AboutBobbie Christmas Expertise As the author of the triple-award-winning book on creative writing, Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), I help writers power up their prose, edit and revise their manuscripts, and increase their chances of selling to a publisher. I also help writers polish manuscripts for self-publishing and sometimes assist in the process.
Experience Experience: I have more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of the publishing and communications industry and have run my own book-editing company since 1992
Organizations:
Board of Advisors, Georgia Writers Association (past president)
South Carolina Writers Workshop (past vice president)
Florida Writers Association (charter/lifelong member)
Atlanta Writers Club
Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature (SPELL)
International Guild of Professional Consultants
Publications:
Write in Style (Union Square Publishing), A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation), A Cup of Comfort for Friends (Adams Media), A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons (Adams Media), Haunted Engounters (Atriad Press), Remembering Woolworth's (St. Martin's Press), First-Time Home Buyer magazine, HomeBusiness Journal, Apparel Industry Magazine, Edge Magazine, Atlanta Jewish Times, Time Travel Australia, American Writers Review, Points North, That's Entertainment, Atlanta Parent, Agnes Scott Alumnae Magazine, and several dozen other places
Education/Credentials:
Journalism: University of South Carolina
Three decades of on-the-job training in publishing, marketing, communications, advertising, newspaper and magazine production/writing/editing, book publishing, etc
Awards and Honors:
First Place, nonfiction, Georgia Writers Annual Contest, 2005
First Place, education, Royal Palm Literary Award, 2004
Best in Division, Georgia Author of the Year Awards, 2005
Finalist, Best Books 2005, USA BookNews
Third Place, nonfiction, Georgia Writers, 1999
Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year, 1998
Many other awards
Past/Present clients:
Olin Frederick (publisher), The Writer's Machine (publisher), Russell Dean & Company (publisher), Keith Harrell (author of books for John Wiley & Sons and Hay House), Dale Butler (member of the Parliament, Bermuda) and hundreds of writers. I also edit books for print-on-demand companies that help authors self publish.
I have posted samples of my work online. I would greatly appreciate any feedback you are willing to give. There is no nees for an in-depth response. I will be satisfied with any general impressions.
Don’t be concerned about hurting my feelings. Love it or hate it. It’s all the same to me. I’m looking for any feedback. Be it good, bad, or ugly.
Please, feel free to read and comment on either or both. Thank you.
Best wishes,
-DK
Answer As a full-time editor who gets paid to read manuscripts and evaluate them, I don't read manuscripts or evaluate them free. I hope you can understand.
Regardless of my policy, I did take the time to glance at the opening paragraphs of the story. The noir style, while cute and even clever in spots, may not be contemporary enough to sell today, but then I'm not an agent or a publisher, so it's just an opinion.
I stopped reading when I kept seeing technical flaws that could be fixed by an editor.
Many others who don't make a living evaluating manuscripts will give you free feedback, I'm sure, but remember it's worth only what you pay for it!
Sign up for my free newsletter for writers at www.zebraeditor.com. I wish you much success with your writing.
