SUMMARY
Seasoned and versatile editor and writer with a wide range of experience from trade magazines to book publishing to mass-market entertainment copy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance Professional Writer-Editor
San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA; 2001 – present
• Blogger: Provide blog entries for personal injury law firms using content management systems such as WordPress and Movable Type. Research relevant news and issues, employ SEO best practices and hand-code HTML, XML and CSS.
• Localization Writer: Localized and edited 40+ licensed Japanese comic titles to correct English grammar and appropriate usage and style. Credits include, but are not limited to: Sgt. Frog; Jing: King of Bandits; Suki: A Like Story; Tramps Like Us, and Cardcaptor Sakura (consistently ranked among Bookscan’s Top 50 Fiction Books for Young Readers 2002-2005).
• Copy Editor: Independently copyedited print and Web publications, including 100+ graphic novel volumes, for style, grammar, spelling and image quality. Edited cover marketing copy, narrative text, dialogue and bonus editorial content.
Editor, Viz Media LLC
San Francisco, CA; 2007 – February, 2009
• Expansion of VIZ Kids Imprint: Successfully pitched two graphic novel series,Dinosaur Hour and Leave it to PET!, and ensured their quality production. Both received positive review from critics, including Katherine Dacey of Publisher’s Weekly, Deb Aoki of About.com: Manga, and Lori Henderson of School Library Journal.
• Cover Creation, Finalization: Worked closely with design team and marketing to create four-color book cover and web branding designs. Components included key art, logos, marketing copy, layout, coloring and other branding elements.
• Edited, Localized 60+ Manga Titles: Responsibilities included creation of all marketing copy for covers, web, and PR releases. Credits include, but are not limited to: Naruto: the Movie Ani-Manga; Shaman King (serialized in Shonen Jump, circ. 215,000); YuGiOh! GX (serialized in Shonen Jump, circ. 215,000); and Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time (serialized in Shojo Beat, circ. 38,000).
Editor, TOKYOPOP Inc.
Los Angeles, CA; 2004 – 2007
• Pitch-to-Print Oversight: Assumed editorial control of seven original comic series. Readershipspanned Tween, Teen and Adult markets (both genders, ages 8-34). Responsibilities included creation and review of marketing copy. Earned accolades from industry blogs and publications. Credits include, but are not limited to: The Dreaming (“Creepy…gets under the skin.” – Comics Worth Reading); Kat & Mouse (“A Definite Keeper.” – Comics Worth Reading); Peach Fuzz (“Well worth a look.” – Newtype); and Go with Grace (“Grabbed me from the first chapter.” – IGN.com).
• Format Creation: Developed and elevated two children’s comics to flagship two new book formats: Kat & Mouse (Manga Readers, 96-page graphic novel series targeting middle-graders and Tweens), and Agent Boo (Manga Chapters, a hybrid of chapter books and Manga for kids).
• Multimedia Platform Migration: Collaborated with internal digital department and Andrews McMeel Universal contacts to tailor content of Peach Fuzz series for mobile platforms, as well as comic sections of major U.S newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
• Editorial Production: Developed copy, contributed to editorial review, and brought to press 80+ volumes of Japanese and Korean comics. Licensed credits include, but are not limited to: RG Veda; Kare Kano; Kamichama Karin; Tramps Like Us; BLAME!; and Tokyo Babylon.
Assistant Editor, Tradeshow Week
Los Angeles, CA 2001 – 2003
• Trade/Consumer Show Editor, Contributor: Wrote, copy edited, news-gathered and fact-checked feature and news stories about trade and consumer shows, their venues and management, on a weekly basis; traveled cross-country to report on shows and interview executives on location.
• Data Management and Entry for the 2002 Tradeshow Week DataBook: Cold-called and interviewed tradeshow organizers and managers; entered information for more than 5,000 trade shows via MS Access.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Multitasking whiz: Ability to successfully self-manage multiple simultaneous projects and tasks.
• Fast and accurate: Excellent attention to detail and quality, on deadline and on budget.
• Style savvy: Fluent in AP Stylebook and Chicago Manual of Style and adaptable to house styles.
• Content conversant: Solid understanding of best practices for Web writing and SEO.
• Team focused: Strong communicator with designers, marketers, contractors and executives.
• Networking know-how: facility with social networking media like Facebook and Twitter.
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES
• MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook)
• Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Movable Type, WordPress
• Adobe Photoshop
• FileMaker Pro
• HTML and XML (basic)
• Windows XP, Vista
• Mac OS X
EDUCATION
BFA, Writing for Screen and Television, School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California; 2001.
• Recipient, Marguerite Roberts Screenwriting Award (1999-2000) and Clifford J. Campion Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Writing (2000-2001).
• Oversaw Mentor Program for the Writing Division, pairing graduating seniors with noted industry professionals including Clive Barker, Jon Favreau, David S. Goyer, J. Michael Straczynski and Caroline Thompson.
