Portfolio

Professional Highlights

  • My self-published book “Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman’s Guide,” was released in September 2005; eventually the rights were bought by Houghton Mifflin. I have published five related books for this audience since, and produced a website, podcast, fertility newsletter and e-guide series, and numerous social media/discussion groups that now serves thousands of women in this community. I hosted 25 workshops around the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom.
  • I led a team of young reporters on 12 notable interviews that led to publication of the 85-page book for youth titled “Be the Change: The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Story.” I served as a volunteer communications consultant for Wellstone Action, 2003-04. Created a conference program, video presentation and VAWA outreach manual about domestic violence for the Sheila Wellstone Institute; developed discussion guides about nine topics for the Civic Dialogue Project. I have consulted with son Dave Wellstone on social justice initiatives.
  • I co-created a 170-page book for First Universalist Church of Minneapolis about 150 years of history, which was part of a package that won a national heritage prize. I revamped the church’s website, newsletter, social media, and e-news vehicles, and developed an image library. One of the videos I produced included this one about marriage equality, viewed by nearly 5,000 people.

Freelance Articles

Minnesota Women’s Press (sample)

Southwest Journal monthly column

from column launch, “Moving From Me to We,” August 2015

I know that we are better served by having the educated, aware, thoughtful and passionate individuals we have in Minneapolis who want to do the right thing in a better way than we are now.

“How Do We Invigorate Conversation?,” September 2015

What happens when views clash about what our future should be? What if we don’t know what the better way is? What if doing the right thing is not easy to do, or affordable?


Project Management Experience

Girl Scouts of the USA • Project Editor • September 2000 – October 2002

Wrote and edited a variety of print and online materials designed to promote Girl Scouts initiatives. Projects included editing the bimonthly newsletter, writing a history of the organization, developing a multilingual stylebook, and handling all details of a four-book series for girls aged 9-13. In Summer 2013 I was asked to research website material for a STEM initiative.

Time Inc. Custom Publishing  •  Executive Editor  •  July 1996 – May 1999

I supervised the operations of the new editorial department, which grew from four staff members in 1996 to 40 in 1999, and from three publications for one client to 22 products for 14 clients. I was the hands-on editor of six of those publications. Worked closely with clients to meet marketing goals. Was the edit point person for legal, marketing and production departments.

The New York Times Online  •  Freelance content provider  •  1994 – 1996; 2000

Project #1: Oversaw the editorial content for a CD-ROM about the Vietnam War that included more than 1,000 articles, Pentagon Paper documents, biographies, maps, CBS footage, a chronology and news photos; personally made all hyperlink decisions. Project #2: Created 25 cells of information covering 100 years of Presidential campaign reporting; wrote all campaign summaries and did research for the archival text, photos and audiovisual content. Did writing for “This Day in History” biographies.


Other Highlights

“A Hole in the Head,” independent film • February 1996 – August 1996

Associate producer of a documentary about the cult of trephination (drilling a hole in the head for “enlightenment”) that aired on The Learning Channel. Traveled to Amsterdam, London and several locations in the U.S. to conduct interviews.

Time Warner Company, Corporate Marketing • 1992-1994

Wrote research reports suggesting editorial approaches to projects that were pitched to Time Inc. magazine advertisers. Topics included: 20th century businesswomen, evolution of the American home, voting history, endangered sea mammals.

Sports Illustrated for Kids, Publishing Department • 1991-1994

Served as editorial director for single-sponsor projects. Clients included Coca-Cola (for 1992 Olympics), Kellogg’s, American Library Association and the National PTA.

  • Interviewed New York City Muslim teenagers after the September 11 tragedy for the Lehrer News Hour Extra website for young people. Have written for Money for Kids, Disney Adventure and Whittle Communication, and was special contributor to Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine from 1990 to 1996.
  • Author of a biography for young readers of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan (Bantam Books, 1994), which sold 80,000 copies and was a No. 1 children’s best-seller. Wrote a biography of tennis player Jennifer Capriati (Little, Brown, 1991).
  • Assignments for Minnesota Women’s Press, about radio host Krista Tippett, female soldiers in Iraq, local authors.
  • Edited a science-based self-help manuscript in Paris for the adventurous wife of French designer Philippe Starck.
  • Designed a sustainable landscaping book and website

Education

Graduated cum laude from New York University in 1987, with a B.A. in social sciences, having transferred from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). During college I was a sports editor/writer at the Minnesota Daily college newspaper, public relations intern with Minnesota North Stars hockey team and U.S. Olympic Swim team, and worked for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a PBS TV show with local columnist Jim Klobuchar.