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Tag: Genealogy

Genealogy

Bringing History to Life: Incorporating Historical Context Into Your Family History Book

Family history books are more than a collection of dates and names; they are the stories of your ancestors and the times they lived in. Adding historical context to your family history book not only enriches the narrative but also provides a deeper understanding of the events and circumstances that shaped your ancestors' lives. Here are eight ways you can effectively...

August 9, 2024 READ MORE

Planning the Perfect Genealogy Research Trip: A Step-by-Step Guide

Embarking on a genealogy research trip is an exciting adventure that can uncover rich histories and personal stories about your ancestors. Whether you're tracing your roots across town or across the globe, taking the time to properly plan your research is crucial to ensuring a productive and fulfilling journey. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you maximize your...

July 24, 2024 READ MORE

How and Why to Work with a Genealogist

Did you know that Larry David is actually related to Bernie Sanders?  If you didn’t, don’t feel bad—they didn’t know it either! In fact, the two of them wouldn’t even know about the connection if it hadn’t been for the help of TV show’s Finding Your Roots team of professional genealogists. If you’ve got an itch to look into your own family’...

January 5, 2024 READ MORE

Family History Interviews: Handle With Care

Questioning relatives calls for interest, finesse, and empathy.  A family history book can give living family members a sense of heritage and belonging. It introduces them to the personalities, places, and times of their ancestors, and becomes a treasure for present and future generations.  It can also become a historic and cultural reference for others. ...

December 29, 2023 READ MORE

Tips and Strategies for Researching Family History

Researching one's family history is a compelling journey for several reasons.  First, it offers a profound sense of identity and belonging. Discovering the stories and experiences of ancestors can help individuals understand their cultural and ethnic heritage, fostering a deeper connection to their roots. Moreover, family history research provides a tangible lin...

December 26, 2023 READ MORE

20 Family History Gift Ideas

Learning about our family helps us connect with the past and discover a greater sense of self. Looking into our family history gives us a glimpse of where we came from. It’s no wonder family history gifts are growing in popularity. From simple family trees printed on parchment paper to elaborate coffee table books, there are so many options to explore. Here are the...

December 19, 2023 READ MORE

Unbelievably Strange Historical Facts

As writers, we are inherently curious beings. And given that our portfolio includes various family history and genealogy projects, it’s only natural that we’d find history to be especially fascinating and compelling. In one of our recent ventures down the rabbit hole of interesting historical facts, we came across this article from Ranker.com, with historical storie...

October 11, 2022 READ MORE

Ancestral Family Name Changes: How to Trace Your Ancestors When Birth Names are Unknown

We’ve probably all heard the sob story: A poor immigrant arrived in Ellis Island after their harrowing journey across the Atlantic. Not understanding the fast-spoken English of the customs officials there, the immigrant tried to give the official their name, but was misunderstood. Due to an overload of immigrants to process, as well as a lack of patience, the customs ...

September 13, 2022 READ MORE

7 Steps to Deciphering Old Handwriting for Genealogy Research

Picture this…You’ve suddenly come into possession of a box filled with old family pictures and genealogy documents, including a diary written by one of your ancestors over 100 years ago. Excited to uncover long forgotten family secrets, you open up the diary, only to find that you can barely read the chicken scratch scrawled on its pages. As far as you can tell, the...

August 24, 2022 READ MORE

How Do You Find Out About Your Family History?

You have decided to explore your family history, and are ready to dive in, but you are not quite sure how to get started. You've heard various family stories passed down from older generations, but you don’t know which stories are factual or which are exaggerated versions of the truth. You also have a pile of random genealogy documents that were given to you by a ...

July 4, 2022 READ MORE

African American Lineage: 9 Steps to Tracing the Ancestry of Slaves

For many people wishing to trace their heritage back to the time their ancestors immigrated to America, there are numerous sources and resources available. But what if your ancestors did not come to this country of their own free will? What if, instead, they were brought here hundreds of years ago by slave traders? Often, for people with African ancestry, it seems im...

May 25, 2022 READ MORE

The 5 Best Sites for Family History Research

“History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy remembers them all.”— Laurence Overmire Recording one’s family history is a combination of mystery, admiration, and excitement. And pulling back on the layers of family history is one of the most rewarding endeavors anyone can undertake. While tracing one’s roots is indeed a gripping proposition, finding re...

