Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Hartmann-Benchoff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Christina, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?

Appreciate you for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I’ve taken as of late has been the one with regards to starting my own editorial business for Indie authors — Prickle Forrest Books (Prickle Forrest LLC).

I knew the time would come when I would be phased out of my current position as a editor for medical transcription so I decided to take the plunge and start my own business and why not do something I love to do?

The idea had come during one of my late-night writing sessions. As a blind author, I understood firsthand the struggles Indie authors faced, especially in editing and perfecting their manuscripts. My goal: create a service that not only polished their work, but one where I also understood the unique voices and challenges of independent writers.

I’ll admit, the whole aspect of becoming an entrepreneur and starting from scratch with my budget held together by a shoestring didn’t bring a lot of confidence at first. But the more research I did and the knowledge I gained from talking to other editors, I knew I could do it. I already had ten plus years of experience editing for fellow authors. As you see, I’m an author of contemporary western romances. I’d been writing my own books alongside a group of wonderful authors of all different genres and we’d critique each other’s work. Probably with my skill as a medical transcription editor it came fairly easy to switch to a position as a plot editor, after all, as an ESL MT, we needed to pay close attention to everything the doctors dictated and even call them out when something didn’t mesh within the report.

It took weeks of planning, researching, and connecting with other authors, which led to this point. A solid business plan sat ready, a nearly complete website waited to launch, and a wonderful group of friends and authors believed in my vision. Support from the writing community had proven overwhelming.

The day I launched my website, confidence surged within me. And once the site went live, I realized every click and tap brought me closer to my dream. I distinctly remember as I pressed the “go live” button,

a mix of exhilaration and calm settled over me. I had taken the leap, no turning back now.

Even , though, I’d seen numerous businesses fail, and my journey ahead held uncertainty, I felt ready. The belief in my mission to help Indie authors shine fueled me. With that belief, turning my vision into reality seemed within reach. I’ve been told the first step often proves to be the hardest, but I’ll admit they were right, but I had taken it. My next thoughts were, “Now, it’s time to soar.”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

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?

Hello! I’m Christina Hartmann-Benchoff a witty wordsmith with an eye for detail, even though I’m blind! With over 20 years as a medical transcription editor under my belt, I’ve mastered the art of transforming jumbled doctor speak into crystal-clear prose.

I’m armed with a B.A. in history, and my passion for reading, writing, and editing knows no bounds. I’m the brains behind Prickle Forrest Books (Prickle Forrest LLC), where Indie authors trust me to polish their manuscripts to perfection.

When I’m not sipping coffee at writing conferences, you’ll find me indulging in my love for literature with my trusty sidekick—a black Persian kitten, Punkin who keeps me company while I hone my craft. Oh, and let’s not forget my knack for fashion: dressing up my lawn geese, Goosie and Gander, is my guilty pleasure!

Though I once aspired to work for the Library of Congress, life’s unexpected turns led me to discover a fulfilling career in writing, where I bring my imagination to life in the Whiskey Salvation Series. I have a deep love for reading, especially romance, historical fiction, paranormal, and sci-fi genres, and I enjoy helping fellow authors brainstorm their next great stories. Previously, I worked in medical transcription editing, but as technology evolved, I retired from that role. Now, I work as a plot development editor for my company, Prickle Forrest Books, where we provide a wide range of services for Indie Authors. As an Indie Author myself, I take great pride in supporting others on their literary journeys. I cherish memories of growing up sailing on Lake Erie and spending time on my grandparent’s horse farm. Today, I savor the simple joys of life, like my favorite pumpkin coffee, and the pride of being married and having an Eagle Scout for a son.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

When I dove into launching my editorial business for Indie authors, I knew nabbing a solid clientele was key. Here’s how I tackled it with flair:

First, I whipped up a sleek website—think professional vibes, easy navigation, and glowing client testimonials front and center. Then, I got my blog game on point. Sharing insider tips not only helps authors but also boosts my SEO game.

Of course, I’m all about social media swagger. You’ll catch me mingling with authors and tossing out valuable content on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Networking isn’t just online though—I’m out there in local author groups, forums, and at every writing shindig I can swing. Free advice? You bet—I love showing off my editing chops.

When I’m not crafting killer content, you’ll find me brainstorming ways to up my e-mail game. And let’s not forget the power of conferences and webinars. Rubbing elbows with fellow word nerds? It’s like speed dating for finding awesome clients.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Building a clientele of Indie authors as a developmental editor? Yeah, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Convincing just one author to trust me, a blind editor, is like asking a cat to take a bath. They often overlook my capability, worried I won’t “see” the whole picture of their manuscript. Little do they know their words paint vivid images in my mind. If the picture doesn’t form, it’s a neon sign blinking “Problem Here!” and I can help fix it with a few well-placed suggestions.

Take one author working on a series with American heroines. She struggled with her third book’s plot, even after her writing group’s best efforts. I dove in and surprise, surprise found her main character seemed more British than tea and crumpets, which didn’t exactly jive with the all-American theme. After managing to get a word in edgewise, I pointed out the glaring plot hole. My suggestions helped her adjust the plot, saving her from a massive rewrite and possibly a meltdown.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://PrickleForrestBooks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PrickleForrestBooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prickle-Forrest-Books/100092197314709/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/prickleforrest/
• Soundcloud: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/438950/88753678713881901/share
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Jacob Benchoff, K.O. Benchoff, WriteHive, Cyndi Boyer