Professional writer and editor with five years of experience and specialized skills in the following areas: feature writing, copy writing, newsletter design and writing, proofreading, copy editing, ad design and brochure design. I've written, developed and edited a wide variety of technical, business and creative/design documents, including manuals, press releases, marketing communication and technical documents. My niche areas of original writing include home, food, crafts, lifestyle and travel writing. I'm an excellent food writer specializing in everything from haute cuisine to white-trash vittles; not only can I make delicious food, I can write about food in a delicious way. I'm looking for new business, marketing, Internet and print clients, with a concentration in professional writing -- or creative writing for the professional community: newsletters, corporate communications copy, human resources, advertising, public relations or marketing copy and Web copy.

FREELANCE CLIENTS

Jackson MS Clarion-Ledger, Entertainment Columnist
I wrote a weekly food and entertaining column focusing on the home cook and featuring ideas for parties, at-home entertaining and event themes: everything from Mardi Gras to children's parties, Oscar night to indoor beach party planning. One of my most popular pieces was about stocking the pantry so you're prepared for unexpected guests; I also interviewed caterers who gave tips for at-home entertaining. The paper's circulation was 105,000 -- a lot of potential Martha Stewarts to educate!

Suite 101: Gifts of Food, Contributing Food Editor
I create web content for this "how-to" site, posting a new article each month. I focus on giving readers ideas for making their own creative gifts of food. A few concepts were "Couch Potato Basket" (gift for Father's Day), "Fun Popcorn Kit" (movie-themed gift for the film buff), "Halloween Apples" (chocolate- and caramel-dipped apples, packaged for trick-or-treating), "Relish Cranberries This Holiday Season" (making cranberry jams and chutneys for gift-giving),"'Cozy Fall Mornings: Garlic Cheddar Sausage Balls" (make-ahead savories that make quick little gifts for neighbors) and "Autumn Cookies" (mocha-chocolate cookie recipe, packaged for fall gift-giving -- great for a hostess gift).

Life in the Delta, Contributing Writer
This publication, serving a community of about 70,000 Southerners, features articles about local events, organizations and people. In addition to the numerous entertainment features I've written for them, I've also crafted a number of pieces on local celebrities, artisans and businesses. A few of my profiles were on Evelyn Roughton and her award-winning restaurant, The Crown in Town, cookbook and nationally-recognized gourmet food products; The Mississippi Gift Company, a unique store, catalog and web site which sells only Mississippi-made pottery, art, jewelry, food and books; a regional museum spotlighting catfish and a USGA US Woman's Open held in Mississippi.

Woman’s Day "Best Ideas for Christmas" Issue, Contributing Writer
My feature in this holiday special issue was entitled "The Gift of Time," an offered ideas for low- or no-cost gift giving, ideal for anyone short on time and money. Some of my ideas were offering to house-sit for a neighbor, giving gift certificates to help a friend's kids with their homework for a week, offering to take a coworker's car for the afternoon for a wash and thorough cleaning, and offering to wrap a friend's Christmas gifts.

Family Digest, Contributing Writer
This general-interest magazine, geared toward two-income African American families with children, publishes my features on fast, nutritious weeknight meals for the family. Some of my most popular recipes have been:

Mississippi Magazine, Contributing Writer
This high-end publication features food, entertainment, lifestyle and local culture features -- with lots of glossy pictures. I developed an article about hosting a back-to-school brunch for children and a feature giving tips on hosting an after-theater dessert party.

STAFF WRITING POSITIONS

Viking Range Corporation, Product Management Home Economist (Greenwood MS / 2001 - present)
Viking is the originator of commercial-style kitchen products for the home, producing high-end ranges, stoves, outdoor grills, dishwashers, refrigerators, cookware and cutlery, all of which I test for usability and functionality while in the design stage. In addition to reviewing, editing and proofing product manuals, I also get to cook for a living, matching product expectation with reality, and documenting the entire process.

