FAQs

We all know logically that butterflies are insects. But human nature being what it is, we don’t generally put them in the same mental category as cockroaches, mosquitos, fleas. We’re delighted to see butterflies, not dismayed or disgusted. We point them out to others when we see them fluttering about the flower garden, not swat them away or crush them under a heavy shoe. When my kids were in elementary school, our family purchased a tabletop butterfly garden. The mesh habitat came with everything we needed to provide a safe and healthy environment. We kept it on the counter in the kitchen, the room we spent the most time in, so we could watch the transformation while we ate meals or drank coffee, completed math homework, and opened mail. Even the youngest Eric Carle fan knows that a caterpillar’s sole purpose is to eat for as long as it remains a caterpillar. And our five caterpillars gorged themselves with gusto. Eventually, obeying a silent signal only they could sense, each caterpillar made its way up to the holding log, where it attached itself to hang, wriggling, upside down. We watched each slow down, grow motionless, and stiffen into a chrysalis pod. The most intense transformation takes place inside the protective chrysalis. (There’s a reason we humans call being in our safe and happy places cocooning!) Like a drawn curtain, the opaque barriers blocked our view from the intense, crucial labor being performed. One morning, my children noticed over their cereal bowls that one chrysalis had grown much darker in color than the others. Soon another did the same. The others followed. The chrysalides dripped a dark liquid. Something was happening! As luck would have it, all four of us were watching when the first chrysalis burst apart. After the seemingly long and tedious wait, the emergence happened lightning fast, in the almost-literal blink of an eye. Our first butterfly, streaky with fluid, clung to the log with its spindly legs. As the hours passed, the butterfly waved its wings slowly, both testing and drying them. Wings! it must have thought. I have wings! How perfectly astonishing and wonderful! In their own time, its four brothers and sisters likewise emerged, completely changed yet authentically themselves, into the world. Transformed. Full of purpose. Ready to take flight. All four stages of butterfly transformation — caterpillar, chrysalis, emergence, and flight — are orderly, purposeful, and necessary. And the complete cycle, though it happens in plain sight, feels like magic. So, too, does the art and science of creating language that resonates. Writing begins in discovery and insight. It’s crafted and evolved. Refined and perfected. Empowered to be the very best version of itself. It might, as did our hatched butterflies, bring you to tears of joy. My proprietary framework, the Butterfly Blueprint®, transforms your copy into content that sounds exactly like you — only better.

Sherpa (capital s) and sherpa (lowercase s) are often used interchangeably, but while there are overlaps, they are not the same. Capital S Sherpa designates an ethnic group of people residing in a specific area of the Himalayan mountains (the word “sherpa” comes from the combined Tibetan words meaning “east” and “people.” In lowercase, “sherpa” designates the workers who assist with expeditions by handling equipment or walking alongside trekkers as partners, assistants, and guides. Connotatively, outside the world of mountaineering, “sherpa” applies to someone with vast experience in a particular field; deep knowledge of tools, strategies, and best practices in that field; and both the necessary vision and the stamina to lead and support others, show the way, and stay the course. For more than 30 years, I've lived the business of words: as a writer, editor, teacher, and coach. I know the terrain. I possess the expertise. In short, I'm your writing sherpa, your guide and partner for each step of the journey. I can't wait to support you on your adventure!

I'd like to think my experience and client/student testimonials speak for themselves, but nothing replaces good old-fashioned human connection. Don't hesitate to shoot me a message so we can discover if we are a good fit for each other.

If you're here, you're already well aware that premium services from master practitioners aren't just an unnecessary upsell. You really do get what you pay for. From me, you'll get a bespoke, premium-quality (and decades-earned) level of knowledge, service, and integrity. I'm not the least expensive writer, editor, or coach you might find, but my prices are 100% competitive with the best. I know, because I'm one of them.

Some stories are born from pain — loss, caregiving, illness, family rupture. Writing a book from these experiences can be challenging but also deeply healing. I work with writers who are ready to tell the truth of what they’ve lived through, in their own words and on their own terms. This kind of book takes time, care, and support. I bring a grief- and trauma-aware, compassionate approach to coaching that honors your story and your process. Whether you’re hoping to publish your memoir or simply need to get it down on the page, I’ll help you move forward with clarity, safety, and purpose. Memoir writing can be a deeply healing process, but it also brings up emotional challenges that can feel overwhelming. I understand the emotional weight of writing through grief, trauma, or life transitions. Many of my clients are writing about difficult experiences—loss, illness, family rupture, or recovery—and they need a coach who can hold space for the vulnerability of that process. I bring a grief- and trauma-informed approach to my work, which means I offer you not just guidance on craft and subject matter expertise, but the emotional safety you need to explore painful material without rushing through it or shutting it down. We work at your pace. I help you navigate the emotional barriers that come up, whether it’s fear, shame, or simply feeling stuck. As a survivor of profound grief and loss, I know your writing can be both cathartic and creative. I guide you through the hard parts without pushing you into them, creating space for deep reflection while providing the tools to craft a memoir that feels both healing and complete. You don’t need to have all the answers—just the courage to begin.

