OPINION WRITING

I’ve been a political columnist and political analyst for ten years, having regularly contributed pieces to several national and state publications. My work has also been cited in dozens of media.

There’s obviously no shortage of political columnists and pundits in Washington. What I’m able to offer is an outside-the-beltway view. I can tell you what’s going on in the often-overlooked heartland, so when big stories like the Flint water crisis explode, you’ll already know what’s going on. And I can show how D.C. is viewed outside the bubble (hint: it’s not good). But more importantly, I can tell you why.

Who I am defines my column. I’m a 41-year-old mother of two who’s had to answer the question, “What’s a nice girl like you writing about politics?” more times than I can count. My experiences have given me a unique voice to write about politics and national events.

I’m passionate about telling stories that are often ignored, as too many columnists fixate on polls and gaffes. Let me work with you to help make opinion writing great again.

FEATURES

As a journalist for seventeen years, I’ve covered my fair share of hot-button stories: the Flint water crisis, Iraq war, Detroit bankruptcy, 2008 economic meltdown, Obamacare, marriage equality, six national elections and more.

What I've always enjoyed most is immersing myself in personality profiles and longform features. It's a chance to step back from breaking news on Twitter and examine how events are connected and how we got here. I relish the chance to observe politicians away from the madness of the campaign trail and get some insight into who they really are and what drives them.

Crafting these pieces begins with being able to see the forest through the trees. It's storytelling with a passion and purpose. If you need someone who can go beyond standard reporting and tell revealing and surprising stories, I’d love to work with you.

GHOSTWRITING

I truly believe that everybody has a story in them to tell. But a lot of people find the idea of writing an article, op-ed or book to be overwhelming.

It doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve sat down with many people who had plenty of great ideas, but no clue where to start. The first thing I tell them is to relax. 

I want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. We’ll have a conversation about what you want to say –– maybe many of them, depending on the length of the piece you want to write. I’ll ask questions and take careful notes. Then it’s up to me to make your thoughts come alive on the page. And we’ll continue to work together until you’re satisfied with a piece that bears your name.

PUBLIc SPEAKING

Do you need someone to talk to your company, school or group for your next conference, convention or retreat? As a business owner who’s run such events, I know the importance of having the right speaker –– especially one who won’t make your audience fall asleep in the middle of dessert.

I’ll engage your audience and provide fresh perspective as I break down political, economic, health, education and business issues and trends. 

Whether it’s explaining the intricacies of the Michigan state budget, the impact of Washington gridlock, or who’s going to win the 2016 presidential election, I’ll make sure that my speech isn’t the one when everyone excuses themselves to return phone calls.

Here are some of the groups I’ve spoken to:

SPEECHWRITING

Connecting with your constituents, donors, shareholders and colleagues is critical –– but it’s often a daunting task. Many of us know what we want to say, but it’s harder to figure out just the right way to say it.

That’s where I come in. I’ve penned joke-laden introductions lasting just a few minutes for corporate dinners. I’ve written 45-minute detailed policy treatises for conventions. And I’ve pieced together inspiring, forceful speeches that compliment campaign visuals and a candidate’s personality.

I’m here to work with you about what message you want to convey.

EDITING

So you’ve written that book, op-ed, article or speech. That’s the first step and it’s the hardest one. Most people don’t get that far.

Now you want to take it to the next level. You need a relentlessly meticulous editor (someone like your battleax fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Stone) who isn’t afraid to clean up your writing, right down to any dangling participles. You need someone who will stay true to your ideas, but will carefully buff out the rough spots and make it shine.

Before you submit your work for publication, sit down with me. I’ll listen to your vision and anything you feel you weren’t able to communicate. Then I’ll go through your piece, line by line, until you’re happy enough to sign your name to it.

RESEARCH

Everyone has something they want to know. But they often don’t know where to start.

I’ve been using my academic training in history and sociology, as well as my skills as a journalist for fifteen years, to investigate what’s happening in government, health, politics and more.

I’ve dug into the scientific research of Flint’s water crisis, Michigan’s byzantine redistricting process, the possible connection between pesticides and cancer, obscure rules and quirks in the Michigan legislative process, and national efforts to change the Electoral College.

But I don’t just tell you how and why things happened. I take it to the next level and lay out what can be done now. Talk to me about what you want to find out and how I can help.

Photography

I capture striking images of people, landmarks and nature landscapes. My goal is to convey the emotion and mood of my subjects.

As an avid hiker and traveler, I’m skilled at finding unique scenes –– hidden gems that can’t be spotted from the car. I’ve scrambled up jagged rocks to photograph Joshua trees at dusk, fended off mosquitos in Yosemite’s Vogelsang high country to find the perfect angle of a fuchsia-streaked sunset, and wandered away from the crowds to memorialize Versailles’ distant gardens.

Photography started out as a hobby for me twenty years ago, when I started playing around with my first SLR camera. But as a journalist, I’ve come to appreciate how the right images can help tell a powerful story. Let me know how I can help you share yours.