Humphreys County Memorial Hospital, Director of Public Relations (Belzoni MS / 1998 - 2001)
I managed the public relations department for this county hospital, directing all corporate and media communications. In addition to planning events, writing press releases, creating ad design and managing employee relations, I produced the HealthFocus newsletter, which included writing articles, selecting photographs, creating sidebars and developing look and feel. Until I joined the team, HealthFocus had not received any kind of media attention. I changed all that! During my tenure with HCMH, the hospital took two first-place honors for excellence, awarded by the Mississippi Hospital Association. This achievement was especially notable given the size of the hospital: HCMH, a 28-bed hospital, went up against some of the largest hospitals in the state, all of which are staffed with big PR and marketing departments.

Weight Watchers Magazine, Foods Editorial Intern (Birmingham AL / 1998)
During my internship at Weight Watchers, the magazine was part of the Southern Progress network, which also owns Southern Living, Cooking Light and Southern Accents. Our department developed special-interest publications -- magazine-style cookbooks sold on newsstands, health-conscious titles such as Perfect Food or Perfect Health for which I wrote copy advising consumers how to choose and store produce and grains. Although I was an intern, I was treated as a "regular" employee, and my input was sought at planning meetings for editorial content. For example, when editors and writers were assigned to come up with 25 story ideas for the next meeting, I had the same assignment.

University of Mississippi, Editorial Assistant (Oxford MS / 1997 - 1998)
Assisted the journalism professor with editorial and production of the journalism alumni magazine by researching and editing copy, and interviewing alumni.

STAFF FOOD POSITIONS

Williams-Sonoma Grande Cuisine, Demonstration Chef & Customer Service Representative (Jackson MS / 1996)
I assisted retail clients at this high-end culinary marketplace, helping them select professional-grade cookware and kitchen appliances. The most effective way of selling our products was to demonstrate their use, which I did by performing in-store demonstrations, baking cookies, breads and pastries, and preparing pastas and soups. I also worked closely with the store manager to plan store events and merchandise products.

Madison House, Assistant Manager (Madison MS / 1994 - 1995)
I helped manage this busy lunch restaurant restaurant, which served fresh pastas, casseroles, green salads, pasta salads, breads and desserts. I helped the owner plan the weekly menus, and ordered supplies each week. We catered events on-site and at other locations, and offered takeout catering services.

VIP Caterers, Inc., Student Internship (Jackson MS / 1994)
At this professional catering company, I worked with clients, both new and established, to plan and coordinate their menus and events from start to finish, including marketing. Our projects included planning annual Christmas parties for major corporations, employee retreats for Fortune 500 companies, weddings and receptions, fundraisers, high school events (proms, after prom breakfasts, etc.), rehearsal dinners and business seminars.

Keetha’s Candies, Owner (Cleveland MS / 1992)
Created and sold specialty chocolates to individuals and gift shops part-time while in college.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Taught a creative writing class focusing on creative generation at a higher-education center in Greenville MS (2001).

SKILLS

MS Word, MS Publisher, MS Access, MS Excel, Quark Xpress. Familiar with both PC and Mac platforms. Feature writing, copy writing, newsletter design and writing, proofreading, copyediting, ad design, brochure design, cooking (particularly baking).

EDUCATION

University of Mississippi, Oxford MS (1998)
Coursework in Master of Arts in journalism program. Completed all requirements excluding thesis.

University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg MS (1994).
Bachelor of Science degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Southern Foodways Alliance
International Association of Culinary Professionals

CLIPS

Suite 101 Articles
"Fall Harvest Desserts" (Family Digest)
"A Gift of Time" (Best Ideas for Christmas, Woman's Day)
"Choose Chili for a Cold Evening" (Clarion-Ledger)
"Time Spent in the Kitchen Yields Warmest Gifts" (Clarion-Ledger)
"Fill Your Freezer With Handy Appetizers" (Clarion-Ledger)
"Being Organized Can Make Your Next Party Memorable" (Clarion-Ledger)
"Oxford Will Easily Find a Place in Your Heart" (Oxford Town)
"Christmas in July" (Life in the Delta)
"Great Books for Cooks" (Life in the Delta)
"Time for Turkey (Life in the Delta)
"Back-to-School Brunch" (Mississippi)

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