I began as a copyeditor and grew into my current position as Managing Editor where I oversee book production from author contracts to final revisions, coordinate with designers and proofreaders, facilitate publicity materials, proof design layout, oversee print production, board production review, file management, finalize galleys, send out review copies and publicity, pay bills, and (sometimes) book events. I am also resident copyeditor and oversee book orders/sales and manage inventory. Further, I assist with our annual book contest, participation in conferences, including AWP, and virtual and offsite events.

I use expressive and somatic arts to facilitate creative exploration through exercises developed from practice as a writer, teacher, artist, student, and energy worker. Additionally, I copyedit, proofread, and serve as writing coach (specializing in poetry but also working in fiction and nonfiction) for individuals, small presses, and literary organizations, including the California Independent Booksellers Alliance. Occasionally, I also make artwork for sale directly or through small galleries that have shown my work.

As a freelance editor, copyeditor, and proofreader, responsibilities have included line/copyediting and suggestions for general shaping of content for a variety of publishing projects and authors.

Designed courses and evaluated student work for WR 323 (critical inquiry); WR 121 (college composition); WR 115 (intro to college composition); WR 199 (writing tutorial); WR 213 (intro to poetry); Assistant in English 300 (contemporary American short story); Consultant in the PSU Writing Center working with a variety of students and community members on a range of writing issues, structural and organizational concerns, grammar, punctuation, revision, and polishing. Previously a graduate assistant from 2006-2008.

Drafted discovery requests/responses, court pleadings, and motions pertaining to estate and trust litigation, elder financial abuse, and contested protective proceedings under Oregon law, conducted legal research and prepared documents for trial and deposition, as well as general correspondence for attorneys, interviewed witnesses and clients, initial intake of potential clients, scheduling for attorneys, regular communication with clients, experts, court staff and opposing counsel, general office support, extensive filing, answering phones, database maintenance, etc.

Responsibilities included developing course materials, teaching, evaluating student work, and giving final grades for the following: WR 121 (college composition), a writing course for lower division students that offers intensive focus on building confidence, finding a voice, and understanding academic conventions; WR 115 (intro to college comp), a writing course for lower division students to develop critical thinking abilities by reading and writing, increase their rhetorical strategies, practice writing processes, and learn textual conventions; WR 213 (intro to poetry writing), which introduces the beginning writer of poetry to basic craft elements and techniques for developing a sense of language, meter, sound, imagery, and structure; Consultant in the PSU Writing Center working with a variety of students and community members (native and non-native speakers of English) on a wide range of writing issues, structural and organizational concerns, grammar, punctuation, revision, and polishing.

In a summer program sponsored by the Governor of Jeollanam-do, I taught conversational English skills during art class to lower income elementary school children from the province and the outlying islands off the coast of South Korea.U.S. Contact: Alyse Collins, Education Abroad Advisor/Int’l Internship CoordinatorPortland State University (503) 725-8256Korean Contacts: Governor Park Joon-yung, Jeollanam-do Province - Republic of Korea - +82-61-287-2001Supervisor Nam Geun Yang, International Education Department Jeollanam-do Educational Training Institute +82-61-380-7751

As first intern and then Manager of Events and Publicity/Book Production Assistant—the first employee other than publishers and designer—I planned author tours, garnered regional/national book reviews, including a grade A- review from Entertainment Weekly for trade paperback original Clown Girl, put together press/sales kits, publicity and media mailings, orders, researched/applied for grants, fellowships, and awards, proofread/copyedited manuscripts for HB; trafficked manuscripts and related materials for print clients.

Booked authors and coordinated events for the Friends of English Literary Alliance for a variety of on-campus readings, including the Department’s annual awards ceremony: The Nina Mae Kellogg Awards, for which I secured Barry Lopez as keynote speaker. Also assisted the Literary Arts Council in production of a quarterly newsletter featuring department programs, student and faculty achievements, and with events.

Assisted Director with PA issues, communicated with community organizations, elected officials, media, company personnel and others; handled direct communication with elected officials, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, media, Safeway personnel and customers; managed ongoing office functions, correspondence, records, interaction with stores, district offices and staff; composed general business correspondence, talking points, meeting agendas, edited/proofread correspondence prepared by others; maintained/distributed budget logs and reports for Division-wide (120 stores) fundraising programs/activities; responded to and directed heavy volume of calls; reviewed and handled confidential information; prepared Director with research for media response; responded to over 100 community donations requests per week; acted department liaison for internal/external customers as required by Director; and assumed responsibility for a variety of other projects.

I booked and coordinated all author appearances for one of the largest independent bookstores on the West Coast, generated media interest, built relationships with publishers, determined general advertising needs, oversaw and/or created ads/publicity for events; project management for 8-page monthly newsletter (circ.17,000) and 24-page annual holiday gift catalog, (writing, editing, proofing, typesetting, and layout). Participated in expansion/redesign of newsletter (increased circ. 60,000); extensive public speaking, involvement with public and media, handling audiences ranging from 15 to 600+ and trained/supervised the events hosting team. Helped create and implement new policies/programs. Maintained and improved quality of author series and newsletter and maximized efficiency and profitability of individual events and the Marketing Dept. Notable authors included: Frank McCourt, Susan Sontag, Neil Gaiman, Eric Idle, Gary Snyder, Buzz Aldrin, and former president Jimmy Carter.

Responsibilities: all periodicals account activities, book group moderator, ordering, receiving, and returning books, displays. (This store went out of business; however Frank Sanchez of Kepler’s was a former supervisor.)