BACKSPACE INK: editing and book design / from manuscript to print

TESTIMONIALS

Having been raised in and around publishing, I consider myself very fortunate to have received the immense benefit of Joanne Shwed's expertise while preparing my book. Her rock-solid editing, design, indexing and production skills, along with her complete professionalism and responsiveness to this project, were far beyond what I had hoped to find in a book/literary professional. Bonus: she's nice, too!

Max Dunn, Silicon Publishing

Joanne is an expert typesetter with a strong design sense and great technical skill. She is also the best copy editor in the world. So we've hired her for both types of work over the years, setting up books/documents and copy editing texts, and she has always been efficient and fast, coming back with great results.

Eric Shapira, DDS, MA, MHA Clinical Gerontologist, Aging Mentor Services

I hired Joanne to meet with me for copy editing my new book, A New Wrinkle: What I Learned from Older People Who Never Acted Their Age. I was on a deadline to proof over 35 pages of corrections for the publisher in two days. Joanne came on time, stayed beyond what I expected to help me edit and proof the proofreader's mistakes even. She is knowledgeable, exacting, fastidious, sure of herself, fair and reasonable. I found Joanne easy to work with and very interested in my project, which I felt good about. I know that she has worked with many other authors and is an author herself, so I felt comfortable working with her and had a great deal of faith and trust that she would help me ... which she did. I highly recommend her to anyone embarking on writing a book or other literary project. Joanne will definitely be part of my next book project. If anyone needs to contact me about my review for verification please do so at ezs1dds@aol.com.

Joanne Bolton, Bolton Associates, Inc.

It's great to have an expert in graphic design watching my back when I am checking client prepress progress. I love working with Joanne. We are the "Two Joanne's." A great team!

Janet Caliri, FCLC, Life Coach, Sight for Sound, and Author, Me with Me

Joanne’s spirit, individualism, creativity, patience and organization are the perfect ingredients for my book! As a first-time author with no experience, Joanne Shwed guided me every step of the way. I felt supported and safe with her professional objectivity, which left the space for my creativity to flourish. I highly recommend Joanne to any author at any stage in the game. Thank you, Joanne!

Dave Holt, Voyages to Ancestral Islands

You might be a business professional putting together a text in a convincing form for the purpose of selling and promoting your ideas; or you might be a creative artist struggling with the anxiety, fear or embarrassment of putting original work out on a "world stage." Either way you look at it, Joanne Shwed of Backspace Ink is a versatile and efficient book professional. She can support the poet emotionally as he or she contemplates the perils of their publishing debut. She just as easily takes command of the organization and speed needed to meet the cost and marketing demands of a business project. Joanne offers the best of both left brain and right brain worlds to the creation and publication of your book. She helped me create a great product I can be proud of.

Howard Straus, President, Totality Books, and Publisher, Healing the Gerson Way: Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases and Dr. Max Gerson: Healing the Hopeless

Working with Joanne Shwed has been pure pleasure, kind of like driving a Rolls Royce. I cannot think of a single aspect of the book production that she could have done better. This, please remember, is coming from a demanding and exacting publisher who demanded top quality and accuracy. Joanne was more meticulous in every instance than we were ourselves, to our immense satisfaction. We would recommend her to our best friends (and in fact have already) to help them in their projects. I have used Joanne as a book designer and editor on three separate projects, and clearly was happy enough with her to keep using her services. Two books, plus an update on one of them, has left me with material that I am proud to present to the world as representing my best work. I would, and will use her services again!

Sylvia Lewis, Director of Publications, American Planning Association

Joanne Shwed has edited more than a dozen books for us. She does a great job—promptly, accurately—and she's fun to work with. All of our authors have enjoyed working with Joanne and not one has found any mistakes in the finished product. Joanne is also a one-stop shop. We send her a raw manuscript; she delivers finished pages ready for the printer. She does all the editing and page layouts, all the while serving as the main contact person for our authors. We get an excellent product that's delivered on time. Joanne sweats the details. What more could a publisher want?

Thomas A. Ekkens, Collected Poetry of Thomas A. Ekkens—Early Works and other poetry and prose

Joanne has been putting the polishing touches on my writing for over 20 years. She will probably glisten up this testimonial to perfection, because that is her way. Working with Joanne has only made me a better writer, giving me a pause before phrase. I now write with a certain comfort knowing that Joanne would never let me publish without editing, and challenging, every nuance of each thought and phrase. Writing is not a solitary vocation with Joanne on your team.

Donna Jacobsen, Editor, Rising Star Press

Having my books pass through Joanne's hands is essential. She has performed near miracles on several of the manuscripts sent her way and only extraordinary work on the rest. Rising Star Press uses Joanne's editing and layout skills regularly and will continue to do so.

Jack Good, The Dishonest Church

When I first saw the text of my work as Joanne Shwed had designed it on the page, I remarked that she had performed the miracle of making me appear to be a person with an orderly mind. Not only was the text laid out in a way that was pleasing to the eye, but she had, with the design, emphasized my outline and thus strengthened the arguments. I consider her work to be excellent. I also found her to be a pleasant person with whom to work. After my positive experience with Joanne and The Dishonest Church, I determined to ask her assistance with a manuscript I am preparing for submission. Again, she found ways to improve the outline. In addition, her sharp eye caught a number of grammatical and stylistic errors. I now have a much stronger manuscript.

