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MELANIE
VOTAW
FREELANCE WRITER AND BOOK AUTHOR
Business and Internet Copywriting ~
Speechwriting ~ Journalism ~ Books ~ Essays ~ Fiction ~ Poetry
Accomplished
business copywriter, non-fiction book author, journalist, and creative
writer
with seven non-fiction books on a wide variety of subjects currently on
the market or upcoming. Proven ability to use creative writing skills to
enhance business writing. Experienced in informative and motivational
speechwriting, business letters, medical writing for a lay audience,
copywriting for print and internet media to increase sales in a variety
of industries. Successfully fosters positive relationships with clients
and others, always turning in work on or prior to deadline.
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Book
52 Weeks of Passionate Sex sold out its first
printing within a week of release. |
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Book
The Cocktail Kit has sold more than 100,000
copies. |
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Edited/book
doctored How YOU™ Are Like Shampoo, which
is on the English-language
bestseller list in Thailand, was purchased by Macmillan for
publication in seven additional countries, and has been named a
finalist in three categories by the USA Book News National
"Best Books" 2008 Awards (affiliated with USA
Today.) |
 | Edited
book The Fine Art of the Big Talk published by
Hyperion, the publisher owned by Disney. |
 | Book
Hummingbirds: Jewels On Air contains eight of
the author's photographs. |
 |
Over
50 poems published in the literary magazines of six
countries. |
 |
BUSINESS
COPYWRITING: Developer, writer, and editor of a wide
range of business materials, including speeches, brochures, direct
mail, newsletters, and press releases. Proven ability to use creative
writing skills to enhance business copywriting. Successfully
completed speeches for such companies as Plumrose, sales letters for
such companies as the Sinclair Intimacy Institute, product
descriptions for companies like Wild In Secret, newsletters for Izod
Lacoste, and brochures and press releases for companies such as
RFID4U, Neera Detox, Wallpaper for Windows, Bavera
Gourmet, and MultiMediaHouse,
Inc., which resulted in increased sales. Many years of
experience writing business letters. |
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INTERNET
COPYWRITING:
Professional website copywriter for such companies as
Global Axcess, ProLife IT, Neera Detox, AreUniverse, AudioXT, and MultiMediaHouse's plastic surgeon
clients, which resulted in increased sales. Successfully completed
SEO website copy or designed entire website (utilizing Microsoft
FrontPage software) for physicians, psychologists, speakers, lawyers, artists,
adult industry, and others. |
 | MEDICAL
WRITING: Produced several patient publications for Health
Information Project. Professional brochure, newsletter, and website copywriter for
physicians and Health Information Network, describing medical
procedures for a lay audience. Book doctor of a book about cosmetic
dentistry ("Revitalize Your Mouth") for David Frey,
D.D.S. Ghostwriter and editor of trade journal articles,
newsletters, and advertorials for physicians. Currently working on a
book about eye surgery. |
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EDITING/BOOK
DOCTORING:
Book doctor/developmental editor of non-fiction and fiction books, website copy, brochures,
speeches, and articles. Impeccable grammar and organizational
skills. Experienced in substantive content editing, structural
recommendations, and proofreading for grammatical and punctuation
errors.
Recent books edited/book doctored:
The
Fine Art of the Big Talk, January 2008, Hyperion How
YOU™ Are Like Shampoo, January 2008, Global Insight
Communications, an English language bestseller in Thailand, where it
was initially launched. It was purchased by Macmillan for
publication in seven additional countries and has been named a
finalist in three categories by the USA Book News National
"Best Books" 2008 Awards (affiliated with USA Today.) How
YOU™ Are Like Shampoo for Job Seekers, January 2009, Global Insight
Communications, which was also purchased by Macmillan for
publication in seven additional countries. |
WRITING, EDITORIAL, AND RELATED BACKGROUND
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BOOKS:
Author of ten non-fiction books and contributor to two fiction
anthologies: |
The
Cocktail Kit, December 2002, Running Press
The Art of Chinese Calligraphy, March 2003, Running Press
Hummingbirds: Jewels On Air, July 2003, Courage Books
52 Weeks of Passionate Sex, January 2004, Running Press
The Art of Belly Dancing, June 2004, Running Press
Passion
Starters: Seduce. Surprise. Satisfy., December 2006, Running Press
Ghostwriter
of four titles in medical and business fields - one released by a major
publisher
Five-Minute
Erotica (contributor), Running Press
More
Five-Minute
Erotica (contributor), Running Press
Faces
of Freedom (contributor)
See
the Books & Articles
page for more
information.
