Debra is an incredible asset to my writing process. I initially retained Debra to edit my debut novel and got so much more: development editor, sensitivity editor, copy editor, and writing coach, all in one! Not only did she help improve my manuscript, but she has pushed me to grow as a writer. Her insightful perspectives have helped sculpt the content of my stories. She provides thorough explanations of all her proposed changes and the “why” behind her suggestions. Through her process, she has coached (pushed) me to be a better writer, assisting me in finding (and polishing) my voice as an author. She is my go-to, and I would highly recommend her to any author wanting to bring their writing to the next level.”
S. Virts | Author, Entrepreneur, Founder of FCi Federal
Debra is a terrific guide through an often stressful, mystifying process. I signed up for an agent pitch event, and in preparation worked with her to refine my query and create a recommended “elevator pitch” for a novel. Her insights about how to shift gears, distilling my literary novel into a pithy description, were invaluable. Two of the three agents I pitched requested additional pages. I had plenty of trepidation about the required 180-shift to a marketing lens, but thanks to Debra’s guidance I had a great, friendly experience at the event itself — rooted in the friendly, collegial, and very on point work with Debra!
G. Walsh | Author
Debra provided wise guidance and perceptive editing support as we developed a pitch and a plan for getting my manuscript into the hands of agents and editors. Having her with me for the strangely formulaic and otherwise very lonely process of putting my work out there, grounded me and gave me the boost I needed whenever my confidence or energy flagged. She was my ally, steadfast, present, and smart, keeping my project on course, doing much of the necessary and tedious research into appropriate agents and presses, and working with me, patiently, to write a killer synopsis and query letter. Working with her was a gift.”
T. Winn | Author
Debra was very professional in her approach to understanding our needs and timeline. I found her to be efficient and effective in her editing, and she provided helpful comments and language suggestions to replace problematic sentences and structure. Debra was also comfortable with the technical content and with reviewing the syntax of scientific citations. I highly recommend Debra as an editor for her editing skills, but also for her impressive communication and coaching abilities.”
M. Seserman | Health Systems Manager at The American Cancer Society
Debra is a masterful wordsmith. I’m always impressed by her knowledge of grammar. Her phrasing and organization are elegant and precise. She is patient, available with a quick text or email, and a thoughtful listener with a rare ability to step into one’s thoughts regardless of their complexity. Not once did she let me gloss over technical passages that would not be fully comprehensible to lay readers. She held me to the highest standard. As a result, my writing has improved, and my textbooks are elegant. Technical information and easy reading balance in a way that I, a first-time textbook writer, could not have achieved on my own. Debra elevated my books from an amateurish adventure to a professional resource that holds up. I often have her voice in my head now as I write!”
S. Weiss | Author, Chiropractor, Yoga Teacher
When I started working with Debra I had no confidence in myself as a writer. I could write, but I didn’t know how to organize my thoughts on paper in ways that were engaging to the reader, and my punctuation was sloppy. Debra helped me identify and fix those problems. Kindly and thoughtfully, she pointed out where I needed to make changes and pushed me to put more of myself on the page. With her help, I have been able to do as many re-writes as my book needed, each time gaining trust in my process and confidence in my ability to tackle whatever comes up. I have taken and continue to take risks that I could never have imagined taking. The result is that I now have a product I can confidently share with the publishing house of my dreams.”
J. McInerney | Writer, Psychotherapist