As a professional freelance writer for 20 years, I have written: articles for print and online news sites and magazines, two corporate histories, text for a major interactive exhibit gallery, voice-over scripts and in-game text for video games, and thousands of social media status updates. I am a seasoned, advanced editor who has managed staff and freelance writers as well as trained executives. My experience includes a tenured position as English instructor at Pierce College, where I also managed a tutoring center, and publication and major grants and awards for my poetry and fiction.
Work and Project History
July 2009-present
Full-Time Writer / Narrative Designer at Cat Daddy Games
Reporting to the studio head, write all in-game text and voice-over scripts; provide research and creative input on game development; write design specs, business proposals, game manuals, social media updates, and materials to support marketing efforts. Write for Carnival Games franchise titles, the third best-selling third-party game on the Wii, with more than 6 million copies sold worldwide. Started as freelancer and shifted to full-time in Oct 2009.
Credits:
(2011 release) Unannounced project
(2010) New Carnival Games for Wii
(2010) New Carnival Games for DS
(2009) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for Wii
(2009) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Friends: Asian Elephants for DS
Aug 2005-Oct 2009
Freelance and Part-Time Projects
Served as localization writer on the critically acclaimed, best-selling video game developed by syn Sophia for Nintendo called Style Savvy, for the DS handheld gaming system. Wrote thousands of records of onscreen dialogue for hundreds of boutique customers and runway models as well as a fashion journalist main character. Named in-game text elements, including 10,000 items of clothing, headlines for three magazines, and fashion street names.
Edited several technical manuals for the Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security Department and a book-length curriculum guide for Seattle Deaf-Blind Service Center.
Coached writer Leonard Lambert through development of a cable TV pilot themed on the merchant marines. Also edited and prepared a pitch leading to the successful publication of his book, The New Hausepipe: Merchant Marine Licensing and Documentation with Cornell Maritime Press.
Edited and served as consultant to Milliman on the launch of a health-care blog for the actuarial industry and to J. Garner Photography on two blogs to support business lines in wedding photography and custom photographer’s bags.
Edited and wrote articles for Crosscut.com, including HTML code and selection and preparation (using Photoshop) of accompanying artwork. Identified and cultivated new contributors and expanded content. Assessed new material for publication on Crosscut, directing writers through revision when necessary. Wrote summaries and headlines for national and local news items for Crosscut’s Clicker section. Worked with leadership on site architecture and the Daily E-Mail campaign.
For Seattle-based book publisher Documentary Media, researched and wrote Beyond the High-Water Mark: General Construction Company's First 100 Years. This heavy marine construction company built iconic dams such as Grand Coulee, Owyhee, and Hungry Horse as well as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and all four Washington state floating bridges. Publication expected in 2012. Contracted directly with Wilcox Family Farms on another project to write a comprehensive history of this 100-year-old, family-owned dairy and egg farm.
Wrote articles regularly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Woman, City Arts, Lewis and Clark College’s alumni magazine, and Blogcritics.com and occasionally for Poets & Writers, My College Guide, Boston Globe, Wearwine.com, Progressive Populist, and Tacoma Weekly.
For Premera Blue Cross, wrote copy for a wellness guide for employer groups, marketing collateral for the Know Your Numbers campaign, and a member how-to guide.
Edited and wrote for Fishermen’s News, the West Coast’s oldest fishing industry publication. Cultivated a stable of writers and photographers covering the entire West Coast.
April 2006-Oct 2009
Full-Time / Contract Editor at Moss Adams LLP and FA Insight
Edited and served as technical writer for articles, columns, client recommendation reports and more than a dozen annual industry research studies, including the 2007 Moss Adams Compensation and Staffing Study of Advisory Firms. Wrote press releases, other marketing collateral, and content for the group’s Web site. Trained client service staff in report writing. Transitioned to contract status June 07 and continued to edit for them until the consulting group was jettisoned. Then freelanced for an offshoot, FA Insight.
Aug 2002-Aug 2005
Full-Time, Tenured English Instructor / Writers’ Center Director at Pierce College
Taught courses in college composition, U.S. popular culture, British literature, fiction, and Shakespeare. Served on committees to govern the Academic Support Center, to renovate the library, and to promote technology in the classroom. Served on editorial board for student literary magazine. Spearheaded effort to bring Seattle’s acclaimed multimedia production, bodyBODY, to campus. Managed tutoring staff of ten and $60K budget. Tenure granted March 2005.
Jan 1991-Aug 2002
Freelance and Part-Time Projects
Wrote, edited, and/or coached business executives for several publications/clients: Journal of Laboratory Medicine, GMAC Insider, Exhibit Builder, Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, Teaching for Success, St. Louis’ Intermission Magazine, Absolutewrite.com, Missouri Public Interest Research Group, Union of Concerned Scientists, Forest Park Forever, St. Louis Art Museum, Millikin, East-West Language Service, Health Partners of the Midwest, and Mosby Times-Mirror. Also taught classes as a faculty adjunct at St. Louis Community College.
Jan-Oct 1997
Full-Time Retail Advertising Coordinator at Health Resource Publishing
Redesigned Access database to track nationwide network of pharmacy retailers. Launched ad campaign to promote the work of non-profit health and wellness organizations.
Sept 1994-Jan 1999
Full-Time Development Associate / Freelance Writer at St. Louis Science Center
Researched donor and prospect histories and wrote solicitation materials toward a $1.1 million annual fund raising campaign. Assisted in planning for meetings, dinners, galas, and public celebrations. Transitioned to contract status Jan 1997. Then wrote articles for general membership and upper society member newsletters, designed an Access database to catalogue items in the Space and Popular Culture Gallery, and researched and wrote text for a 44-station interactive exhibit gallery on the history of information technology, Cyberville, which opened in Jan 1999.
Education
May 2002
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing, University of Miami
May 1994
BA, English, and BA, American Studies; Certificate in Professional and Creative Writing, St. Louis University