Randy Zimmer, onlineteendriving.com

It was a very satisfying experience working with Joanne at Backspace Ink. She took what I thought was a good manuscript/course and made it something professional and easy to read. I can't thank her enough.

Paris Elizabeth Tompkins, By Hope Alone: The Making of a Parent and The First Trip

I really appreciate working with Joanne Shwed. Her sense of humor and her great laugh helped me to relax and feel confident about my decision to release the book. I was dealing with some very personal and painful events, and she helped me to see that I should not relive the past, but release the fear of someone reading it and go on. I hope it helps to empower and free others who read it. Joanne's help made it possible. Without Joanne's expert overseeing of the editing of my two books, I would have not been able to turn out the high quality products for which I must give her credit. Along with her delightful personality, working with Joanne made difficult tasks easy. Thank you!

Thomas L. Daniels, The Environmental Planning Handbook for Sustainable Communities and Regions and The Small Town Planning Handbook, 3rd Edition

Joanne Shwed did an excellent job of copyediting and designing the interior of two of my books. These are popular textbooks that cover a wide range of land use planning and environmental issues. Joanne was fun to work with and greatly improved the overall presentation of the books. She did such a good job on the first book that I asked her to copyedit the second one! She did another thorough copyedit and helped reconstruct a number of important tables and graphics. I'm delighted with the results. Joanne is always a pleasure to work with!

Todd Litman, Parking Management Best Practices

Joanne Shwed is a thorough and efficient editor who helped solve a variety of complex problems when preparing my manuscript. She is patient and responsive to my needs as an author, and made major contributions to the quality of the book.

William H. Lucy and David L. Phillips, Tomorrow's Cities, Tomorrow's Suburbs

What a pleasure it was to work with Joanne Shwed on our book! We were impressed with the thoroughness she demonstrated in understanding our “story” as well as attention to editorial detail. Her comments, notes, and suggestions were consistent, timely, and helpful. In several instances her observations allowed us to reexamine the way we told our story. Our interactions, whether electronic or by phone, were concise but also personable—a humane experience in the midst of our information technology-driven culture.

Daniel R. Mandelker, FAICP, Editor, Planning Reform in the New Century

Recently I had the opportunity to edit a book for the American Planning Association based on a conference we held here at Washington University School of Law. APA selected Joanne Shwed as our editor. They could not have made a better choice. Joanne showed an immediate grasp of what the book was about, how it should be presented, and how it should be organized. She made suggestions for format and presentation that so markedly improved the book that it would not have become the book that it is without her graceful assistance. Her edits of my Preface were respectful and helpful. Joanne has the ability to understand someone else's writing and assist them in making it better. Hats off!

Arthur C. Nelson, Planner's Estimating Guide: Projecting Land-Use and Facility Needs

My book was 10 years in the making and included an electronic workbook. Over the years of its development the content expanded, becoming increasingly complex, and hundreds of formulas were developed with most being revised. By the time Joanne Shwed received it, the internal consistency of the book and its formulas had been comprised. Joanne went through everything with a fine-toothed comb several times. She and I worked through every formula, finding ways in which to improve many and clarify their meaning in the text. An important innovation was linking the text to the electronic workbook using CD symbols. Thanks to her, the book is now internally consistent, the formulas work efficiently, and the material flows seamlessly from beginning to end. I have worked with many editors over the years but Joanne was by far the most diligent, thoughtful, and constructive. Thanks in large part to her, the book is gaining acceptance as an important contribution to the land-use planning literature.

Stuart Meck, FAICP, Planning Reform in the New Century

While I know my writing is brilliant, with Joanne's help it is now perfect.

Rolf J. Pendall, AICP, Planning Reform in the New Century

Working with Ms. Shwed was straightforward and quick. She provided helpful feedback and made it easy for me to respond so that my chapter could get in print without trouble.

Rachelle Alterman, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed's editorial work for my paper was extremely thorough and precise. My paper dealt with land-use law in various countries outside the USA. It therefore required knowledge and precision beyond the usual. Ms. Shwed has proven that her editorial skills span the continents.

Michael M. Berger, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed was a delight to work with. I have been writing for long enough to be wary of new editors. When the American Planning Association informed me that she would be in charge of the chapter I had written for a book, I was not sure what to expect. Happily, Joanne turned out to be the kind of editor who only makes the product better. She obviously doesn't let her own ego get in the way of allowing the author his own voice. Instead, she gently prods to make sure that what is said is what was intended and that it is soundly supported. I'd be pleased to work with her anytime. Thanks again, Joanne.

John R. Nolon, Planning Reform in the New Century

BACKSPACE INK did an extremely good job of production on my chapter. The instructions I got were clear, time tables were issued in advance and adhered to, and the work product was extremely presentable. It was a pleasure to work with them.