March 29, 2022 READ MORE

True Confessions of a Genealogist

“Genealogist” is a term you’ll hear from time to time in passing, but you won’t derive its definition from the context unless you’re actually paying attention when it comes up—and I never was. I’ll admit that prior to researching and writing about genealogy and historians and the like, had I been pressed to define “genealogist” I might have guessed tha...

January 11, 2022 READ MORE

One-of-a-Kind Gifts for Your Parents This Year

With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to think about that annually dreaded concept – getting a gift for Mom and Dad. It’s not that you don’t want to get them a gift. Quite the opposite! You want to give them something amazing. You want to give a gift they’ll use and talk about for years. And this year, it seems more important than ever. But buying fo...

December 17, 2021 READ MORE

Give the Gift of Connection This Holiday Season

Once again, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned life as we know it on its head, including the holidays. With rises in Covid cases, for the second year in a row, many of us won’t travel or gather as we traditionally do to see friends and loved ones. And as such, we may be on the hunt for ideas that forge a connection, despite separation and miles during what should be a ...

November 26, 2021 READ MORE

Seven Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional for Your Family History Book

Your family’s history has always fascinated you.  It fascinates others, too.  It always puts a little smile on your face when your noteworthy reputation precedes you, as when you’re introduced to friends of friends as, say, “the gal whose grandmother worked for Walt Disney,” or perhaps “the guy whose dad built a plane in the garage.”  Maybe ...

October 5, 2021 READ MORE

Oral Tradition in Genealogy: How Hiring a Ghostwriter Can Help Capture History Before It Fades Away

“Rap comes from the oral tradition. The oral tradition gives voice to those who would’ve otherwise been voiceless.” — Benjamin Zephaniah It is easy to overlook oral tradition because it has always been there. Our families contain a plethora of stories, anecdotes, and tales that migrate from generation to generation. These stories make their way across time in...

September 28, 2021 READ MORE

11 Tips for Conducting International Genealogy Research

Historically, the term “melting pot” has often been used to describe America. This is because, aside from the few who are of 100 percent Native American ancestry, all of our ancestors came to this country from somewhere else. And all of their different cultures came together in one big melting pot that is now the United States. But have you ever wondered what cultur...

August 24, 2021 READ MORE

Family History Research— Searching Beyond the Internet

The internet is a great tool for family history research. Unlike the “olden days” when research consisted of searching through a card catalog in a library, and then spending hours thumbing through stacks of books, you can now find seemingly endless information with just the click of a mouse. However, with family history research, there are times when the internet ju...

July 30, 2021 READ MORE

10 Reasons to Write a Family History Book

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” —George Bernard Shaw Researching family history is a sublime endeavor. All individuals are the product of their ancestors’ path through life. After all, every generation compounds the legacy of previous ones. Indeed, family history is an indispensable element in everyone’s identi...

June 29, 2021 READ MORE

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter to Produce a Personal or Family History Book

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”—George Bernard Shaw Deciding to produce a book can be quite daunting, especially when it is about personal or family history. It can prove to be an even more daunting task when the book is about an important family event meshed within history's broader context. Naturally, there may b...

May 7, 2021 READ MORE

9 Great Holiday Gifts for Genealogy Buffs

With the holidays upon us, you may find yourself searching for the perfect gift for the genealogy buffs in your life.  And while they may tell you that the only thing they really want are the missing census records from 1890,  we’ve come up with a list of some more viable options that are sure to be a hit. Antique Maps Photo by Dorothe form PxHere It is a k...

December 4, 2020 READ MORE

What to Include in Your Family History Book

Writing a family history book can be a tremendous gift for your family, especially for future generations. But it can also be a daunting project. There could be seemingly unlimited amounts of research to dig into. Should you conduct interviews? If yes, then how many should you do? Just what should you plan on including in your family history book? First, Determin...

November 3, 2020 READ MORE

How To Make Your Family History Come To Life

You’ve spent the last couple of years researching your family history. You even hired a professional genealogist to track down the information you couldn’t uncover on your own. Now you are ready to share your findings with the rest of your family.   You could go with a basic family tree diagram, or a journaled scrapbook, but you really want to make the stories ...

