Melissa C. Reinke
Storyteller, Editor, Writer, Proofer, Audio Reviewer, Word Nerd Extraordinaire
When asked about his approach to carving, contemporary sculptor Hap Hagood replied, “Within every block of wood and stone, there dwells a spirit, waiting to be released. Direct carving is a way of freeing the spirit - my own and that of the stone or wood.”
That’s the kind of philosophy Melissa brings to the table. She believes there is a story in every piece and, like a marble statue, the finished product is already in the marble, the artist simply taps into the essence and draws forth the beauty hidden inside. Whether you're looking for help with personal memoirs or professional services, her singular goal is to sculpt your piece into its best, most successful form while maintaining the integrity of your own voice and vision.
Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin, she’s worked in development, marketing, and freelance publishing—where she worked on the Wild at Heart/Captivating Tenth Anniversary Editions by John and Stasi Eldredge, as well as titles by Max Lucado, Charles Stanley, Charles Swindoll, Margaret Feinberg, and numerous Women of Faith authors. Her skills include writing copy for online and print collateral such as web content, email marketing, newsletters, brochures, blogs, and social media; crafting fundraising materials such as annual reports and grants; and professional consultation for website flow and conversion. She also has a pretty good ear for reviewing audio books.
As an early adopter, Melissa prides herself on the fact that she started her first blog when they were still called "weblogs," was a beta tester for GMail, and had a Twitter account before Ashton Kutcher. Combine all that with a Journalism degree in Advertising, a Communication Arts degree in Rhetoric, and more than dozen years of experience, and you've got yourself one heck of a word nerd powerhouse at your service.
Believe it or not, Melissa likes to read in her spare time. Lately she’s had her nose in a lot of Young Adult Dystopian Fiction, but she’s always up for a good romp through distant lands brimming with unknown magic and you can often catch her exploring a dragon den or a hobbit hole. Despite this, she also finds the time to watch way too much television and eats way too much junk food for anyone’s own good, which she tries (in vain) to counteract with running, boxing, and a good dose of regular, run-of-the-mill rebel rousing with a few good friends.