Projects
ReQovery: How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole … and Climbed Back Out by Katrina Vaillancourt (2024, 534 pages)
My role: Katrina hired me to feed her manuscript into ChatGPT but changed course when my versatile editing outshone the AI tools. As a Nonviolent Communication–certified trainer, she valued my NVC expertise and nonpartisan care for this bold topic. I suggested content changes, added callouts, and created a style sheet for her to maintain professional precision in this riveting time-capsule memoir.
From the author: “You are such an extraordinarily talented editor!! I couldn’t have found a better person to partner with on this project. Xoxo”
The Straight Up Food by Cathy Fisher (2016, 251 pages)
My role: Despite Cathy’s editing background, we spent 15 months refining this self-published full-color recipe book—ensuring its copy quality matched its practical, thoughtful design. Confident in Cathy’s meticulous excellence, I worked for deferred pay, which came with a generous bonus when her wildly successful Kickstarter campaign raised $68,000.
From the author: “My editor was so amazing that I haven't received a single comment from a reader about any errors in the book!”
The Fully Raw Diet by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2016, 272 pages).
My role: At the eleventh hour, Kristina sent her prepress manuscript to her “special source” (me) for a final pass. I made extensive revisions, including recalculating most of the nutritional analyses. Houghton Mifflin’s associate editor praised my work as “more thorough” than their in-house team’s, embracing my input despite tight deadlines.
From the author: “You're insanely insane at what you do. I love you!”
Alcohol Can Be a Gas: Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century by David Blume (2007, 596 pages)
My role: Starting as a volunteer “proofreader,” I sparked an unexpected 7-month round of precision technical line editing, perfecting this richly detailed prepress reference tome on upending fossil-fuel dependency. Later, I joined the author’s nonprofit team for 4 years.
The Raw Food Revolution Diet by Cherie Soria (2008, 408 pages)
My role: I copyedited this raw food recipe book and portions of Cherie’s Angel Foods, as well as marketing materials, web content, and course descriptions for her renowned culinary institute for a decade.
From the Author: “Laurie, you are SO awesome. Your tutoring has helped me immensely, with less editing needed compared to BL (Before Laurie)!”
Great Peacemakers by Ken Beller and Heather Chase (2008, 195 pages)
My role: In addition to editing personal writings and business documents for Ken’s company, Near Bridge, for years, I copyedited and proofread this 2007 International PeaceWriting Award winner and its rigorous high school/college curriculum materials, including rubrics.
The Marriage of Sex and Spirit Geralyn Gendreau, editor (2006, 408 pages). Voted Best Health/Sexuality Book in the Best Books 2006 National Book Awards.
My Role: With a drop-dead publication date looming, I joined an editorial triage team to get this anthology to press, saving 1,200+ bookstore preorders. I copyedited a dozen chapters, substantially reworked Marianne Williamson’s chapter, and transcribed interviews.
From the Editor: “God, I love how thorough you are… your badassness vastly improved this project, Ms. Laurie!”
The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas N. Graham
(2006, 348 pages)
My role: Originally hired as copy editor, I took on roles including developmental, substantive, and line editing, transforming an early unpolished manuscript into a niche masterpiece. I also managed the project, fact-checked, contributed original content, and laid out the first edition. I served for a decade as Doug’s editor over many projects.
From the acknowledgments page: “Laurie, your signature knack for “rototilling” a disjointed manuscript and turning it into a coherent book has once again proven invaluable. I am convinced you are the best editor this side of the universe.”
Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter (2005, 128 pages)
My Role: At a mutual friend’s suggestion, Jean sent me a recorded talk and transcript to mold her daily practice of “enlisting a celestial workforce” into a proven success guide. I crafted strawman chapters to structure her concept, then we fleshed them out together. The self-published book was later acquired by New World Publishing in 2005.
Giraffe Juice: The Magic of Making Life Wonderful by Marci Winters and JP Allen (2010, 142 pages)
My role: I helped develop and edit early drafts of this Nonviolent Communication children’s story, helping shape the authors’ vision into a beloved book. JP later recruited me for a key customer service role in his e-commerce company, a partnership that continued for 9 years.
From the author: “I love the way you work! And I love the way you report on time spent too. No one else does that no matter how many times I request it. PS: Your organization is practically a spiritual experience for me.”
TESTIMONIALS
Pam Armstrong, author of Surviving Healthcare
“You so obviously want this to be good, and I don’t think I could find anyone else who has your level of dedication to this project.
Miki Kashtan, cofounder, Bay Area Nonviolent Communication (employer)
“I am so confident in our communication. It's working so well. I am having zero anxiety about anything falling through any cracks. They just don't seem to exist. I wish for you to relax. I have been singing all week.”
Rex Bowlby, author of
Plant Roots
“Let me say ... You have a wonderful “bookside” manner.” You don’t show me “what you know” by finding as many problems as you can. You take your ego out it. Also, you reek of integrity.”
Richard Chisholm, author
"Your ability to articulate and be in a style that feels so representative of my truth, my speaking style, and desire to connect, moves me so much that I want to cry. How can someone say my thoughts better than me? You are a supernatural Vulcan mind-melding editing freak of a blessing!"
Robert Oppenlander, author of
Comfortably Unaware
“I wish my publishers would have allowed you to take one round of editing my new book a few months ago!"
Rick Geggie, author of Healing Practices to Help Kids Grow Up Easier
“I am amazed and really tickled. I am so moved by the great difference ... in fact, moved to joyous tears that my book proposal looks so professional .... What skill you have.”
Franca Baroni, author of On Governance: Cor Publicum-The Evolution of Res Publica
“I chose Laurie among other candidates because of her professionalism, her honest, generous, and straightforward style, and her high level of integrity in handling the costs.”
Dr. Doug Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet
Laurie will assuredly make your book the best that it possibly can be. She will communicate with you daily. It may take longer than you want, because Laurie may make suggestions that require a bit more effort on your part, but the finished product will be something that you will always be proud of and won’t want to redo later down the road.”
