Hallie Koontz's Blog Member of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors
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Fiction writer and academic editor with over 8 years of experience handling manuscripts from submission to publication.

Editing

Over my 8 years of experience in editing and publishing, I have developed and honed my editorial skills, project management abilities, and external communication strategies. As the Director of Journal Publications at Quintessence Publishing, I oversaw the production of four scientific research journals, ensuring the timely and quality publication of relevant and impactful research in the fields of dentistry and oral health.

I also served as the main point of contact in communication with editors-in-chief, authors, and stakeholders, building and maintaining strong relationships and facilitating a smooth publication process. I managed the submission and peer review process for academic manuscripts, contacting potential reviewers, corresponding with active reviewers to ensure compliance with deadlines, and collecting reports. Additionally, I supervised and trained editorial staff, providing them with guidance and feedback on their work.

In my ongoing work as a freelance editor, my primary responsibility is to ensure that scientific research is clean, clear, and concise. This involves editing research (often written by non-native English speakers) to improve its readability, checking that figures and tables are relevant and consistent with the text, and proofreading for spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors. My mission is to support and advance the dissemination of scientific knowledge and innovation through effective and efficient editing and publishing practices.

In addition to my experience in medical and dental editing, I have also edited manuscripts for the humanities.

Writing

As a cast member and writer for the fiction podcast Quest Friends!, I write and perform original storylines for an episodic, multiple-season story told through actual play. Quest Friends! has received multiple awards, including Best Fiction Podcast and Best Fiction (Actual Play) podcast (Apulia Web Fest, 2022). Nominations include Best Ensemble Cast – Actual Play Podcast (New Jersey Web Fest, 2021) and Best Player in an Improvised Production (Hallie Koontz as Hopper Scotch; Audio Verse Awards, 2020).

In addition to writing for the podcast itself, I also write monthly short stories taking place in the Quest Friends! universe for publication on the Quest Friends! Patreon and a cooking blog, America’s Quest Kitchen, for the podcast newsletter. I also served as editor for the original roleplaying game system Under the Neighborhood (Under the Neighborhood by Quest Friends! (itch.io).

I have been a semi-finalist in the NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Challenge 2019 (scripts can be seen in my portfolio). Publications include a short “ghost” story in The MacGuffin in 2015 and a one-act play, Applying to Heaven, accepted into the Theatre Cedar Rapids Underground New Play Festival in 2013. A short film written as part of a student film organization at Cornell College received both the Best Student Short and Iowa Connection awards from the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, 2014.

As a writer and ghostwriter, I specialize in fiction of the fairy tale, romance, and humor genres.

Education

Bachelor’s in English & Creative Writing – Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA

  • Graduated May 2014, summa cum laude, with Departmental Honors
  • Tom Garst Award for Excellence in Academic Writing, April 2014
  • Winifred Van Etten Award for Creativity & Scholarship in the Department, April 2013

Experience

Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc

  •  Director of Journal Publications, Feb 2023 – Dec 2023
  •  Managing Editor, Aug 2017 – Feb 2023
  •  Editorial Assistant, Aug 2015 – Aug 2017

Academy of General Dentistry

  •    Editor (freelance), Jan 2020 – present

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

  •    Editor (freelance), Jan 2019 – May 2021

Awards

  • Best Actual Play Podcast, Sep 2022 – Awarded to Quest Friends! by Apulia Web Fest
  • Best Fiction Podcast (Actual Play), Sep 2022 – Awarded to Quest Friends! by Apulia Web Fest
  • Best Ensemble Cast, Actual Play Podcast – Nominated by New Jersey Web Fest, 2021
  • Best Player in an Improvised Production (Hallie Koontz as Hopper Scotch) – Nominated by Audio Verse Awards, 2020
  • Best Student Short, April 2014 – Awarded to short film “Best Mistake” by the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival
  • Iowa Connection Award, April 2014 – Awarded to short film “Best Mistake” by the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival

Publications

  • Short Story Collection, Quest Friends! Patreon (Quest Friends! | creating an actual play roleplaying podcast | Patreon)
  • America’s Quest Kitchen (Welcome to America’s Quest Kitchen – by Brief Cases (substack.com)
  • “Clara,” The MacGuffin, May 2015
  • Applying to Heaven, Theatre Cedar Rapids Underground New Play Festival, Fall 2013
  • “Best Mistake,” Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, April 2014

Other Associations

  • Editorial Freelancers Association
  • Chicago Writer’s Association

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  • 804-476-4484
  • P.O. Box 412
    Montpelier, VA 23192-0412
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