October 13, 2020 READ MORE

The Ins and Outs of a Nonfiction Ghostwriting Contract

Have you dreamed of seeing a book with your name on it? Would having a book published under your name help get your speaking engagements or enhance your personal brand? Do you have something important to say but don’t consider yourself a writer? Do you want a record of your family history? Are you considering running for office? If so, you may have wondered about hirin...

September 29, 2020 READ MORE

Publishing Your Private Memoir or Family History Book

You have a story to tell, and you are confident that it’s worth telling. It has characters, drama, and is filled with emotion. The best part is, it’s all true! Now you want to preserve that story for those you love and generations to come.  So, what do you do once you’ve finished putting words on the page? You want to publish your story in a tangible book ...

September 22, 2020 READ MORE

7 Steps to Researching Your Family History Online

I have this fantasy of taking an extended trip around the world to discover where my ancestors came from and to meet long-lost relatives. In this fantasy world, I have unlimited time and resources to explore every rabbit hole and track down clues about those who came before me. The reality is that I—along with most people—don’t have the time it would take for...

September 15, 2020 READ MORE

How To Write a Family History Book—7 Steps Plus A Pro Tip

With the rise in popularity of media programming such as PBS’s Finding Your Roots, and the ease and accessibility of home ancestry and DNA test kits, more and more people are choosing to research their family history. The internet has made this research easier than ever before. For those who decide to go even further—to compile and record the facts and stories th...

August 4, 2020 READ MORE

Diving Headfirst Into Your Family Tree

Do you ever wonder about where your ancestors came from, and what struggles they had to endure in their life’s voyage? The journey of discovering your roots and your family history can be quite fascinating and exciting. It can also be a daunting and time-consuming task. A simple Google search will lead you to a vast array of websites, promising to give you the answers...

July 28, 2020 READ MORE

Copywriter Q&A: Jennifer Rizzo Shares Tips for Genealogy Research

Jennifer Rizzo has always been fascinated by genealogy. At The Writers For Hire (TWFH), she puts this lifelong interest to use, helping clients fill out branches in their family trees and answer big, important questions about who they are and where they came from.  In this installment of Copywriter Q&A, Jennifer shares some of her suggestions for aspiring gene...

June 24, 2020 READ MORE

How Google Followed Me Through My Travels For Genealogy Research

I have been very fortunate in the past few years to have had several writing projects that have allowed me to travel. From doing genealogy research in Scotland, England, and Germany to doing interviews in Mexico for a nonfiction ghostwriting project, my passport has gotten quite a lot of use. One side effect that I have discovered from working in so many different ...

July 18, 2019 READ MORE

How Can a Ghostwriter Help Write My Family History?

Have you ever considered writing a book about your family’s history, but don’t know how or where to get started? Perhaps you have a great concept in your mind, but are struggling to put the words on paper. Or, like many people, you would love to have your family story written, but you just don’t have the time to do it yourself.Whatever your reasons may be, it is lik...

March 6, 2019 READ MORE

The Wheeler Family

What Kind of Author Are You?

Choose as many as apply.


Subject matter expert
Academic
Executive
Speaker
Businessperson
Consultant
Politician
Brand advocate
Founder
Autobiographer
Company representative
Tribal representative
Family historian
Someone with something to say
Creative
Thought leader
Influencer or celebrity
Gift giver (I’m shopping for someone else)

Next Question  Close Quiz

What Qualities Do You Value Most in a Ghostwriter?

Rank from 1 to 20


Superb planner and organizer
Great listener and interviewer
Detail-oriented
Background knowledge in my subject
Fun to work with
Proactive in making suggestions
Good at following directions
Energetic and upbeat
Unflappable
Quick-witted and clever
Stickler for factual accuracy
Easily understands complex technical, financial, or business subjects
Similar belief system (religion, politics, etc.)
Creative
Clear and concise writer
Inspiring writer
Engaging storyteller
Collaborative
Cares about the project

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What Type of Book Do You Want?

Choose all that apply.


