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From an early age, I have had a genuine passion for literature. My mom taught me to read using a book called Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons when I was around four or five years old. I distinctly remember how proud I was to get to the last lesson, which is about a tiger in a coat. (I recently finished this book with my daughter, Willow; she found the tiger story amusing!) My father read to us all the time as well, and books filled our home. Car rides were enjoyable because we more often than not listened to books on tape. I fondly remember the weekly trips my family would take to the library—I would come home with as many books as I could carry. When I got old enough to have my own personal tape player and headphones, I started checking out audiobooks. I honestly cannot remember ever not reading. In second grade when the teacher taught sentence diagramming, I ate it up, finding it incredibly fun and fulfilling. Sentence diagramming probably deserves most of the credit for my grasp of sentence structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When I began attending the local junior college at the age of fifteen, I stumbled upon the tutoring center. They told me they were always needing good tutors, and so I was hired on. I tutored in a variety of subjects including math, science, and English. I wasn’t at all considering a career in education. I just thought it would be a fun way to make a little extra money. The students were always extremely grateful for any help they could get, and I found that I truly loved being a tutor.

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After high school graduation, I began attending Texas A&M University. At first, I began studying genetics and biochemistry (subjects I find fascinating to this day). After taking an organic chemistry class, I decided to switch to chemistry. I was given the opportunity quite early on to teach a first-year undergrad laboratory as a TA, and it was one of the best experiences I had in college. I was able to supervise lab experiments, help with general chemistry homework, and…grade papers. One day while going over my course schedule, one of the counselors in the College of Sciences asked what career path I envisioned for myself. I drew a blank—I was actually just enjoying learning about chemistry (and enjoying being a newlywed). When he suggested that I appeared to be on an education track, a lightbulb went on in my head. All the pieces started falling into place. I realized that I really did have a passion for helping people learn. I began to take classes for an education minor. In 2015, I obtained a BA in Chemistry with a minor in education. I already had a two-year-old daughter at home, and I walked across the stage to accept my degree eight months pregnant with my second daughter.

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Over the next few years, I stayed home to raise my babies, dabbling in various direct sales companies, trying to make a little income. In all honesty, I was floundering a little, trying to discover my passion. I knew I wanted to homeschool my children eventually, but I felt like I needed to be doing something to contribute in the meantime. None of the direct sales companies worked out for me. It took me much too long to come to terms with the fact that raising my children was enough. Still, I did have a few extra hours in the evenings that I hoped to fill with something mentally stimulating. Since I love to read, I connected with the indie book community in 2016. I quickly saw the need for quality editors and proofreaders. I began as a beta reader but soon realized that I wanted to delve deeper into the manuscripts as a line editor. I edited a handful of books for free to get some experience and references. I remember telling several people that I honestly didn’t care that I wasn’t getting paid—I loved the work that much. Getting paid for doing edits was like icing on the cake at that point. Then I was given the amazing opportunity to work as an editor for a small publishing company that was just starting out. I gained an incredible amount of experience, and I made tons of connections. In 2017 I decided to branch out and establish my own small editing company—Litmosphere Editing. Ever since, I have been eagerly devouring any and all books on writing, editing, and literature. My old English professor at the junior college has gotten several visits from me to discuss grammar issues. Like the geek I am, I was thrilled to buy a subscription to the Chicago Manual or Style—the massive manual is proudly displayed on my living room shelf.

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I have experienced a lot of growth as an editor over the past few years. I certainly have moments of doubt, and I sometimes lament the fact that I have zero talent for writing books myself, but I am pleased to have become involved with the indie book community, and I am overjoyed that I get to be a part of helping authors make their books the best they can be. Each author I have worked with has taught me something new, and it’s exciting to expand my horizons with new ideas, genres, and styles. I look forward to the years to come.