Chelsea Baxter Editorial Services

Please welcome freelance editor and writer Chelsea Baxter to Writers in Business.

Thanks for having me Brigitte.

Give us a little background as to how and why you started your own editing and writing business.

I used to be an in-house Editor for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. I started at the bottom and worked my way up after learning a plethora of valuable information about editing and the publishing process. After seeing several coworkers take the plunge into freelancing, I started brainstorming how I'd manage a career outside the confines of a corporate office. I soon realized that most, if not all of my work could be done from home. Plus, I learned that autonomy in my workplace is very important to me. There were priorities I had a home, and a home-based business was the perfect solution.

I didn’t get started immediately. I freelanced while working other jobs for two years before I started my business. After about a year of smaller editing projects, I left my full-time job and took a part-time position so I could focus more energy on building the business. After a year at the part-time job I found several other clients and had enough work to stay at home full time.

What type of services do you offer and how can writers and publishers take advantage of them?

I work with authors and publishers to create the best product possible. My services include copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, ghost writing, rewriting and much more. I've also done several writing assignments. I edit manuscripts, Web sites, newsletters, magazines and educational products. When I work with publishing companies I'm often on board for the entire process, so I also offer services such as cast offs, book maps, photo research and copy fitting.

I'm still in the process of creating a Web site, so if you'd like to inquire about my services you can e-mail me.

Where can we find samples of your work?
If you’d like to see a sample of a recent editing project, take a look at Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers by none other than Brigitte Thompson. You can check out a sample of my writing in Suspense Magazine. I write a column titled Tales of a Fiction Junkie that discusses fiction from a fan's point of view. I'm always willing to share more samples upon request.

The life of an in-house editor can vary greatly from a freelance editor. What are some of the differences and what tools have helped you combat any disadvantages?

Creating a routine took some time. I discovered that when I didn't set days and times to work, I would procrastinate. So I'd say an important tool is a schedule.

Another “tool” that I highly recommend is colleagues. Since you don't have a staff of editors to collaborate with, I suggest joining editing, publishing and writing groups. I found a couple on Yahoo and I remain in contact with editors from my previous jobs as well. These professionals keep me in touch with the industry and are a great source for feedback.

The other item I have is an entire bookshelf filled with style and grammar guides, dictionaries, thesauruses and any other items I've found helpful over the years.

Lastly, have a list of trusted job sources. I've found that if I apply for jobs before my current project is over it usually works out so that when one project is ending, another one begins. This limits the amount of downtime between projects (and paychecks).

What advice can you suggest to other editors who are looking to start freelancing and possibly their own business?

If possible, get your experience working as an in-house editor first. Seeing the entire publishing process from start to finish was priceless. Plus, some of those colleagues may continue to offer support and professional guidance later in your career. I suggest starting on small freelance projects while you still have the stability of a full-time job. I know it’s not an option for everyone, but it’s a great way to build your clients and resume. It can be exhausting to work all day and then come home to do more of the same, but knowing that it’s for your own business is great motivation to persevere.

I have had the pleasure of working with Chelsea and highly recommend her services. As an editor, Chelsea has a wonderful way of encouraging writers to bring out their best. As a writer, her work is amazing! Chelsea is dedicated to each project she accepts. She is efficient and produces consistently exemplary work. Please contact Chelsea through e-mail with any questions or to find out how she can help with your current or future project.

Chelsea, thank you for sharing your editorial and writing services with us.

Paranormal romance writer Bethany Cagle shares her light and dark sides of writing

Please welcome Brynna Curry, also writing as Brianna Roarke, to Writers in Business.

Thank you, Brigitte. Some of you may remember Earth Enchanted as an Embrace the Shadow's clash of the cover winner. I'm the author of Gypsy Moon under the name Brianna Roarke and feed my love of books as a book reviewer for You Gotta Read Reviews. I also judge several RWA writing contests a year, including the 'Molly', 'Gotcha', Fab5 and Reveal Your Inner Vixen contests and I'm the forth member of the Frightening Journeys blog writers.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm married with three teenagers and by day I'm a secretary for a construction company. As Brynna Curry I write light paranormal romance and suspense. On the other side of the coin is my dark side, Brianna Roarke writing steamy dark paranormal romance.

What can readers expect from your new release Earth Enchanted out now from Lyrical Press?

Earth Enchanted is the first in a series of five books featuring the Corrigans from Ireland, a family with a ancestry of mages. Liv Corrigan, telepath and writer,visits her brother in the states only to find he's neck deep in a diamond smuggling ring. While there she meets ex-cop Jackson Roarke, a man with secrets still reeling from his wife's death. Here is a short blurb.

