Deanna Brady is a highly versatile freelance writer and editor with more than three decades of experience in both fiction and nonfiction literature. She assists with development and edits, rewrites, and ghostwrites novels and stories (literary and genre fiction), self-help books, biographies and memoirs, cover and query letters, proposals, articles, scripts, textbooks, business communications, marketing material, and Web content. Her many happy clients greatly appreciate her expertise, gentle guidance, meticulous care, and ability to preserve their individual voices and help make their work shine.
Known as an “editor’s editor,” Deanna is adept with ESL, dialects, and translated text. She especially enjoys working with speculative, YA, romance, and women’s fiction, historical and creative nonfiction, and topics including spirituality, ecology, Native American Indian and other indigenous cultures, psychology, and complementary medicine. For ten years she was the editor of an internationally published monthly inspirational magazine. She has written and edited numerous children's textbooks and is an award-winning author of short fiction and poetry. She taught for a dozen years in the Continuing Education Department at California State University and has spoken at scores of literary conferences.
Deanna works with a broad spectrum of clients in widely varied fields. She has written and edited advertising and marketing copy, prospectuses, and training materials for such diverse clients as IBM, AT&T, Omnicom Group Worldwide, George Marciano/Guess, Learning Tree International, Crabtree Publishing Company, Canon Communications, and the RAND Corporation. She has volunteered her services on behalf of various charitable organizations, and her grant proposals have garnered nearly half a million dollars for nonprofit groups.
Writing Projects have included:
Writer’s Digest , short story competition (prizewinner)
The Woodworkers; Colonial Women, Crabtree Publishing Company
Guess/Georges Marciano, presentation book
The Raven Chronicles literary journal, short story & poetry
American Indian Changing Spirits program, grant proposals and press releases
Native Nations of North America, book series (created, drafted, edited), Crabtree Publishing Company
Editing, Rewriting, and Ghostwriting projects have included:
Lenswoman in Love: A Novel of the 1960s & ‘70s, and Caterina, Kim Gottlieb-Walker
Getting Better: A Doctor's Story of Resilience, Recovery, and Renewal, Andrew M. Kadar, MD
The 7 Lost Secrets…; Magical Manifesting; and From Ecstasy to Success, Kala H. Kos, PhD
The Ring and The Lie, Joanie Ferree
Diverse Gashes: ... Alice Bishop, and the Murder of Martha Clarke, Donna Watkins, MA, MS
Shelly & the Circle of Light and Re-ignite Your Inner Light, Rochelle Forrest Hankins, BSN
The Generous Prenup: How to Support Your Marriage..., Laurie Israel, Esq.
Help Me Understand My Child, Florence Bracy, CP
Monkey Business: A History of Nonhuman Primate Rights, Erika Fleury
The Connors Chronicles, C. G. Peltier
Unplugging the Patriarchy, Lucia René
The Low-Cost Pilot’s License, Cody Bias
One Wizard Place; Sentinel; and Sidhe, D. M. Paul
The Big AHA!: Breakthroughs in Resolving and Preventing Workplace Conflict, Bill Wiersma
... and many more.
SOME CLIENT FEEDBACK AND ENDORSEMENTS
“Deanna Brady is meticulous and knowledgeable and always provides reasons for her brilliant editing. I would never publish a book without her expertise.” – Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Lenswoman in Love; Caterina by Moonlight
“Deanna Brady is a highly skilled editor and a supportive adviser. She not only did a great job editing my book proposal, including sample chapters, she also helped me get an agent. The result was the publication of my book.” – Andrew Kadar, MD, Getting Better: A Doctor's Story of Resilience, Recovery, and Renewal.
