Vermont Freelancing: 2009

After high school, I worked for a summer in The Merchant Bank’s mortgage department helping process home appraisals, credit reports and mortgage loan applications. I went on to work for four years for an area travel agency before the travel industry began slowing down with the advent of the Internet and then for a print shop/bulk-mailing firm where I worked as the administrative assistant to the CEO.

I've broken my strengths into the following categories.

BOOK REVIEWING:

I have been an online book reviewer and freelance writer since 2001 and own my own book review website that has just switched to a children’s only format (http://roundtableforkids.blogspot.com/). Roundtable Reviews launched five years ago and receives more than 5,000 readers per month.

Not only do I manage the staff of reviewers and edit their reviews, but also I frequently update the Web site and respond to publisher and author emails on a daily basis.

In addition, I have completed a number of reviews for Publisher's Weekly.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6597430.html?q=flat+out+sexy)

Flat-Out Sexy Erin McCarthy. Berkley Sensation, $14 paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-425-22407-6

McCarthy strays from her more recent Vegas Vampires series and heads to the world of racing for a steamy romance. Two years after Tamara Briggs's husband was killed in a wreck at Talladega, she's back to dating, but her latest beau is a dud. She dumps him and remains intent on not ending up with another race-car driver, but that's exactly what she gets when she meets Elec Monroe. Things progress quickly, and soon she's having dynamite sex with this younger man who's nice to her kids—who could ask for more? There's a catch of course: Elec is the son of Tamara's dead husband's father's sworn enemy. The narrative is fast-paced and red hot; fans of more graphic romances will enjoy this and welcome the next—a sequel is in the works. (Nov.)

As a book reviewer, I read all the time, quickly at that, and am quite used to summarizing material for the reviews. On average, I read one book per day. Right now, I’m taking a break and working through the Twilight Series per my daughter’s request.

I have interviewed many authors, including actor Billy Dee Williams.

http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/aotm/authorofthemonthwilliamsatkinsbowman.html

Finally, I just completed my first job for Executive Book Summaries. The job entails condensing non-fiction business guides into 5,500 newsletter summaries the company mails to subscribers.

MAGAZINES:

Burlington, VT: Shopping With Tweens. Published in the April 2008 issue of Earnshaw's Magazine.

Tour The Past In York, Maine. Published in Fall 2007 edition of New Directions In Nursing.

MARKETING:

One of my projects included working on the marketing articles for an upcoming business card Web site. I'm handling creating an article linking their Commission Junction affiliates to PrintBusinessCards.com.

http://www.printbusinesscards.com/marketing/index.php?PHPSESSID=be35ad76e72aba6477312874e70ea8ff

During the first two months of 2008, I set up the Amazon Marketplace listings for Synergy Institute using their requested format.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=A3FEY2MF50XE8C

I’m currently working on the sales text for an audio equipment Web site that Time Wave Media will be launching soon. You can see a sample page that I completed here:

http://www.qcmixtapes.com/controller/behringer-bcf2000.php

MyDebtCondolidation is another site I am currently working on. Here is a sample for an article I completed. http://www.mydebtconsolidationadvice.com/illegalbillcollection.aspx

For the past two years, I’ve worked with Dynamic Page Solutions in their real estate Web site division. http://www.dynamicpagesolutions.com/ Templates under the name Farnsworth Realty offer samples of my writing.

MUSIC REVIEWS:

I've completed a number of music reviews for Fuss Magazine. My husband and I are music junkies owning more than 900 CDs and 1,000 records from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today.

http://www.fussmagazine.com/content/category/5/21/45/

PRODUCT REVIEWS:

From time to time, I'll head to Epinions (vtmom) and review a product I've purchased and have strong feelings, either positive or negative, that I wish to share with the public.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Presto_05443_CoolDaddy_Deep_Fryer/content_452985851524

PROOFREADING:

Last spring, I completed a training course to start proofreading court depositions following the guidelines set forth in Morson's and using the spelling rules in One Word, Two Words, Hyphenate. I've been working for a small firm out of Michigan since August.

In addition, I own the Chicago Style Guide, Gregg Style Guide and AP Style Guide.

RECIPES:

I'm also a whiz in the kitchen. While I've yet to publish a cookbook, a goal I someday will complete, I have submitted a recipe to a Web site and had it published online.

http://www.jamiedenton.net/Recipes.html#Blind%20Date%20Cake

In 1998, I won first-place in Eagle Mills' Bread Baking Recipe Contest held by Eagle Mills. The prize was a new bread machine and a year's supply of Eagle Mills bread mixes. Sadly, the recipe has since been taken down, but the bread was Sun Dried Tomato Sourdough Loaf.

REWRITES & SUMMARIES:

I work with W4Gaming summarizing poker and online casino press releases for their news page. The site has not launched at this point, but I'm told it will be ready for 2009.

TRAVEL:

I worked for four years in the travel industry before having my son. I still have industry contacts and keep up to date with changes in the travel industry. Most recently, I spent time writing travel guides for Sidestep.com.

Airport articles (http://www.sidestep.com/airport-information-g001-BTV-Burlington)

Blog entries (http://vermontliving.today.com/)

Hotel reviews (http://www.travelpost.com/hotels/vermontwriter)

Travel/City Articles http://www.askolive.com/area.php & http://www.essortment.com/all/vermontfestival_rzkf.htm