Genealogy
Family history
Company history
Guidebook or reference
Cookbook
Coffee table book
Non-fiction
Trade specific
Fiction
Autobiography
Memoir
Including photos
Including illustrations
Including graphs or charts
>200 pages
100 to 200 pages
<100 pages
For friends and family
For mass publication
For technical or niche audience
For young adults or children

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Answer

What Type of Ghostwriter Do You Need?
Well, a ghostwriter from The Writers Hire, of course!

Ok, so we didn’t produce a magic auto-generated name based on your answers.
But, we do have a real human who will review your responses and gather an amazing writing team, just for you.

Input your contact information below. We’ll review your personal communication style, goals, and preferences to find the best match among our team of over 25 writers, editors, and project managers.
Back  

Thank you


Stay tuned for a text, call, or email. We can’t wait to talk to you about your new book!
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Wintress Odom - Owner / Editor-in-chief

Wintress founded The Writers For Hire in 2003 after freelancing for several years as a copywriter and editor. She has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 100 clients and is happy to have maintained long-term relationships with many of her first customers. Wintress is an exceptional proofreader and editor and has a gift for organizing large projects, including large technical manuals and manuscripts. Her educational background includes graduating cum laude from Rice University in 2000, studying at Cologne Gymnasium in Germany, and graduating valedictorian from The Science Academy of South Texas in 1994.

Kathleen Kimm-Rinchiuso - Office Manager

Unofficially, Kathy is known around the office as “the other half of Wintress’ brain”: In her capacity as office admin, she helps Wintress keep track of projects and meetings; reminds her of upcoming deadlines; and serves as the point of communication between Wintress and the rest of the TWFH team. In her more official role of office administrator and project manager, she keeps tabs on all current projects, from drafting proposals and project timelines to working directly with writers and editors to keep projects on track. Kathy is particularly awesome at making sure that all of our website projects run smoothly, and she’s got a gift for translating potentially confusing web development jargon into plain English, so our website clients always know exactly what’s happening and why. When she’s not at work, Kathy loves singing along to musicals with her two daughters.

Brittany Hardy - Project Coordinator

Brittany is our resident Project Coordinator and serves as the liaison between writer and client. She also helps assign the team for each project, create project timelines, gather resources and information, schedule meetings, ensure each project stays on budget and within scope, and guarantee client satisfaction. Oh, and she does all of this at lightning speed with a smile on her face, without ever dropping a ball. Brittany developed many of her management and leadership skills working as an office manager for a lawn care company and as an assistant manager for an apartment community. But she attributes her superhuman organizational abilities to the years of practice she’s had managing 4 kids, 11 piglets, 3 dogs, and a dozen chickens.

Dayna Bargas - Accounts Manager

Since joining The Writers For Hire in 2022, Dayna has seamlessly stepped into the role of Accounts Manager, overseeing functions such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, collections, billing, and all tasks in between. With a keen eye for detail and strong communication skills, she efficiently manages all aspects of financial operations for TWFH. Dayna takes pride in her ability to navigate with a smile, displaying strong professional skills and fostering a positive work environment. Beyond her role with TWFH, she enjoys entertaining, traveling, and (most importantly!) spending time with her family.

Stephanie Hashagen - Senior Editor

Stephanie’s expertise in English and writing spans over a decade in freelancing and teaching. Stephanie worked as a staff writer and editor for The Houstonian, contributed to The Huntsville Item, freelanced for The Houston Chronicle and spent four years teaching English and reading at the junior high and high school level. She has a Master’s Degree in English from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Sam Houston State University. Stephanie has also ghost-authored several non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, numerous fashion and travel articles, and countless press releases, pitch letters, taglines, and print ads. Her copywriting and journalism experience includes technical copy for Tyco Flow Control and customer communications copy for a major American credit card company. Stephanie has also worked on copy and campaigns for Hilton and Carpet One Floor & Home, North America’s largest floor covering retailer. At The Writers For Hire, she has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 50 clients. Stephanie is an exceptional proofreader, writer, and editor and has a gift for adding a creative flair to projects while keeping copy professional and concise.

Barbara Adams - Copywriter

Barb Adams is an award-winning writer with more than 30 years of B2B and technical writing experience. She understands and closely follows the changing dynamics of the oil and gas industry – E&P, midstream, and upstream – and therefore needs minimum ramp up for any new O&G copywriting endeavor. Her portfolio includes hundreds of white papers, case studies, trade articles, op-eds, books, and brochures. Adams has also held positions as staff writer for a Houston agency, public relations manager for a Houston-based retail franchisor, and the advertising and promotions coordinator for a Minnesota-based hospitality company. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism.