John J. Delaney, AICP, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne's work in reviewing my chapter was outstanding in every respect. Not only did she turn around the drafts and revisions in almost "speed of light" time, but the quality and thoroughness of her work was consistently of the very highest standard. It would be a privilege to work with her again some day.

Gerrit-Jan Knaap, Planning Reform in the New Century

Without a doubt, Joanne Shwed is the best editor of the many with whom I've worked.

Edward J. Sullivan, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed took the time to review my manuscript closely and give me both the technical comments needed to put my work in good order, but also suggestions for clarity and effective presentation that make a good work better. I very much appreciated her time and effort in working with individual authors.

Dwight H. Merriam, FAICP, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne, the wordsmith's gemologist, knows best how to polish the rough cut to bring out its innate brilliance ... something she seems to do so gently that we as writers barely sense the rubbing that makes our work better ... Really good copyeditors respect the writer and the writer's work; they add value by helping the author see better ways to express themselves. Joanne is great to work with (oops, sorry Joanne, can't figure out how to do this without a preposition at the end ...).

Charles E. Daye, Brandis Professor of Law, School of Law, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed's work on my chapter was exceptional. She gave my draft a thorough, detailed, insightful reading. She caught instances of lack of clarity that I did not catch and frankly never would have seen—at least not until too late after publication! She was prompt and well informed about the publisher's substantive and technical requirements, right down to footnote style. Overall Joanne's work was both impressive to me and invaluable in making my chapter better.

Robert H. Freilich, AICP, National Editor, The Urban Lawyer, American Bar, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed is one of the best proofreaders of articles that I have come across in my 35 years of scholarship. She reads for substance and detail at the same time and has many helpful suggestions. I would recommend her to anyone who needs intelligent proofreading.

Anthony Downs, Planning Reform in the New Century

Joanne Shwed is one of the most thorough proofreaders and editors I have encountered in my long career as an author. She went through my article at least three times, always finding something additional to change, no matter how completely I took her advice about her previous screenings. If you want to have your work very completely analyzed, at least for errors as well as inconsistencies, I recommend her highly.

James R. Adams, President, The Center for Progressive Christianity, From Literal to Literary: The Essential Reference Book for Biblical Metaphors

Joanne Shwed's insistence on endnotes and on an exhaustive index has made my book a much more valuable reference work than it would have been without her guidance. She also managed to pick up several errors and inconsistencies in the text that I had completely overlooked. Although we argued over some points of English grammar, I found her to be understanding and cooperative at all times.

Al Zelinka, SafeScape: Creating Safer, More Livable Communities Through Planning and Design

After enduring more than one year of missed deadlines and innumerable project managers with a national book production company, our publisher turned to BACKSPACE INK. Within a very short time, Joanne Shwed revived the book production effort and, in a very timely manner, had a proof copy of the document in our hands. Not only did she exceed expectations with layout, she also made numerous helpful suggestions for improving the readability of the document. Needless to say, we are very pleased with Joanne's work and would recommend BACKSPACE INK without question.

Thaïs Mazur, Warrior Mothers: Stories to Awaken the Flames of the Heart

Joanne Shwed is a thorough and competent editor. She not only knows the basics but also supports the emotional message behind the words. I was very pleased with her treatment of my manuscript and herald her as an editor for anyone who wants the job done right.

Kevin Boyle, Braving the Waves: Rockaway Rises ... and Rises Again

Initially, I had real worries that an editor—any editor—would be intrusive and worse, not "get me" or my style. Joanne Shwed allayed my fears and was just plain terrific. I'd rely on her talents again in a second.

William Smith, Easy Home Basics

It's amazing! BACKSPACE INK transformed my rough manuscript into a professional document ready for print in record time. I especially loved the personalized service and the attention to detail throughout the entire process. Joanne Shwed turned my lifetime dream into reality and I will always be forever grateful.

V. Gail Easley, FAICP, The Board of Adjustment

Working with Joanne Shwed was a joy. Proofs were timely, comments were right on target to improve the product, and the final result was excellent. I recommend BACKSPACE INK to anyone who needs prepress book production services.

Kimberly A. Steward, The Doghouse Angel

My experience with BACKSPACE INK was very positive. I found Joanne Shwed to be reasonable, yet someone who provided a sound sense of direction, without altering content in a way that diminished authorship. Conversations and recommendations were light, and dialog always weighed with a sense of reason. I was delighted that, when all was said and done, The Doghouse Angel was very much what I had written, but grammatically superior and flowed concisely.

Michelle Waters, Dancing with the Diagnosis—Steps for Taking the Lead When Facing Cancer

I was so fortunate to be paired with Joanne Shwed! Her command of the English language, attention to detail and commitment to perfection were just what my book needed before it went to print. I also appreciated her patience and kindness—the two things that every writer's ego desires when plowing through the editing phase.

Terry A. Clark, Project Management for Planners

It was a true pleasure to work with Joanne Shwed in editing my book. Joanne was the perfect professional in her role in working with me—a writer going through the editing and publishing experience for the first time. She was responsive, personable and extremely helpful in making my manuscript worthy of publishing. I attribute the successful sales of my book to her input and guidance.

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