Melanie

Home
Deborah
Melanie


 

 

 

Author of 11

non-fiction books and

journalist for

magazines & newspapers

 

Visit the About Us page

for full bio

and Melanie's individual website

RuletheWord.com

for more info

 

 

 

 

 

Member of

Authors Guild

International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association

North American Travel Journalists Association

                                                      

 

 

 

Call (718) 382-4530 or email for information

 

"Melanie is a joy to work with, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone who needs help with editing/writing. She is very dependable and works hard to meet deadlines. Melanie will go the extra mile to make sure her work meets or beats expectations. She is very 'client-conscious,' consistently checking back to make sure the work she is doing is consistent with what the client needs. A delight to work with!" - Brenda Bence, Founder and President of BDA International, Ltd. and author of the award-winning How YOU™ Are Like Shampoo book series.

 

 

 

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 seven 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

 

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Book 52 Weeks of Passionate Sex sold out its first printing within a week of release.

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Book The Cocktail Kit has sold more than 100,000 copies.

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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.)

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Edited book The Fine Art of the Big Talk published by Hyperion, the publisher owned by Disney.

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Book Hummingbirds: Jewels On Air contains eight of the author's photographs.

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Over 50 poems published in the literary magazines of six countries.

 


WRITING, EDITORIAL, AND RELATED BACKGROUND

 

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BOOKS: Author of 11 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

Revitalize Your Mouth (as ghostwriter for David Frey, D.D.S.), Spring 2005

Business title (as ghostwriter), published by major publishing house

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.

 

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JOURNALISM:

Woman's Day magazine

Travel Savvy magazine

Medical Economics magazine

His and Hers magazine

South China Morning Post

Ft. Myers Magazine

Tweens News

Fit Focus magazine

Natural Awakenings magazine

Luxury Web online magazine

Copper in the Arts online magazine

SuperyachtTimes.com

OfSpirit.com

SelfGrowth.com

See the BOOKS & ARTICLES page for more information

 

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EDITING: Editor of non-fiction and fiction books, website copy, brochures, speeches, and articles. Impeccable grammar and organizational skills. Experienced in substantive content editing and proofreading. 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.)

 
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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.)

 

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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.

 

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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, and iguana photo licensed by Connecticut CPA firm for marketing materials. Six flower photographs will be published in an upcoming book by the Michael Wilcox School of Colour in the United Kingdom, 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

North American Travel Journalists Association

International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association

International Travel Writers Alliance

Former Member, American Society of Journalists and Authors

Former Member, American Medical Writers Association

 

 

References provided upon request.

 

Email Deborah Grandinetti or call at (856) 222-9191

Email Melanie Votaw or call at (718) 382-4530