Lisa Zuré (formerly Lisa McDonald/Ruffin), Freelance Editor and Writing Coach: Partial Client List

HIGHLIGHTED LITERARY CREDITS

Everyday Architect: My Feminist Trek, Wendy Bertrand (2011), (Self-Published). Beautifully written memoir by a Californian architect who was among the few first female architects in the country. Provided coaching, as well as extensive substantive, content and copy editing.

Bird No Fly ‘pon One Wing, Errol Bird (In Negotiation). A gripping autobiographical novel set in Jamaica during the late fifties.  Chronicles the transformation of an idyllic mountain village when the first bauxite mining is negotiated and begins. This book is a classic. Provided extensive coaching, substantive and copy editing, rewriting and proofing.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, Fannie Flagg, Random House, 1987. Nominated in 1987 for the Pulitzer Prize, this best-selling novel was later made into the Oscar-nominated movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, starring Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates. Provided extensive copy and substantive editing, working closely with the author from the initial draft through final rewrites.

Canyon of the Dead, Jonathan Freedman, (current work-in-progress). Journalist Jonathan Freedman won the Pulitzer-Prize in 1988 for his series of editorials on immigration. These editorials were instrumental in convincing Congress to pass the first major overhaul of our immigration laws in 34 years. Mr. Freedman is now writing a novel based on the events that occurred during this pivotal time in our history. Provide extensive coaching, substantive and copy editing.

Renewal, Timothy Smith, M.D., Roedale Publishing, 1998. A holistic, state-of-the-art approach to life extension and health. Featured on the cover of Publisher’s Weekly, it was Roedale’s lead book for that year. Provided concept redevelopment (coined the term and concept of Renewal Theory), rewriting and editing.

I Was Never Here and This Never Happened, Dorinda Hafner, Ten Speed Press, 1995. A collection of short autobiographical stories, spiced with traditional African tales and recipes. Dorinda Hafner hosted the television cooking series, A Taste of Africa, which aired for many years on PBS in the United States, and in Australia and England.  Provided extensive concept development, substantive and copyediting of the book.

Guerilla Financing, Jay Conrad Levinson and Bruce Blechman, Houghton Mifflin, 1991. This best-selling book is a comprehensive guide detailing innovative ways to raise capital. Jay Levinson is also the author of the bestseller, Guerilla Marketing, Served as copy editor for initial stages of the book.

ADDITIONAL FICTION/NONFICTION: PUBLISHED

Reality Creation 101: Mastering Manifestation Through Awareness, Christopher A. Pinckley, Booksurge Publishing, 2008. A self-help book about overcoming emotional and unconscious obstacles to happiness. This book has received kudos from self-help and spiritual experts around the world, Provided extensive coaching, substantive editing, as well as copy and line editing.

You Can Have It All, Lan Ma, Self-Published, 2006. A delightfully-written guide for professional mothers-to-be who plan to return to work after completing maternity leave. Featured on the IBM Library website and quoted in the Washington Press. The author is an extremely articulate CEO, originally from China. As English is not her first language, the book required extensive copyediting, substantive editing and rewriting

Revolutionary Erotica, Nathan Jones, Saje Tanira Press, 2003. An evocative collection of poetry. Provided extensive editing and coaching for the project.

Cooking with Tequila, Lucinda Hutson, Ten Speed Press, 1995. An imaginative and beautifully-illustrated cookbook that includes an in-depth overview of the history, production methods and mythology of tequila. Provided extensive copy and substantive editing.

Elegant Hotels of the Pacific Rim, Pamela Lanier, Lanier Press, 1994. A popular travel guide in the tradition of Lanier Press’s Elegant Small Hotels, now in its 24th edition. Wrote and rewrote entries, provided copyediting and proofing.

A Question of Consent, Peter Laufer, Mercury House Publishing, 1994. A journalistic investigation into a controversial criminal case in the Midwest.  Provided copy-editing and proofing.

ADDITIONAL FICTION/NONFICTION: UNPUBLISHED

Falling Uphill, Wendy Tokunaga (2005). An engaging mystery in the “chick lit” genre.  Ms. Tokunga’s, Midori by Moonlight, was published in 2008 by St. Martin’s Press. Provided evaluation and editorial suggestions, as well as content and copy editing.

Starting from Scratch, Maria del Toro (2005). Also in the “chick lit” genre, this very funny novel looks at the perils and rewards of dating for a modern Latina in San Francisco. Ms. del Toro’s Underneath It All, was published by Kensington Books in 2006, under the pen name Margo Candela. Provided content and copy editing.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Director, Teen Voices Writers Workshops, Orinda, CA, (1991-1998). Developed & taught this summer creative writing program. Offered privately and through UC Berkeley Extension, Teen Voices became the first program from UC Berkeley Extension exclusively for teens. The workshops were so successful that UC Berkeley Extension used them as the prototype for their creative arts teen summer program. Several of my students had their work published in the Contra Costa Times.

Wood Machining Institute Newsletter & International Conference Proceedings, 1991-2004. Edited and proofed newsletter, as well as proceedings papers written by research academics from all over the world whose first language was not English.  Wrote marketing materials and some newsletter articles.

Advertising Copywriter, Promotion Department, UCSB Extension, Santa Barbara, CA (1987-1988). Wrote (and produced) all weekly radio ads, public service announcements, news releases, special articles and interviews, paid ads, and many of the catalogue class descriptions for the 300-plus courses offered every quarter.