Title: Editing– 10 Steps
Author: Bonny Franke
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing, LLC
ASIN: B07HPFXPFN
Pages: 135
Genre: Nonfiction: Education and Teaching
Reviewed by: Thomas Macolino

Read Author Interview

Today we have the pleasure to talk with Bonny Franke, the author of “Editing – 10 Steps.”  Thank you for joining us.

PBR: Tell us a little about yourself. What first got you into writing and editing?
Every job I have ever had included both writing and editing. These included technical manuals developed by 7 engineers, to interviewing business owners then writing for publication their business stories weekly. After finishing advanced degrees (which involves many papers), editing was necessary when working with faculty as was making reports to the State or Federal Legislatures. I also had to make monthly reports to the Board of Trustees of the Dallas County Community Colleges (there were 7 colleges when I took early retirement as Vice Provost).

PBR: What books do you read in your free time? Is there anything you read recently that you particularly enjoyed?
International spy novels or murder mysteries appeal to me. Anne Perry writes mysteries set in Victorian England while Stephen Frey is a Wall Street specialist. They are both very skilled writers.

PBR: In the preface to Editing- 10 Steps, you mention that this book has its roots in a group called Writer’s Anonymous. Can you tell us a little more about that group?
After guiding Writers Anonymous at Barnes and Noble every week for some four years, I looked at all the handouts I had prepared for the group and instead of tossing them as I planned to do, I wondered if there might be a book somewhere among the notes. Most of the content within that book are based on responses or comments from the mix of both published and unpublished writers in the group’s sessions.

PBR: What did you enjoy the most about writing 10 Steps? Was any section particularly difficult for you?
Plot. It was hard since I had to keep remembering that not everyone was a natural storyteller. As early as in high school, various teachers asked for me to tell stories to their classes. (I got out of a lot of ‘stuff’ that way).

PBR: What do you think separates Editing- 10 Steps¬ from other resource books like Elements of Style?
It separates theory from realistic needs of various levels of writers. It is a QUICK referral tool.

PBR: Would you consider writing another resource guide someday?
Of course!