Meet the 2022 Board
The Northwest Editors Guild’s all-volunteer board of directors changes a little bit every year, with most members serving a two-year term on the board that ends in February. This year we're saying farewell to 2021 board members Jesi Hanley Vega, Laura Whittemore, and Alison Cantrell, and welcoming new board member Megan Christy. MariLou Harveland, Kris Ashley, Sarah Peterson, Laura Shaw, Alicia Ramos, Erica Akiko Howard, and Ivonne Ward continue their service.
Instead of our usual formal biographies, the board this year decided to answer some fun questions as their introductions.
Photo of a sloth hanging one a vine in a zoo, by Denys Gromov from Pexels.
Name: MariLou Harveland
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: President
Where you’re located: Everett, WA
Favorite book: The Works of Edgar Allan Poe by Hervey Allen (1927 copy that belonged to my beloved grandmother).
Why are you part of the Guild?: Originally, to find a job because I had just moved to Washington from North Dakota and knew no one. Now, it’s all about commiserating with (and laughing with) fellow word-nerds, grammar geeks, and bibliophiles.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Surprisingly, wordiness (everyone who knows/works with me is accustomed to my jabbery nature). I love condensing a lengthy paragraph into a short blurb or finding single words for multi-word phrases.
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: That’s tough; they’re all snuggly. I’ll say sloth, mostly because I have a better chance at catching it. I need a hug, man. :-)
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: Technical editing has been my main gig for about 20 years, and I seriously love it, the process, and the tech writers. I’ve also done developmental editing, substantive editing, and copyediting for science fiction/fantasy, horror, and paranormal (my fave), and I’ve also delved into the world of magazines and web editing.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I’m handy with (some) home construction. I can hang sheetrock, tape, and mud (and I can, but refuse to, texture/sand… messy). I can lay wood flooring, string electrical, and I also make delicious pie (not all at once).
Best thing about the Guild: The convergence of extraordinarily talented people who have created a community of support and camaraderie. The remarkable people who have left an indelible impression on me, whom I’ve had the pleasure of forming connections and friendships with.
Name: Kris Ashley
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: VP of Member Services
Where you’re located: Portland, OR
Favorite book: Ummm… I have to pick one? Okay, Tam Lin by Pamela Dean. Ask me tomorrow and it may be different! But most of my favorites tend to be either fantasy or middle grade (or, um, both… both is good).
Why are you part of the Guild?: For the camaraderie with fellow editors, and the ability to ask the group brain editing questions I can’t figure out.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Structural issues—I love when a good book plan comes together. *grin*
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Wombat!
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I’m a developmental editor. I like to think of myself as the “big picture” editor, the one who sorts out major organization, structural or narrative issues, with occasional moments of copyediting if I see something easy. I’ve worked on all kinds of books, from nonfiction to novels to poetry.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I can sort, alphabetize and shelve large stacks of books and papers really quickly—comes from working in bookstores for a lot of my working life, and is a darn useful skill for someone who moonlights as an archivist!
Best thing about the Guild: The people! I’ve made some wonderful friends both while being on the board and while I wasn’t, and I hope to keep those friendships well after I leave.
Name: Sarah Peterson
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Secretary and Programming Committee Member
Where you’re located: Spokane, WA
Favorite book: Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin.
Why are you part of the Guild?: I joined to get me some work friends when I became a work-from-home freelancer and to find professional community beyond Spokane.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Word styles and document structure for clean conversion into other formats; I also love plain language.
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Koala
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I do technical, plain language, and accessibility editing, mostly for government clients who have mountains of standards about exactly how each of those types of writing should look.
Odd skill that might surprise people: My extensive home improvement and repair skills, including drywall hanging, window glazing, and minor electrical and appliance repairs.
Best thing about the Guild: The colleagues I’ve met and worked with, connecting with word buddies and other like-minded souls throughout the Northwest.
Name: Laura Shaw
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Treasurer
Where you’re located: Seattle, WA
Favorite book: The Princess Bride, since about 5th grade.
Why are you part of the Guild?: I’d been a teacher for years before deciding to make the jump into editing—the Guild was actually my first step, and the best first step I could have made.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: I love when a piece can be totally transformed for the better just by reordering what’s already been written.
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Koala!! I could live in a eucalyptus tree.
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: A mishmash—developmental and line editing for short fiction and nonfiction projects when I can and a variety of technical/instructional writing and editing for my day job.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I make a mean macramé work on a piece of driftwood.
Best thing about the Guild: Especially during the pandemic, it’s such a treat when someone shares a gem of editing humor over the email list.
Name: Alicia Ramos
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Board Member at Large, Communications Committee Chair
Where you’re located: West Seattle, WA
Favorite book: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA no. Um, some favorite authors off the top of my head (excluding those for whom I edit): KJ Charles, Alexis Hall, Lily Morton, CS Poe.
Why are you part of the Guild?: I appreciate the camaraderie of a smaller editing organization (though I’m also an EFA member) and the opportunity—in different times—for in-person events throughout the year.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Turning what an author wrote into what they meant to write. (I’m not sure that’s a “thing,” but it’s what came to mind.)
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Wombat
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I specialize in editing queer genre fiction (romance, romantic suspense, fantasy, etc.). Since most of the authors with whom I work self-publish and are on limited budgets, I generally offer a combination line edit and copyedit, referring out to dev editors if the manuscript needs bigger-picture guidance.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.
Best thing about the Guild: The community.
Photo of a wombat in snow, by Fir002 from Creative Commons.
