All right – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bobbie Christmas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Bobbie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I was young I wanted my legacy to be that I had written a book that lived on after I was gone. I had not yet written that book and had no idea what that book would be about; I just had a dream. I realized that dream when I wrote _Write In Style_ and sold it to Cardoza Publishing in 2004. The book won many awards and sold out of the first printing. When the rights returned to me, I updated the information and self-published the second edition, and it won even more awards. I felt happy, but my soul wanted more. After editing books for more than thirty years, I now realize my true legacy. It’s not one book; it’s thousands of books—the books I’ve refined with my editing. My name appears on countless acknowledgment pages, yet those acknowledgments reflect only a small percentage of books I’ve edited. Even when I’m not mentioned, I know I helped those authors make their books the best they can be. My legacy is that I have helped more than a thousand authors realize their dreams and create their own legacies.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I was just a kid when I told my parents, “I want to be a writer.” I followed that decision with taking creative writing classes and seminars for years, starting in high school. I majored in journalism in college. For about twenty years I worked at various writing jobs as a journalist/editor, advertising copywriter, and corporate communicator/editor before launching my own writing and editing company, Zebra Communications, in 1992. As a contract editor I have edited books for several publishing companies, so I know exactly what publishers want. I keep marketability in mind whenever I edit. I’ve built my reputation on being honest yet kind. I am thorough yet I leave every author’s voice intact. I am also dependable. I give clients an estimated return date, and I meet and sometimes even beat that date. I offer three levels of service and work either electronically or on the printed manuscript, so clients can choose the method they prefer. I’m proud that many clients come back to me again and again with their new manuscripts. I’m also pleased to hear clients tell me someone recommended me to them. Those things tell me I’m doing a good job and making clients happy. Best of all I’m delighted with the high number of books I’ve edited that have gotten published and won local and national awards.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have pivoted my business several times, but I’ll talk about my two biggest pivots.

I started my business in 1992 as a corporate communicator and freelance writer. Corporate work was hard to find and made up only a small part of my business, though. Freelance work for magazines and newsletters was much easier to find and kept me busy, although writing for those publications took a lot of time and didn’t pay as well as I hoped. I had no other income and needed to find a way to make more money. When I had worked in the corporate world I edited friends’ books for free, so I offered a book-editing service for a fee through Zebra Communications. I soon learned that book editing work was more lucrative and abundant and also required no travel or interviewing, the two things I didn’t much care for when freelance writing. The month I began advertising my book editing service, my entire business course changed and my income soared. I rarely did any more freelance writing.

My next big business shift took place when the internet became widely available. When I first began editing manuscripts, they had to be printed and then shipped or hand delivered. I edited them in red ink using traditional proofreader marks. When we could finally send documents by email, I learned to edit electronic files using Track Changes and offered that service as well. Many colleagues couldn’t make the shift and worked only on what we called hard copy—printed manuscripts. They saw their businesses go downhill. By offering either hard-copy editing or electronic editing, I saw my business go uphill and stay there.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first began my business I trusted clients to pay me after I had completed the work, which was traditional in freelance writing. For one errant client, though, to collect I had to spend two full days in court, pay to get his banking information, pay to garnish his wages, and then wait months until his wages were garnished. Another client took ten years—yes, ten years—to pay me the $3,000 she owed me. Today most of my work involves editing book manuscripts, and for that work I require payment in advance. I extend short-term credit only to steady clients, such magazines I edit regularly. I don’t have the time, energy, or desire to be a bill collector.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zebraeditor.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZebraEditor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbie-christmas-123a152/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=QoVUX0-4TYewfSjcZmbpqw
• Other: Neurotica: Crazy Stories of Lust, Love, and Letting Go Odd stories about encounters as well as relationships with the opposite sex http://neuroticastories.blogspot.com

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