“Deanna is a superb writer, rewrite specialist, and editor who never ceases to amaze me with her talents. Her patience and skill throughout the many projects on which we have worked together have made my words and my life richer.” – Kala Kos, PhD, The 7 Lost Secrets for a Rich Life; Magical Manifesting; The 7 Lost Secrets of Ecstasy and Success; Die Huna-lehre
“It's great, Deanna! The manuscript is so much stronger. You've done an incredible job. There are no words that can describe how grateful I feel. The query and synopsis are also perfect—within minutes I got a full request! I sent a few more and got five full manuscript requests so far. I'm extremely happy with the outcome of this project.” [subsequently signed with a New York literary agency] – Isabelle Adrid, Exidome: This Fighter in Me
“You were a godsend—your never-ending support, willingness to take me on, work with me, teach me, and your ever-present patience with a newbie. I will forever be grateful and in awe of your talent. Thanks again for your encouragement, inspiration, and most of all, helping make me a writer.” – Joanie Ferree, The Ring; The Lie
“I worked with Deanna Brady on my nonfiction book proposal and sample chapters [as well as HuffPost articles]. She made my dull prose sparkle throughout with a subtle change of words. She understood what I was trying to say and provided value at every point. I can't emphasize enough what a pleasure it was to work with her.” – Laurie Israel, Esq., The Generous Prenup: How to Support Your Marriage and Avoid the Pitfalls; The Marriage-Friendly Prenup
“Deanna, I was so honored that you took my work seriously and treated me professionally.... I signed the contract. It's official—I'm an author! Sending off my manuscript with all your lovely edits. So exciting!” – Donna Watkins, MA, MS, Diverse Gashes: Governor William Bradford, Alice Bishop, and the Murder of Martha Clarke; Weaker Vessels
Acknowledgment: “Thank you to ... my night-owl of an editor, Deanna Brady, for turning my book into something I would want to read.” – Erika Fleury, Director, NAPSA, Monkey Business: A History of Nonhuman Primate Rights
“I used my imagination to write a story, and Deanna Brady used her editing magic to turn it into a wonderful manuscript. She worked within my budget and helped me produce a novel to be proud of. One should never underestimate what a good editor can do. Maybe I shouldn’t be writing this; she might have a full workload when my next manuscript is ready for editing.” – C. G. Peltier, The Connors Chronicles
“Deanna was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her revisions brought my book from a decent manuscript to a certified work of art, and her help was key to making sure the release of my first book was successful. I could not have gotten these accolades without the support of her superb skills. Her editing made the book flow smoothly and read easily.... She is a master editor with the skills necessary to bring a project to life right before your eyes. I highly recommend Deanna to any prospective clients. Her work is some of the best in her industry.” – Herrick Erickson-Brigl, The Divine Tempest: A Scholar's Journey [revised print edition]
“Love it! This is exceptionally well done. You do wonderful work. Thank you!” Acknowledgment: “...and Deanna Brady, whose exacting standards of excellence in substantive, content, and line editing enabled the book to shine....” – Bill Wiersma, The Big AHA! Breakthroughs in Resolving and Preventing Workplace Conflict
“Deanna Brady is an editing master. She did a fabulous job on my two book proposals, which had to be sent out to agents and publishers within a very short time frame. Her professionalism and ability to meet my tight schedule exceeded all my expectations. She was a pleasure to work with.” – Tracy McWilliams, MBA, Dress to Express
“Great news! WE DID IT! They want to publish my book! I'm so excited. Thank you so much for helping me make the proposal [and chapters] so strong. They couldn’t say enough about it—thought it was so well written and organized.” – M. Nora Klaver, MA, MCC, Mayday! Asking for Help in Times of Need
“I just finished reading the whole book. Thank you so much for all the fantastic work you've done.” Follow-up: “The book has been picked up for publication. Thank you again for your excellent editing job. Your work is what turned this around…. I don't think it would have been published without your help.” ... “Second book has been published, and I’d like you to edit the third one, as well.” ... “It is stellar, and I have already submitted it to the publisher. Once again you have outdone yourself!!!” – D. M. (Doug) Paul, One Wizard Place; Sentinel; Sidhe