Earth Enchanted

TAG: When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamonds

BLURB: Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack's wife turns out to be after him too.

Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv's mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

What comes next in this series and which characters will make an appearance in the upcoming books?

After Earth Enchanted, To Take Up The Sword flash forwards to the end of the trial for Ashton Smythe, Gueraldi's (the villian from EE) right hand man. When Smythe is set free, Agent Spiller (EE), convinced Serena Roarke hid more diamonds there, goes back to Alabama in search of missing evidence that would have convicted her killer. Leannan O'Neal, Serena's sister, goes into the wind after the destruction of her home and threats on her life. She meets up with Spiller and together they try to get the diamonds to safety before both are killed.

What is your writing process like?

Chaotic. Between work, three teenagers (one of whom is a cheerleader. We are in the world of endless basketball season now.), a husband and the house I'm remodeling (Yes, I'm a DIY'er), I never know how long, when, or where I'll find the time to write, but I always do. If its something you love, you make time for it. As for the process itself, I just sit down at the computer, open up and listen to the characters and try to keep them going where I want them too. Sometimes, I'll go back and read the previous scenes or write the ending first. That way I won't rush the story.

Any advice you'd give to aspiring authors?

Read. If you like to read a variety of genres, get into e-book reviewing. You'll learn alot about house style and what works. Write about what you know. Write the best story you possibly can and then edit it. Then visit the Absolute Write Water Cooler and all the helpful folks there. Join a critique group and find one whose not afraid to be brutal. Some good online yahoo groups are RWC, PNWriters and if you are a parent, ParentsInk or Momwriters. Always do your research.

You can learn more about the Elemental Magic Series and Brynna's other projects on her site or stop by one of her blogs and say hello.

Her web site, her blogs In Shadows, andFrightening Journeys.

You can also find her on Twitter as BrynnaCurry and on Facebook as Bethany Cagle.

I hope you'll drop by and visit!

Woman of Courage by David Tadlock

New author, David Tadlock from Honoraville, AL joins us today at Writers in Business. He has just finished his first novel entitled, Woman of Courage, which will be published in 2010 by Around the Loop Publishing, ATL Publishing.

David, Can you provide us with a synopsis of your book?

A girl is born to a young couple in Courage, Georgia in 1956. They are your average American family. As the little girl begins to grow she learns to cook at a very young age. By the time she is 9 and 10 years old she has fully cooked meals on the table for her parents as they come home from work. . The father isn’t real abusive but he is controlling. By the time she is 15 years old she meets an 18 year old just graduating from high school. A car mechanic he gets a job and asked her to marry him. The parents agree and not long after they are married he begins to be abusive to her, verbally and physically.

The opportunity arises for her to get out of the situation and she’s thankful they didn’t have any children together. She lives with her grandmother for a short while and her grandmother teaches her many values of life that her mother never taught her, standing firm on an infallible faith in God and church. She meets another man who treats her with love and respect, he takes care of her and they have 3 children together (2 boys and a girl). She gets cancer and as it spreads throughout her body she holds fast to the faith her grandmother taught her that had sustained her for all these many years of abuse and neglect.

In the end she dies from cancer and a “Woman of Courage” scholarship and trust fund is set up in honor of her for high school students who are seeking a profession in the medical field.

Cancer has become prevalent and most of us know someone who has been touched by it. I understand inspiration for your novel came from your sister’s experience with cancer. How did this influence the direction and purpose of your book?

It wasn’t just my sister I had in mind while writing but many people that I’ve had an association with over the years and some whom I did not. After I watched the program of Farrah Fawcett’s struggle with cancer that only drove me to press ahead and finish the work. It is not only about fighting cancer but also about overcoming child and spouse abuse other issues Beverly’s had to face as well.

What do you hope to accomplish by sharing this story?



Cancer has become a word every single person in America and the world hates to bring up because everyone is affected directly or indirectly by this dreaded disease. A month has been set aside for cancer awareness. But child abuse and spouse abuse is very real too. I want to give back to what I believe has been very instrumental in the fight against cancer. I will tell anyone and everyone I am giving half of my personal profits from the sell of this novel to the American Cancer Society for it’s fight against cancer. We don’t need to find a cure one day but today. Most importantly we can learn to be positive no matter what trials we go through.

Once published, where will we be able to purchase your book?

I do have a website in the works where they can be ordered online and I’m hoping it will get picked up by some bookstores and other websites as well.

I want to thank you for the opportunity you've given me to share my novel and my story with everyone. I really appreciate it very much.

David, it was my pleasure. Best wishes for your new book.