Name: Ivonne Ward
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Volunteer Coordinator, Board Member at Large, Outreach Committee
Where you’re located: Downtown Renton, WA
Favorite book: I love so many books that picking one overall favorite makes me nervous. I will say that in the past year, I read a book that, as a lifelong learner, inspired me to continue approaching life and new experiences with a beginner’s enthusiasm. That book is Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning by Tom Vanderbilt.
Why are you part of the Guild?: I learned about the Guild several years ago, on my first day in the University of Washington certificate program in editing. I joined right away, hoping to learn from others in the profession, find mentorship, and become part of the editing community in the PNW. I’ve stayed because it’s an active, generous, and knowledgeable community, and serving on the board is one way I can continue to give back to an organization that has been so valuable to me. I enjoy the camaraderie and networking with my peers and the opportunity to help others who are just starting out. And no matter what my area of work is, I’m often bound to learn something new thanks to the email discussion list for members and the topics covered in member meetings throughout the year.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Inconsistencies in spelling, style, structure, and continuity. My eyes and brain will catch something like that before noticing obvious things, such as missing punctuation or an obvious misspelling. Go figure!
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Wombat
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I edit (and sometimes write) web content including conversion-driven and sales copy, content marketing blog posts and articles, SEO content, and marketing emails. My work often combines structural editing, line editing, and copyediting. My clients include tech companies, health and wellness businesses, and performing arts organizations.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I don’t know how much this might surprise anyone who knows me well, but I’m really good—and fast—at building IKEA furniture. I’m also the person you can call to map elaborate routes for long-distance walks in the Greater Seattle area that include points of interest, staircases (Seattle has so many!), curious or little-known details that delight along the route, and spots for great views and photos.
Best thing about the Guild: The people of the Guild! I love the generosity, sense of community, and support among editing professionals, across so many types of editing and industries.
Name: Erica Akiko Howard
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Board Member at Large, Programming Committee
Where you’re located: Seattle, WA
Favorite book: Ugh. Hard question. Fiction: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy. Nonfiction: Maybe On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee?
Why are you part of the Guild?: I treasure having a supportive professional community where we can share resources and companionship. And it’s given me access to so many opportunities for professional development.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Ambiguity and lack of clarity, perhaps? I like making language clearer, more accessible, and more inclusive. In the nonfiction I edit, the less a reader needs to guess (or have inside knowledge) to discern the author’s meaning, the better. I’m also all over changing superscript letter o’s to proper degree symbols.
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Definitely sloth. I’ve worked/studied in Australia and Brazil and love both regions, but I’m partial to rainforest critters.
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I edit mostly scientific papers and educational materials. I’m primarily a copyeditor. I often do heavy line editing, especially for scientists whose primary language isn’t English. Occasionally, I’ll do structural and content editing for educational materials when my background in environmental science is relevant. I also do some fact-checking.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I haven’t kept up with most of my odder skills in recent years, so I’m not sure what I can still do. I played piano for a lot of community and college theater musicals. (RIP, Stephen Sondheim!) And I did modern dance and an unusual dance form called butoh semiprofessionally for a bit. These days… I think I can still make origami paper cranes really fast?
Best thing about the Guild: The members and the wealth of knowledge they hold—and how freely they share it.
Name: Megan Christy
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Board Member at Large
Where you’re located: White Center/Unincorporated King County, WA
Favorite book: *glances anxiously at overflowing bookcase* Hapa Tales and Other Lies by Sharon Ho Chang and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson… I guess I like to either (a) cry or (b) be terrified when reading? (x_X)
Why are you part of the Guild?: I joined to learn more about the industry after completing the UW Certificate in Editing program (near the beginning of the pandemic!) and to find other people to geek out with over misplaced commas.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: Closing compounds; for some reason, it feels like taking a sip of a really refreshing beverage, ah!
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Sloth, mostly because I feel like I would have the same reaction as Kristen Bell if I encountered one/got to hug one.
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I proofread, copyedit, and perform sensitivity checks for genre fiction (mostly sci-fi/fantasy) works. I also do the same as well as content management for local newspaper the South Seattle Emerald.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I can bring most “dead” plants back to life. I’m really unsure how it works/what the secret is. People just give me their “dead” plants, which I’ll just put on the corner of my desk by the window and dump any water I don’t finish from my glasses into their pots. Somehow the plants “come back to life” a week or two later.
Best thing about the Guild: As everyone else mentioned, the people and community, and I’m excited to help with the Guild’s growth!
Name: Jen Grogan
Title or job in the NW Editors Guild: Administrator
Where you’re located: Seattle, WA
Favorite book: I hate to pick just one, but if I have to I’d say Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I put off reading it for ages, despite constant prodding from my best friend, and then took it with me on a flight to Japan back in the days before e-readers, and got completely hooked.
Why are you part of the Guild?: Originally I joined to get a discount on the conference and to find work—which I guess worked out well, since I contract as the Guild’s administrator!—but not long after my first conference my TA from the editing certificate program convinced me to try serving on the board, and… almost a decade later, I’m still making new friends and learning new things.
Favorite thing to fix in an edit: I really love taking out unnecessary words and making a sentence (or paragraph, or whole page) tight and clear.
Wombat, sloth, or koala; pick one: Sloth
What kind of editing do you do (elevator pitch, 50 words)?: I make and manage beautiful, functional websites for small nonprofits, and I copyedit and line edit science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional romance, as well as academic work.
Odd skill that might surprise people: I crochet stuffed characters (most recently Winnie the Pooh and Tigger for my little boy), knit, darn socks poorly but effectively, and make my own bath bombs. I also do calligraphy, but I’m a bit out of practice now.
Best thing about the Guild: I love getting to know all the unusual and fun things other editors do.
