Family stories fascinate me.
Every person -- living or dead, famous or unknown -- whose stories make their way down to us is triumphant in one way or another.
Their experiences often carry inspiration and lessons that extend far beyond what they could have imagined as they were living.
Discovering the timeless treasures in temporal experiences is what gives me joy as a writer, reader, and editor.
Their experiences often carry inspiration and lessons that extend far beyond what they could have imagined as they were living.
Discovering the timeless treasures in temporal experiences is what gives me joy as a writer, reader, and editor.
Writing Projects |
My first book, “Farewell, Aleppo: My Father, My People, and Their Long Journey Home,” grew from a small family project to an award-winning book and talks all over the country. We never know where the process will take us when -- to paraphrase Virginia Woolf -- the pen picks up the scent. The prize is passing down new understandings to readers whose experiences may be vastly different from those of the people we write about, but who share common feelings, hopes and concerns.
My next project will be about my maternal grandmother, born in Cairo in 1908, who was bounced between relatives and boarding schools in a half-dozen countries before meeting my grandfather in Paris, when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl and he was a 30-year-old Syrian businessman. He fell in love the moment he saw her. She? “I didn’t know from love!” They were happily married for over 60 years. I am fascinated by family stories -- and fortunate to have had a fascinating family! |
Editing |
In my writing classes I like to say, “It takes more than an interesting subject to make an interesting book, but it helps.” Completing the process takes wise, heartfelt writing and skilled, respectful editing. I love helping new or experienced writers take their project from a rough idea to a polished manuscript, whether for publication, a family keepsake, or their own personal journey. I can work with you on a per-page or per-project basis, in the consultation, developmental editing, line editing, or proofreading stage as needed. In addition to family stories, my specialties are science, nature, and history. I take on projects I love, because I find editing can be a joy that complements the joys of writing.
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