Stacy Clifford - Copywriter

Stacy Clifford is a wearer of many hats, both literally and figuratively. Having earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996, his career has covered environmental cleanup, software testing, web development, technical support, copy editing and proofreading, and martial arts instruction. He has been proofreading since 3rd grade English with Mrs. Barry, corrected every stripe of web copy for over 15 years, copy edited both fiction and non-fiction books, and written on subjects as diverse as volcanology, sword fighting, and space colonization. A fixer by nature, Stacy is a stickler for structure and form and enjoys a good challenge whipping a document into shape. When not tackling the worlds problems or teaching people how to stab each other, Stacy enjoys pencil drawing and hiking in the national parks.

Flori Meeks - Copywriter

Flori, who has more than 25 years of writing experience, began her career in suburban Detroit as a community newspaper reporter. She has worked as a neighborhood news editor for the Houston Chronicle and as a copywriter for Powell Public Relations. During more than 10 years as a freelance writer, her projects included newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, brochure and website copy, Request for Proposal (RFP) responses, and grant applications. Her clients have included Galveston Monthly magazine, Weddings in Houston magazine, Judy Nichols & Associates (public relations) and NCIC Phone Services, along with nonprofit organizations, Lifeway International and Newspring. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Flori has assisted with social media campaigns and written blog posts, articles, press releases, brochures, and web copy.

Flori has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University.

Jessica Stautberg - Lead Copywriter

Jessica joined The Writers for Hire after several years of technical writing for two Department of Defense contractors, where she created software documentation and online help, as well as material for the company websites and newsletters. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Jessica has become the company’s resident “Wiki guru,” and manages most of the Wikipedia projects. She also manages social media campaigns for several local businesses, provides copy and layout options for website projects, writes blog posts on topics that include the oil and gas industry, web hosting, and fashion, and writes articles, brochures, books, and press releases. Jessica has a Master’s in Technical Communication from Texas State, where she also edited and proofread articles for Center of the Study of the Southwest’s academic journals while working as a ghostwriter for Infobooks.com. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southwestern University.

Jennifer Rizzo - Copywriter / Genealogist

Jennifer, also known as "Rizzo," is a Denver-based writer and genealogist with a passion for history, travel, and languages. She studied Spanish at the University of Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico and also lived and studied in Ancona, Italy. She also holds a certification for International Tour Management through the International Guide Academy, as well as a Genealogy certification from IAP Career College. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Jennifer has tackled a vast array of projects—from RPFs and SOPs to memoirs and company history books— and has done many in-depth genealogical research and family tree projects. She has also worked as Project Manager for various client projects, including family history books, websites, RFPs, blogs, autobiographies, and SOPs. Jennifer is our resident historian and genealogist, and can often be found examining 200-year-old books in various archive sites around the globe. She enjoys working closely with clients, and loves any opportunity that allows her to indulge her creative side.

Peter Albrecht - Copywriter

After putting in enough time as a busboy, a cheesesteak artist, a medical courier, and a nightclub bouncer, Peter took the logical next step—securing a position at a bicycle shop. While serving as a mechanic and a salesman, his incriminating degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona got him assigned to every additional duty that had anything to do with words. Between all the wrenching and selling, Peter wrote website copy, emails, blogs, digital and print ads, press releases, articles, advertorials, and scripts for radio and television commercials. What started as a summer job evolved into an 18-year career in the cycling industry, gaining him experience in corporate communications, public relations, social media management, event planning, marketing, and retail advertising. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Peter has branched into ghostwriting, op-eds, RFPs, SOPs, and producing work for aerospace and engineering firms, public utilities, oil and gas companies, real estate developers, and the entertainment industry. At his home base in New Jersey, Peter spends his free time souping up cheap vintage guitars, admiring his dog, and talking about moving to the Adirondacks.

