Welcome! I’m a freelance writer and editor located in southern Wisconsin. I enjoy working with clients across the country.
BACKGROUND
I was born and raised in Madison, WI and am the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. How many third graders do you know who write research papers for fun during summer vacation? Yeah…that was me.
I’ve blogged off and on since 2002 and have plenty of book ideas percolating. I’ve also written for several local newspapers and have been providing a wide variety of professional writing and editing services to a diverse clientele for over a decade.
My husband and I live in the country with our three kids (who are growing up way too fast) and the cutest dog in the world.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Aside from family and friends, books and music are my two great loves in life. Favorite books include The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter series, the Chronicles of Narnia series, The Glass Castle, Little Women, Bridget Jones Diary, Where the Wild Things Are, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Secret Garden, Noel Streatfield’s Shoes series, and almost everything Agatha Christie ever wrote. I’ll gladly listen to almost any kind of music, with the exception of jazz, polka, and straight-up country.
I have far more interests than any one person should ever be allowed and dabble in minimalism, hiking, gardening, herbal medicine, cooking from scratch whenever possible, DIY household and personal care products, yoga, crochet and more. I love spending time outside, find happiness in little things, and endeavor to live my life with faith, grace, and mindfulness.
EDUCATION
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a BA in English. While in college, I spent a semester abroad at St. Mary’s University College, London. Because I’m intensely curious and love learning new things, I spend lots of time listening to podcasts, reading whatever comes my way, and researching ALL the things.
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Freelance Writer & Editor | Independent Contractor
(October 2007 – Present)
Write and edit newspaper articles, press releases, SEO blog posts, website copy, client newsletters, marketing copy, procedural manuals, books etc.
Substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading
E-mail marketing
Social media marketing
Research
Operations & Marketing Manager | Camnetics, Inc.
(June 2007 – Present)
Office manager
Order processing
Customer service
Reseller liaison
Content writer (data sheets, reseller resource guides, product descriptions, Power Point presentations, procedural manuals)
Marketing (email marketing, social media marketing etc.)
Customer Relationship Specialist | Kristi Smith Consulting
(December 2014 - October 2016)
Assess and optimize client relationship building and maintenance strategies
Prospect and client outreach via phone, email and mail
Email newsletter creation
Write company blog posts
Website updating and content creation
Social media account creation and maintenance
Social media marketing
Create and send promotional postcards
Create and maintain marketing plans and calendars
Email management
Editorial Assistant | Belleville Recorder
(July 2004 - November 2004)
Type, format and proofread newspaper copy
Create ads & classified page
Office Assistant | Skala & Associates
(March 2003 - July 2004)
Write and edit letters, procedural instructions, and informational newsletters
Editorial Intern | James Frenkel – editor for Tom Doherty and Assoc.
(January 2002 - April 2002)
Write and edit copy
Read and report on manuscripts
Thanks for stopping by! Please contact me to discuss how I can help meet your writing or editing needs. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive news and updates via email.