When I first started out, I was interning at Milligan Books, in Los Angeles, for the wonderful Dr. Rosie Milligan, as a writer, editor, proofreader, and overall publishing assistant. We met in 2003, when I took my just-completed manuscript for my first novel, One Man's Treasure, to her in hopes that she would be my literary agent. She took me on as a client, and from there our relationship blossomed. I spent a lot of time at her store as we shopped my book to mainstream publishing houses, and I soon discovered that I was extremely interested in the editing and publishing process. I started asking her if I could come work for her, but she wouldn't let me at first. In fact, it wasn't until 2005 that she finally realized I was serious (since I pestered her about it regularly), and allowed me to come on board as an intern. Later, she told me she didn't hire me in the beginning because on top of not thinking I was serious, she'd had other interns who didn't last long because they all realized working in the publishing industry is way more work and requires a certain depth of skill and commitment that they weren't up for. But I was.
Shortly thereafter, she started telling me about this really big
project she was about to secure, and that she might have me "do some
work" on it. It turned out that it was Verna Griffin, Dre's mother, who
was coming out with her first book, and Milligan Books would be the
publisher. It would be my first full hands-on project, and not only was I
honored to be tasked with co-editing, but I also got to write the
back-cover summary, interview Verna over the phone so I could write the
About the Author; and in June, I was able to attend the book signing,
where I was in charge of book sales, and I got to meet and talk with
Verna, Dr. Dre, Meagan Good (who all signed my copy of the book), and a
host of other great people. It was a fabulous event, and I felt so
"privileged" to be part of it all.
In 2006, I started my own literary business after spending 13 months working with Rosie, and also after having interned for several months with the fabulous author, editor, and literary agent Dr. Maxine Thompson as a copy editor, proofreader, and content editor (critiquing). Those were some great times, and I'm so appreciative to both of them for all they allowed me to do with and learn from them.
Here's to many more decades doing what I love: working with words! Check out the pics of my first editing gig!
In 2006, I started my own literary business after spending 13 months working with Rosie, and also after having interned for several months with the fabulous author, editor, and literary agent Dr. Maxine Thompson as a copy editor, proofreader, and content editor (critiquing). Those were some great times, and I'm so appreciative to both of them for all they allowed me to do with and learn from them.
Here's to many more decades doing what I love: working with words! Check out the pics of my first editing gig!
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