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MELANIE
VOTAW
FREELANCE WRITER AND BOOK AUTHOR
Books ~ Journalism ~ Essays ~
Speechwriting ~ Business Copywriting ~ Fiction ~ Poetry
Accomplished non-fiction book author, journalist, creative
writer, and business copywriter with 11 non-fiction books
on a wide variety of subjects currently on the market or
upcoming. Fiction and poetry have also been published in recent
anthologies. Proven ability to use creative writing skills to
entertain while also instructing, informing, and/or increasing
sales. Experienced in informative and motivational
speechwriting, business letters, medical writing for a lay
audience, and copywriting for print and internet media for a
variety of industries. Successfully fosters positive
relationships with editors, agents, licensors, clients, and
others, always turning in work on or prior to deadline.
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 |
Book
52 Weeks of Passionate Sex sold out its first
printing within a week of release. |
 |
Book
The Cocktail Kit has sold more than 100,000
copies. |
 |
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
doctored How YOU™ Are Like
Shampoo for Job Seekers, which was purchased by Macmillan for
publication in seven additional countries and which was named the Grand
Prize Winner of the 2009 Beach Book Festival, as
well as a finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book
Awards. (Other edited/book doctored titles have won 13
awards.) |
 | 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. |
WRITING, EDITORIAL, AND RELATED BACKGROUND
 | BOOKS:
Author of eight 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
Business
Insider
Just
Luxe
City
Room
Medical
Economics magazine
Luxury
Web Magazine (travel)
Copper
in the Arts Magazine (art)
His
and Hers magazine
Ft.
Myers Magazine
Global
Writes
Fit
Focus magazine
Kraze
magazine
Tweens
News
Natural
Awakenings magazine
Super
Yacht Times
http://www.OfSpirit.com
http://www.SelfGrowth.com
See
the BOOKS &
ARTICLES page for more
information
 |
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. |
 | MEDICAL
WRITING: Produced several patient publications for
Health Information Project. Professional website copywriter
for physicians and Health Information Network. 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. |
 | BUSINESS
COPYWRITING: Developer, writer, and editor of
a wide range of business materials, including speeches,
brochures, newsletters, direct mail, 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
Wallpaper for Windows, Bavera
Gourmet and MultiMediaHouse,
Inc., which resulted in increased sales. Many years
of experience writing business letters. See Client
List and Testimonials
pages for more information. |
 |
INTERNET
COPYWRITING:
Professional website copywriter for such companies as Bavera
Gourmet, David Pankin, P.C., Global Axcess, ProLife
IT, Neera Detox, AreUniverse, Marian Salzman, and AudioXT, which resulted in increased sales.
Successfully completed website copy or designed entire
website (utilizing Microsoft FrontPage software) for
physicians, psychologists, lawyers, artists, adult industry,
and others. See Client List
and Testimonials pages
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.) |
 |
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. |
 | 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 (SPJ)
North
American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA)
The
International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA)
The
International Travel Writers Alliance
Former
Member,
American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
Former
Member, American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
Former
Member, Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
References provided upon request.
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