This book teaches about the DISC behavioral style model. The book discusses how to use this model to develop a healthy work environment and to improve satisfaction for employees. Real case studies are used to show how to implement the model and how to find the right corporate culture.

I worked with the author to edit the manuscript. Together, we improved grammar and sentence structure. In addition, we worked together to make sure the text would be clear to the readers and to make sure this model was easily implementable.

I have worked on many training books, and this book was just as enjoyable. But the best part was when the author sent me a signed copy of the printed book! I always love adding books to my bookshelf. I have a special bookshelf that only includes books I have worked on. And the bookshelf proudly sits in the front hallway of my house so anyone entering my home can see all of the wonderful authors I have worked with.

I worked on this manuscript with Arnaud Bellevue for over a year. The author wrote a wonderfully touching book about his struggles in coming to America. He struggled with growing from a boy to a man in a strange land, surrounded by people who spoke funny. While growing up, he held onto a dream of becoming a professional soccer player, and his life focused on accomplishing this dream. Though others told him he would fail, he never believed them.

The author and I worked closely together on A Reflection of Strength to keep his unique voice, but to correct some of the issues that come along with English being his second language. His book is a wonderful tale of a boy coming of age in a faraway place . . . a place he could not call home.

Though this was a developmental edit, it was a bit different because the author’s first language was not English. This was an enjoyable challenge that developed into a beautiful product.

Journey with Rose Petal and Raindrop in The Fairies Quest as they travel through the Honey Forest, Garden of the Gnomes, Fluttery Butterfly Meadow, and Lake Mystery on their way to the Questing Woods. What will they find? Will the answer they are given be what they are looking for? Or will it leave them with more questions?

April Michelle Davis spent three months completing a developmental edit and a copyedit of this manuscript. The developmental edit examined the entire manuscript, searching for consistency or for ways to sharpen setting, imagery, symbolism, foreshadowing, characterization, and plot. April Michelle, a trained editor, reviewed the manuscript and work with the author to fully develop the manuscript. Writing, rewriting, and research were completed when necessary, but the primary objective was to help the author review the work and develop a series of goals and tasks to help the author improve the work. For copyediting, the manuscript was be reviewed at the clause level, checking thematic organization at paragraph and sentence levels and checking for consistencies, errors, and omissions. Included was basic spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word usage.

Cailey’s Best Day has two underlying messages: Valuing every day and encountering something new every day. “Cailey’s dad wakes her up saying ‘this is the best day of your life,’” says Hewlett. “Every day is the best day of your life.”

The second message in Cailey’s Best Day is aimed at having parents encourage their children to try new things. “Cailey’s parents encourage her exploration,” says Hewlett, adding, “There are different messages I hope children can take from the book.”

April Michelle Davis spent several weeks proofreading the text for Cailey’s Best Day. This is usually performed on a manuscript that has already been through developmental or copyediting and has already been laid out by a designer into page proofs. It provides a last review of egregious errors, such as basic grammar, punctuation, spelling, and inconsistencies, and any other errors that were inserted during the design process.

In his new book, Fixing Our Broken Institutions, Hurwitz employs his engineering background to confront a number of structural weaknesses in the institutions we rely on. One example; racial tensions in our inner cities.

The author recommends dividing all urban residential districts into manageable neighborhoods that are, clearly demarked, denominated, open-bordered, and traffic restricted. Each neighborhood would be a self-sufficient community with schools, etc. Neighborhood gangs would be conscripted into teams paid for doing constructive work such as maintenance, social services, and crime reporting. Adult sponsors would be responsible for team extra curricular activities.

From their early teens, kids would also be entitled to a monthly stipend paid into his or her private account from which no sums could be withdrawn prior to their twenty-first birthdays. The accounts would be subject to penalties for such infractions as arrests and drug abuse. Thus youths would face a choice of forfeiting their stipends or enjoying a stake in a protective society.

Costs? Programs such as these represent a bargain compared to the fortunes currently spent on law enforcement, etc. Voluntary crime-prevention pays.

April Michelle Davis spent six weeks copyediting this nearly 300-page book. She reviewed the manuscript at the clause level, checking thematic organization at paragraph and sentence levels and checking for consistencies, errors, and omissions. In addition, she checked basic spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word usage. April Michelle Davis lets her professionalism shine through her experience and skills to work with authors on their manuscripts.