You’ve lived a rich, layered life—and now you’re ready to turn that experience into a book. Whether you’re writing for your family, your community, or a wider audience, I help you shape your memories into a memoir that feels true, meaningful, and lasting. Many people I work with don’t think of themselves as writers. Some haven’t written since school, and others have started and stopped more times than they can count. I offer practical, personalized coaching to guide you from idea to finished manuscript—whether you hope to self-publish, pursue traditional publishing, or simply create something enduring to pass down. Writing a memoir is often a profound way to reflect on your life’s journey and leave a legacy. Many of my clients over 50 come to me with a lifetime of experiences they want on record, but they haven’t yet figured out how to turn those experiences into a cohesive story. Whether you’re writing to share your wisdom with family, make sense of a pivotal life event, or create something meaningful for a wider audience, I help you turn your memories into a memoir that’s both personal and timeless. As a “woman of a certain age,” I respect and honor the depth of your life experience. I’m not just here to help you write a book—I’m here to help you write a legacy. I work with clients to clarify what matters most about their stories, and how to craft those stories in a way that’s both authentic and impactful. It’s never too late to write your story. I’ll help you find your voice, structure your narrative, and finish a memoir that’s true to you. You don’t need to be a “professional” writer; you just need to honor the wisdom you’ve accumulated and the message you want to share. We’ll create a plan that works with your schedule, your goals, and your vision.

Oh, honey. No. Please don’t “just” use an automated tool. While they can indeed be very helpful (I use some of them myself, especially for spot checks and final proofs), they are soulless machines. Many suggestions/corrections/flags they generate are not quite right or just plain wrong. The user must have a good understanding of grammar and writing conventions to separate the wheat from the chaff. Consider the humble calculator. If I don't know that 12 times 12 equals 144, then I won't recognize a calculator error of 1440 when I have accidentally mistyped a numeral. Similarly, if I don't know the difference in meaning between affect and effect, I won't recognize an erroneous correction. The tools are just that—tools. When your words matter, you need an expert, not a tool.

Absolutely not! While my client list includes household names and global brands, it also includes hundreds of super niche or hyper local clients. In some ways, the “small fish” can make the biggest splashes in their respective ponds. ​ In my teens and early twenties when I spent all my ice cream-scooping money on concert tickets, I finagled my way into the front VIP section for David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, the Monkees, John Waite, Duran Duran, U2, Phil Collins, Journey, Bryan Adams, and the Michael Stanley Band (If you know MSB, you know). I'll help get you to the front row for your audience, too, no finagling needed. And for the record, all my clients are big deals to me. I work with individuals and mission-driven organizations. Are you committed to the being the change you want to see in the world? Do you have a strong voice that’s worthwhile, that has something to say, not just add to the noise? Are “sales” in their proper place for you? I.e. would you believe in the value of what you offer even if you did it for free? No tricks, no gimmicks. Whether you're a creative writer or you have products/services to sell, if the above resonates with you, I'm your girl.

I genuinely enjoy all the clients who choose to work with me. They are all wonderful, inspiring people who bubble over with ambition and intelligence. My life is all the better for having them in it. ​ If I had to pick a project I'm most proud of, it might be the proposal that successfully brought in a two million dollar investment for that client. Or it might be the display ad that generated a local-level client's record-smashing single day sales. Or the grad student who paid me to write a bespoke poem to frame for his wife as an anniversary gift. Or maybe my favorite project is yours? Let's find out!

OK, this isn't a FAQ related to my business, but I wanted to tell you more about me! I've given skritchies to a pregnant koala bear, acted in a Peloton commercial, fed and bathed a 25-year old elephant, been interviewed on television right after the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia died,won the front row seat lottery to Sting's Broadway show The Last Ship (and saw Hamilton's original cast on Broadway too),gone into labor at an Amiri Baraka reading, interviewed Pulitzer-winner Charles Simic for a book on contemporary writers,scored a bogie on lucky hole #13, brought a handful of houseplants back from the dead, and plugged my ears at a monster truck rally. I'm content to live my life joyfully and completely, surrounded by exceptional friends and beloved family, even though I will never, ever, no never outlive the lengthy list of books-I-want-to-read list.