Arielle Emmett - Copywriter

Arielle Emmett joined The Writers for Hire after a 30-year career in science, technology, and international journalism education. Early in her career, during the Watergate era, Arielle was selected as a journalism intern for The New York Times columnist William Safire, and she was a correspondent for Newsweek. She has worked as an editor for Science Digest, as a reporter and features staff writer for the Detroit Free Press, and as a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The American Journalism Review. She also has held senior editor and editor-in-chief positions at leading technical magazines and was a 10-year contributing editor at The Scientist. Arielle’s work has been published in Parents, Ms., OMNI, and Toronto Globe & Mail, among other publications. In 2011 she completed her doctoral dissertation in visual media and iconic photography at the University of Maryland. Since then, Arielle has taught science communications and online journalism at Temple and Drexel Universities, International College Beijing, and University of Hong Kong.

Erin Larson - Copywriter

With a Bachelor of Science in Language Arts from Georgetown University and 20 years of editorial experience, Erin brings a passion for words and well-crafted writing to every project. As a writer, she revels in the opportunity to create vibrant original copy and rejuvenate tired text. She has written on a range of topics, in a variety of styles, and for an array of platforms. As an editor, proofreader, translator, and trusted second set of eyes, she has helped clients from around the world enhance their writing. A self-proclaimed editorial perfectionist, Erin once canceled a credit card because of a grammatically incorrect form letter, which she edited and promptly sent back to the company. (Incidentally, she wasn’t surprised to receive no response.)

Devin Lawrence - Copywriter

Devin is a writer from Richmond, Virginia. He’s been an avid fan of fiction literature ever since he was young, and spent most of his adolescence pouring over one book series after another. Some of his favorites from back in the day include Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Ender’s Game, Ender’s Shadow, and The Edge Chronicles. He began pursuing creative writing when he was twelve, hoping to someday emulate his favorite authors. He has since spent more than ten years continuing to hone and expand the skills of his craft, graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in Professional Writing in 2022. He has written on topics ranging from technology trends, to criminal justice, homeland security, self-defense, hiking and camping, workplace operational analysis, the challenges of eldercare, and data privacy. Creative by nature, Devin also dabbles as a graphic designer with particular interest in infographics and flowcharts.

Chris DeLange - Copywriter

Chris is a London-based writer with a strong background in HR/Learning & Development. He has held senior positions at large corporations in London as both Talent Development Business Partner and Head of Learning and Development. Chris graduated top of his class when he completed his MSc in Industrial Psychology at the University of Leicester in England. He also holds a TEFL/TESOL qualification in teaching English as a Second Language from Global Language Training. Chris is a big foody and is always exploring new dishes and creating new recipes. He became a qualified Chef in 2012 when he studied Culinary Arts at the International Centre For Culinary Arts in Dubai. He is very passionate about writing and is working on multiple team projects. Chris joined The Writers For Hire in 2022 and is settling in very well.

Morgan Pinales - Copywriter

Morgan has worked in marketing and communications for more than eight years, with a primary focus on copywriting and content creation. Throughout her years of experience, she has written and edited almost every kind of copy imaginable – magazine articles, blog posts, website copy, brochures, press releases, nonfiction books, newsletter articles, brand guidelines, and more – for both B2B and B2C audiences in a wide array of industries, including energy, technology, finance, healthcare, education, travel, retail, and more. In addition to her creative skills, Morgan has technical expertise in HTML coding and utilizing content management systems (e.g. WordPress) and email platforms, such as MailChimp, ExactTarget, and Constant Contact. With a lifelong interest in language, it is not surprising that Morgan has a bachelor’s degree in German and Linguistics from Rice University, where she studied more than eight languages. In 2011, she received her master’s degree in Advertising from The University of Texas, where she was accepted into the elite Texas Creative Program for her copywriting skills. In her free time, Morgan enjoys writing personalized picture books for friends and family.

Shelley Harrison Carpenter - Copywriter

Shelley’s love of words began in first grade, composing poems for her dear teacher and mentor, Mrs. Blanchard. Her writing career began with several years as a county newspaper reporter, where she developed a love for interviewing all sorts of people. Besides feature writing, her news beats included city government, education, and nonprofits of every stripe. As a determined “adult student,” Shelley graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2010 where she also wrote profiles of outstanding adult students for a “Web Weekly” newsletter and edited a grant proposal for a campus office. After college, she wrote English instructional materials, website copy, product copy, and blogs before joining two construction and development ezines as a staff writer, happy to be conducting interviews for each assignment. Several years of intervening employment in corporate merchandising and HR deepened Shelley’s understanding of the workings of larger companies and the written content they require. She now loves being part of the writing teams at The Writers for Hire. When not at a keyboard, she can be seen jogging in her Southern neighborhood or found holed up with a biography, a vegetarian cookbook, or a vintage TV show.

