Helping authors to make their stories shine … Editing Services for fiction and memoir
When I published Nigerian Gems, I used the pseudonym Jo Demmer. People often ask how I chose my pen name. Jo is my middle name, after my great-grandmother, Josephine. Demmer is my mother’s maiden name. The novel I was working on at the time, Sunrise Court, was rife with intrigue and infidelity and I didn’t … Continue reading To Be Oneself Or To Be Someone Else
What is the difference between memoir and autobiography? What is creative nonfiction? What are the advantages of writing memoir? These are just some of the questions tackled in The Pros and Cons of Writing Memoir. Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Writing Memoir
[Updated Feb 16, 2024, see notes in square brackets.] Authors have a tough time breaking into the traditional publishing world. We send our work via email or online submission portals and rarely meet an agent or publisher face-to-face. Literary Speed Dating is designed as an opportunity to pitch in person. The catch? We only have … Continue reading A Rookie’s Guide to Literary Speed Dating
Today, I continue my series of interviews with people I admire—individuals who by changing career path or country, have their own winding narrative. Karen Quist transitioned from beauty therapist to copywriter/photographer and has now runs Lens and Pens Group, a successful web content company. Her enthusiasm and vitality come across as clearly on the page as … Continue reading Karen Quist, From Beauty Therapist to Copywriter/Photographer
The mention of salsa conjures images of fiery romance, flamboyant spins and beautiful costumes. Fun, sexy, fast. So what makes this Aussie chick think she has what it takes to mix it on the dance floor in a salsa club in Lagos? Continue reading Get Ready to Salsa
(Photo Nigerian Gems. Left, first mock up; right, the final product.) To pick up from where I left off in Tales from Lagos, the publication of Nigerian Gems had stalled. Graphic designer Els Van Limberghen volunteered to do the layout and design; we printed a copy on our home computer and painstakingly glued it together to … Continue reading Nigerian Gems – In Print At Last
The expat financial equation looks healthy for a married couple, but the numbers change dramatically in the case of death or divorce. After I posted Feminism and the Expat Spouse, my dear friend, let’s call her Chloe, shone a light on career decisions from a different perspective. She says, “Giving up our careers, even if it … Continue reading Career and the Expat Spouse
To mix things up a bit, I have planned a series of interviews with people I admire—individuals who by changing career path or country, have their own winding narrative. Today, I feature Susan Bradfield, who has transitioned from physiotherapist to photographer and has lived in Melbourne, London, Shanghai and Zurich. Her approach to finding and … Continue reading Susan Bradfield, From Physiotherapist to Photographer
When I gave up my job to become an expat spouse, I worried that I’d undermined the feminist cause. I’ve revisited this decision while writing my book series, because my protagonist, Tara Scott, struggles with the same dilemma. She wonders, “Have I betrayed feminist ideals? All those years, women fought for equal rights, and I … Continue reading Feminism and the Expat Spouse
Editing is both an art form and a numbers game. Writers are constrained by word count, so every phrase must be sharpened and polished like a jewel. My first editing job was Nigerian Gems. Since then, I’ve spent hours revising my own work, been mentored by Michele Rubin, head of Cornerstones US and had the opportunity … Continue reading My Top Four Editing Tips
Brightside Story Studio 