“You do great work. I'm very happy and am excited to finish the [article]. You've been tremendously helpful—I will definitely be sending more work your way. Thanks for all your help! Follow-up: [The manuscript was accepted by World Development.] BRAVO! We did it! Thanks again...!” – Molly E. Brown, PhD, NASA
“Deanna Brady is AWESOME. She was a joy to work with, bringing my didactic memoir to life while maintaining my voice in a thorough content and line edit that made my words seem to float off the page. A good editor is worth gold, and I found one in her. Thank you, Deanna!” – Florence Bracy, CP, Help Me Understand My Child
“Deanna Brady is an extraordinary editor. She is not only a highly dedicated professional, but is always willing to go the extra mile in order to provide her clients with outstanding service. She is a sensitive, generous, insightful reader who doesn’t treat the manuscript merely as a piece of work, but as potential art. As a result of her work, I had several enthusiastic responses from agents who requested the entire manuscript. This lady is a gift to experienced writers as well as the beginner. Don’t hesitate—hire her!” – Sandra Hunter, PhD (multiple-award-winner in fiction), Flight of Birds; Losing Touch
“…As usual, we ended up with a happy client and a piece we can be proud of. Practically everyone who sees my portfolio comments on your great copy. As always, I will continue to recommend your work above all others and will send you any future projects I may have.” – Benjamin Cziller, LaunchCraft Media Design (art direction)
“The reworked material has a much better flow and clarity. It is wonderful to see the great improvement in the manuscript and to feel it all coming together. Thank you so much for your talent and hard work. Your editing makes such a positive difference and I am most appreciative of it. Thank you so much!” – Cate Roundy, LCSW, I Will Sing My Song: A Beginner’s Guide to Living an Authentic Life
“Thank you for all your hard work. It wouldn’t have been possible without your help. I’m planning to send you my next book manuscript by the end of the year.” – Stephen Allten Brown, Shadows of Chaco Canyon
“Deanna, I am very happy with your work! I am amazed at how a little ‘tweaking’ can change the flow of a piece of writing and make it so much more coherent. I’m greatly indebted. I want to let other people know about your services and, hopefully, will pass along clients!” – Gloria Bird, MA (award-winning author and poet)
“Deanna Brady is a splendidly articulate and sensitive editor with a range of skills to match all levels and styles of expression. Her many related talents and versatility make her, in my estimation, an ‘editor’s editor’…. It is a privilege to give her the highest recommendation.” – Arthur Vergara, Editor-in-Chief, DeVorss & Company
“…Deanna’s resume compared favorably with numerous outstanding resumes. Deanna, however, outshone them all…. I have found her to be more than highly competent, creative, and always positive in her approach. Anyone fortunate enough to have Deanna Brady on their team will be greatly benefited.” – Dr. Anita Richelieu, Chairman of the Editorial Board, RSI
“I am excited that you are working with my stories. Thank you for helping my dreams into reality....” – Rochelle Forrest Hankins, BSN, Shelly and the Circle of Light; Shelly and the Bee; Re-ignite Your Inner Light
“Deanna Brady is a consummate editor and is also a splendid writer. Deanna’s professionalism, commitment, and high quality of work make it possible for me to recommend her to any other client without reservation. Whoever may benefit from her expertise will be fortunate indeed.” – Dr. Marcia Pearce, Creative Thought magazine
“Thank you for your speedy response and for all your help with my [NIH stem cell] research proposal. I have reviewed the edited manuscript, and it is very good. I will send my future work to you, and I will definitely refer your excellent services to my colleagues.” – Prof. Reigh-Yi Lin, PhD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
“Deanna Brady is meticulous and thorough. A thoughtful reader, she pays attention to every detail. She’s what every writer wants—when it just has to be right.” – Janis Hunt Johnson, Ask Janis Editorial & Rewrite Service, LLC
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