Melanie Green - Copywriter

Melanie Green is a Tampa-based writer and editor, with a focus on digital marketing content. She has more than 15 years of experience writing professionally, including time spent as a full-time employee of McKinsey & Company, Nielsen, and The Business Observer. She loves to write blog posts, website pages, press releases, RFPs, and whitepapers for companies of all sizes in the United States. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a concentration in screenwriting from National University in La Jolla, California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Writing from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. 

Carol Kim - Copywriter

Carol Kim is a versatile freelance copywriter who specializes in content marketing, blog posts, website content, and email marketing for business clients. She especially enjoys diving into research and discovering what makes every company unique. Carol holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Carol is also a children’s book author, having written several fiction and nonfiction books for the educational market. She especially loves helping kids learn about the environment and social sciences. Her first nonfiction picture book from a trade publisher is due to be released in fall 2021. 

Martha Scott - Copywriter

Martha Scott’s technical writing career began on a contract at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. She edited papers for scientific journal publication, documents for departments across the site, and a book about a proposed crew escape vehicle. She produced a yearly booklet describing Shuttle contract cost-saving measures, the mission managers’ Flight Data Pack, and a 45-page booklet called Charting a Course to the Year 2000 and Beyond describing plans to develop additional space vehicles and prepare for manned Mars explorations. At Invesco, Martha edited and contributed to two company newsletters (online and hardcopy). She wrote software user manuals, Help files, Training and Benefits department documents, and, finally, shareholder reports. She returned to aerospace for the Shuttle Program’s last 5 years where she attended and produced detailed descriptions of presentations and subsequent discussions at the Orbiter Configuration Control Board’s weekly meetings. She also documented crew debriefings for 17 flights. Martha’s most recent experience was on Jacobs Engineering’s contract with a Texas City refinery for which she wrote and edited Engineering, Safety, Inspection, and Information Systems documents.

Suzanne Kearns - Copywriter

Suzanne knew she wanted to be a writer at the age of ten when she wrote her first story, and has spent the past 2 decades writing blog posts, magazine articles, nonfiction and fiction books, sales letters, white papers, press releases, website copy, and anything else that can be put in written form. She has written for Intuit, Avalara, NerdWallet, GoPayment, and as a ghostwriter for a few well-known CEO’s. Her work has appeared all around the internet, including on sites like World News and Reports, Entrepreneur.com, and Forbes. She loves nothing more than being presented with a bunch of data and asked to break it down into digestible content for readers. Most days you’ll find her sitting on her porch with her laptop, writing to the sound of the ocean, and marveling that life can be this stinking good.

Jennifer DeLay - Copywriter

Jennifer has a background in journalism and Russian area studies. She holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MSFS from Georgetown University. While in graduate school in the mid-1990s, she developed an interest in the oil and gas industry of the former Soviet Union and launched a free newsletter covering the subject. She then spent more than 20 years researching, analyzing and writing about related topics, working for multiple weekly publications and a private consulting firm. Her areas of professional interest also include energy and power in China, Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean, and for fun she researches linguistics, neuroscience and disability-related issues. She has experience in copy-editing and has frequently worked with both native and non-native English speakers, helping them to produce clear, easily understandable articles on complex political, economic, legal and technical topics. Additionally, she has managed many time-sensitive typesetting projects for community institutions. Jennifer enjoys writing personal essays and lives in Atlanta with her family.

Dana Robinson - Copywriter

Dana Robinson has been writing and editing professionally for 10 years, publishing her first article in 2007. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of a local online magazine and is a contributor to various Houston print publications. She honed her experience writing newsletters and managing social media for small businesses and non-profits before moving on to e-books, magazines, and non-fiction books for print. She also enjoys teaching creative writing workshops for children. Dana received her formal education at the University of Houston–Downtown, where she majored in professional writing, minored in creative writing, and was the recipient of the Upper Division Writing award for best essay. She completed internships with Writers In The Schools and The Bayou Review.

