“Elizabeth’s editing skills are truly exceptional. Her perceptive comments and ability to understand my vision for the story help me to trust my voice and instincts. Her suggestions are always spot-on and help to elevate my manuscripts. I also appreciate the support she provides after every edit—answering questions and serving as a springboard for ideas. I highly recommend her services to any author looking to take their work to the next level.” — Ryan Rivers
“I’d love to. It’ll be a nice break from the routine.” — Dani O’RourkeOn one hand, Dani O’Rourke, chief fundraiser for the Devor Museum in San Francisco, can be forgiven for thinking a trip back East to serve as a consultant at a quaint New England college sounds like a pleasant distraction.
On the other hand, Dani has an unfortunate history of finding herself caught up in highly irregular situations… ones that usually involve dead bodies. (Murder in the Abstract | The King’s Jar).
Today is the start of Banned Books Week.
“Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the first week of October, BBW highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted banning of books across the United States.
I was beginning to think this particular treasure was very bad luck. — Dani O’Rourke
Dani O’Rourke, chief fundraiser at San Francisco’s prestigious Devor Museum of Art and Antiquities, knows a thing or two about both treasures and bad luck. In her position at the museum, Dani has the good fortune to be surrounded by some of the greatest paintings, sculptures and relics from the world of art, past and present.
“Elizabeth gives you more than suggestions or corrections. She works on character motivation, a key element in any novel but especially in mysteries. She thinks of ways to improve the story line. For me, she twice suggested changing the order of events in ways that clarified aspects of the protagonist. Elizabeth’s insights into story and characters are such that I’ll never send a book to a publisher without first getting her input.” — Scott Lipanovich
One more mystery, I thought bitterly. I kept adding mysteries but didn’t seem to be making progress solving any of them. — Dani O’Rourke
One wouldn’t expect the chief fund raiser for a posh art museum to find herself at the center of a murder mystery, yet that is precisely where Danielle “Dani” O’Rourke finds herself in Susan Shea’s novel Murder in the Abstract.
Originally published in 2012, Back Roads and Frontal Lobes, a collection of twenty-three short stories by Brady Allen, has been given new life by Cemetery Dance Publications. The new edition has a bonus story added to the collection, “Crap-Covered Diamonds,” which Allen co-authored with his father, Harley Allen. 
“Choosing an editor is tough. It’s supposed to be. You want people on your team who are as passionate about your work as you are. Elizabeth edited my novels The Prison Guard’s Son, Mirage Man, Five Will Die, Catch and Release, and The Wicked Side, and she consistently delivers. She has surprised me several times with her comments and level of detail. In short, she knows her stuff, and she made me look like a better writer. Elizabeth will provide the critical eye that you need. She’ll ask the right questions and poke holes in your work. And then she’ll help you fix it. And that’s what a damn good editor should do.” — Trace Conger
