet Sorrengail from Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing. Love that girl.