 |
JOURNALISM: |
Woman's
Day magazine
Travel
Savvy magazine
South
China Morning Post
Medical
Economics magazine
His
and Hers magazine
Fit
Focus magazine
Luxury
Web Magazine (travel)
Copper
in the Arts Magazine
Tweens
News
Natural
Awakenings magazine
SuperyachtTimes.com
http://www.OfSpirit.com
http://www.SelfGrowth.com
See
the Books & Articles page for more
information.
 |
POETRY
AND FICTION: More than 50 poems published in the literary
magazines of the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Finland,
and Australia, including American Writing, Folio, Poetpourri,
and The Lullwater Review. Erotic fiction published in The
Erotica Reader, which accompanies the non-fiction book 52
Weeks of Passionate Sex, and in the book anthology Five-Minute
Erotica (September 2003, Running Press.) |
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TEACHING,
LECTURING, PUBLIC APPEARANCES: Appeared on the Sony Worldwide
Radio Network, New Jersey Good Times Magazine Radio Show, the
Knowledge for Living-Awakening Your Potential program on MoneyTalk
Radio, and the Manhattan Neighborhood Network's television program, Woman
of the Week. Invited lecturer on creative expression for the Los
Angeles Mensa Society. Invited instructor of erotic poetry writing
course for The Discovery Center in New York and for The Learning
Annex in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Instructor of
"Discovering Your Life Purpose" seminar for The Seminar
Center and The Learning Annex in New York and California. Lecturer
on various subjects for the New Life Expo and Source of Life Expo in
New York. Instructor for online courses, "Discovering Your Life
Purpose" for SelfHealingExpressions.com
and "Attracting Backyard Hummingbirds" for Suite
University. Author/producer of two lecture/meditation CD's
entitled "Discovering Your Life Purpose" and "The
Creative Impulse," which are sold on TowerRecords.com and other
sites. |
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PHOTOGRAPHY:
Nature and wildlife photographer with several online galleries.
Photograph of Amazon River is now a mural at a Texas
State Aquarium exhibit in Corpus Christi. Exhibited at
Westside Camera in New York City. Eight photographs published in the
coffee table book, Hummingbirds: Jewels On Air. Orchid image appears
on the National Honey Board website, iguana photo licensed by
Connecticut CPA firm for marketing materials, and Brazil photos have graced the
walls of Sting's Rainforest Foundation NY. See Votaw
Photography website for galleries. |
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Freelance Writer - 1998 to present
New York, New York
Successfully completed many book and corporate copywriting projects
(both print and internet), with significant sales in both arenas.
Subjects included, but are not limited to, nature, sexuality, art,
lifestyle, food, medicine, business, and management.
Freelance Paralegal, Legal Assistant, and Office Manager for various New York law
firms - 1994 to 1998
New York, New York
Composed business letters and labor union organizing flyers. Edited
legal documents and contracts. Organized law office and implemented new
procedures. Kept books and reconciled accounts. Handled travel
arrangements and purchasing. Areas of law included corporate, elder,
real estate, trusts & estates, personal injury, and insurance
defense.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude
Bellarmine College, Louisville, Kentucky, 1981
MEMBERSHIPS
Author's Guild
Society of Professional Journalists
Editorial
Freelancers Association
Former
member,
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Former
member, American Medical Writers Association
References provided upon request.
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