Brenda Hazzard - Copywriter

Brenda Hazzard has over 30 years’ experience working as a writer and editor in the private and public sectors. She spent over 20 years working for the US Government in Washington and abroad, and spent several years working with the CIA during which she managed a team of writers producing internal briefs on international news, events, and politics. She writes on a variety of topics but loves opportunities to work on projects that cater to her keen interest in international affairs. She considers herself to be an empathetic editor, one who improves a draft but lets the spirit of the writer shine through. She has also worked on dissertations, white papers, newspaper articles, and family histories.

Adelia Ritchie - Copywriter

Adelia is a scientist, educator, technical writer and editor, poet, and blogger about her Pura Vida lifestyle in Costa Rica. She has more than 40 years experience writing professionally, including her years at Science Applications International Corp., Bechtel Corporation, Defense Acquisition University, and the Department of Defense. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Organic Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Physics from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.

Carey Miller - Copywriter

Carey brings more than 20 years of writing and editing experience to The Writers for Hire. A lifelong writer and reader, she holds a B.A. in English from UCLA. Her background includes writing and editorial positions with both book and magazine publishers. She has worked as a copy editor and proofreader for major advertising agencies including Ogilvy & Mather and Rubin Postaer. Her experience includes magazine feature writing and editing as well as manuscript development and editing. A former advertising sales executive, she has crafted a wide range of business, sales, and marketing communication for leading magazine publishers including Conde Nast and Hearst. She has worked with major consumer brands including Nike, Visa, Levi’s, General Motors, Microsoft, Charles Schwab, and Neutrogena.

Coralee Bechteler - Copywriter

In the past, Coralee has been an organic farmer, a chicken herder, a zipline administrative assistant, and an ESL teacher for kids. Today, she's living her childhood dream of being a writer. She currently resides in New York with her cat (and muse) Hermes and a miles-long TBR list that gets longer every day. If she's not reading or crafting, you can usually find her pulled over on a country road writing something down or picking wildflowers. Coralee holds a bachelor's degree in English, an associate's degree in Horticulture, and multiple internationally recognized software testing certifications.

Cecile Brule - Copywriter

Cecile enjoys the challenge of discovering each client’s unique strengths and presenting them to a wider audience. Since joining The Writers For Hire, she has worked on blogs, newsletters, RFPs, end-user documentation, email, social media, sales pages, biographies, op-eds, and fiction.

Previously, she taught in Shenzhen, China and obtained an HSK3 (Intermediate Mandarin) certificate. Cecile enjoys gaming, drawing, producing short films, and growing fifteen different varieties of apples with Serenity Orchards.

Rosalind Stanley - Copywriter

Rosalind Stanley grew up on the Coast of Maine and then accidentally spent fifteen years in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, before moving to the Midwest. She graduated from Lynchburg College in 2008 with a B.A. in Creative Writing (and a minor in Theater Performance); ever since, Rosalind has endeavored to make writing a part of her daily life, whether creative or technical, whether as a volunteer or an employee. She has tutored students, taught workshops, edited fiction and non-fiction books, and worked as a beta reader and a legal writer. She also publishes a newsletter on Substack, where she releases her own fiction serially. When not writing, Rosalind is busy homeschooling her four children and raiding the local library for new fiction.

Sean Patrick Hill - Copywriter

Sean has been a professional writer for more than 25 years, and has an M.A. in Writing from Portland State University and an M.F.A. in Poetry from Warren Wilson College. He's the author of five books, and his writing has won him grants and fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council, the Vermont Studio Center, the Elizabeth George Foundation, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also works at his photography.

Wintress Odom - Owner / Editor-in-chief

Wintress founded The Writers For Hire in 2003 after freelancing for several years as a copywriter and editor. She has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 100 clients and is happy to have maintained long-term relationships with many of her first customers. Wintress is an exceptional proofreader and editor and has a gift for organizing large projects, including large technical manuals and manuscripts. Her educational background includes graduating cum laude from Rice University in 2000, studying at Cologne Gymnasium in Germany, and graduating valedictorian from The Science Academy of South Texas in 1994.
Wintress