Who are we?

Shelly and her team offer editorial services founded upon her extensive experience editing, writing, and publishing for over twenty-five years. This is your opportunity to work with an award-winning professional who’s worked with some of the top editors and writers in the publishing industry ghosting, co-writing, mentoring, crafting winning proposals, and teaching writing at conferences across the nation. Partner with a skilled professional to transform your manuscript into the very best it can be.

Among her works of fiction, Shelly is the author of the Christy Award-winning Hallie’s Heart. She was also nominated for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Award for Precious Lord, Take My Hand, the first of her caregiving books. She teaches principles from her popular self-help book The Silent Seduction of Self-Talk in prisons across the nation. Shelly’s work has also appeared in numerous collections and anthologies.

Shelly has co-written and ghosted with a wide variety of clients, ranging from new authors to a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She creates positive relationships with her clients, helping them take their writing to new levels and to move toward their publication goals.

Our mission

As we evaluate your manuscript, our mission is to help you identify your strengths as a writer, while simultaneously working to correct weaknesses in your work. We provide observations, commentary, and potential alternatives that can turn an ordinary manuscript into a memorable, and potentially saleable one. While we cannot guarantee publication, we can promise to assist you in creating a manuscript that will get the attention of potential agents and publishers. Our comments and suggestions are always positive and constructive. Because of our knowledge of the marketplace, we sometimes make recommendations regarding submissions; however, the submission process is always the client’s full responsibility.

What we can do, what we can’t do

We prefer to work with the following types of manuscripts: fiction, including general romance, Christian romance, mysteries, adventure, and general novels. We are willing to consider science fiction and fantasy, as well as historical novels, but we are not historians and cannot provide historically-accurate commentary. We also work with non-fiction in a wide range of fields. Email with any questions.

Script doctoring is also offered in conjunction with a seasoned Hollywood professional who has worked on such noted films as Groundhog’s Day and with many ofHollywood’s top professionals. Rates vary.

How it works

We prefer manuscripts to be in Word.doc format. Scripts may be submitted in Final Draft. We will submit comments via Track Changes and Insert Comments feature. All work will be done electronically. Extra charges will apply if printing is required.

We occasionally evaluate manuscripts submitted in hard copy but at a higher rate per page. We add detailed comments in the margins of your manuscript so you will know exactly where changes may be required. We don’t re-write your manuscript but give you constructive criticism which will enable you to make the change you feel appropriate. Editorial services do not include proofreading (line editing for commas, misspellings, punctuation, etc.). Line editing, or proofreading is available as a separate service, after your manuscript has been evaluated and re-written.

How long does the process take?

From the time your manuscript and initial deposit are received, you may expect to wait anywhere from 6-12 weeks, depending on our work load. We will provide you with a wait-time estimate at the time of submission. We also provide a rush service, which places your manuscript at the top of the list (in line with others who have paid for rush service). Rush service is an additional $100 and reduces wait time by half.

Now what?

After you’ve completed your manuscript and edited it to the best of your ability, email us to schedule an evaluation of your work. Include a brief synopsis (what the work is about and a description of the main character). Include the first five pages so we can evaluate your book for compatibility with our software and determine if we can be of assistance. In most cases, we’re able to assist writers at any stage of their career – whether they’re beginners or advanced writers. We occasionally guide writers to books and websites that can assist them in learning and growing.

Rates and payment
Manuscript evaluation:
100 pages or less:     $200
101-300 pages:        $450
Over 300 pages, add $1.50 for each additional page

*Proofreading and Line Editing
100 pages or less:     $150
101-300 pages:         $300
Over 300 pages, add $1.00 for each additional page.

According to Daniel and Ellen Potts, “Kind, validating, respectful caregiving is the most precious gift you can bestow upon a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or any form of dementia.” (http://bit.ly/qDYRaZ). Following are five key principles to help caregivers survive and thrive while caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s:

1. LISTEN with all your senses. Your loved one may not be able to speak with words.
2. LEARN to value the person’s remaining talents and to find new ones. Often, the expressive arts (music, art, poetry, dance, reminiscence, etc.) can help the person connect when verbal language is failing.
3. LIVE in their world. The person cannot come back into reality, so there is no reason to argue, no matter how bizarre the statements. Don’t correct! Redirect!
4. LOVE the person in the now and love yourself. Grieving the person he was is natural, but don’t let it keep you from loving who he is now. Love and forgive yourself. Understand that it is impossible to live up to your own standards.
5. LAUGH with your loved one! It will keep you sane.

Over the course of Oprah’s TV career, I’ve watched her show only a handful of times, and I didn’t see her final episode. But according to Dr. Rackner and reports I’ve heard from others, Oprah offered spiritual inspiration to her viewers, ending the program with a choir singing “To God be the Glory.”

But a distinction exists between sharing “inspiration” and embracing unchanging truth — the belief that God revealed Himself to mankind through the Bible. While much of Oprah says is often true (and inspirational), what she fails to say is often the most troubling.

According to Dr. Rackner, Oprah offered three lessons that can be applied to family caregivers:

“You are worthy because you were born. It’s your birthright.”

I’m forced to differ with Oprah and Dr. Rackner because the Bible presents a radically different message. Although we’re created in the image of God Himself, we’re unworthy because we were born sinners, and this is the birthright we share with everyone ever born into the world. Romans 3:23 tells us “…all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” In one sense, Oprah is right. As humans we are worthy because we’re created in the image of God and endowed with dignity and purpose, but we’re also flawed and sinful. All of us. We’re sinners not simply because of what we do but because of who we are by birthright. But the good news is that God loved us so much, He provided a solution for humanity’s sin problem through the sacrifice of His own Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” The simple truth of the Bible is that apart from Jesus, we have no hope for reconciliation with God or one another. And we see that reality played out in a world torn by conflict driven by our hearts’ innate selfishness.

In her blog, Dr. Rackner defines shame as “the condition of feeling unworthy” and explains that shame-free people believe they are worthy of love. She states that guilt is healthy pain that announces our bad choices but that shame tells us we are “bad people.” Her implication is that shame is negative.  However, shame often plays a healthy role in society. Webster’s Dictionary defines shame as “a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.” Guilt is a predecessor to shame, and shame should be a natural response to our God-created consciousness of good and bad. I hope that the serial rapist who attacked me and more than forty other women and children felt shame for his actions. I pray that his sense of guilt produced an emotional response that lowered a hammer of integrity on his conscience and his character and — hopefully — helped reshape his life. Shame can be a compelling and positive force.

“Everyone wants the same thing.”

All 30,000 people Oprah interviewed want to know, “Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say matter to you? It’s what everyone wants.” We all long to be seen and heard — to know we matter. Cultures and societies throughout history have been structured around the need for community and relationships because of an innate human characteristic. We were created in the image of a loving God who shares an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus. John 5:17-21 talks about Jesus’ intimate relationship with a loving Father who knows Him. “…whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all He does.” We all long to be seen, heard, and unconditionally accepted and loved because — as God’s children and image-bearers — we were created for relationships. God provided the solution for our heart need to be known and loved. Zephaniah 3:17 states, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Dr. Rackner recognizes the critical role of relationships. “Your ability to see and hear and validate your aging parents or sick friend may be the biggest gift you offer them. You may not be able to fix their problem, take away the source of pain or reverse aging; still you can make a difference by saying with your words and actions, ‘I see you. I hear you. I value you.’” And while approval and validation from others will always fall short of fulfilling our true spiritual need, listening, respect, and affirmation do bring healing, hope, and comfort — gifts caregivers should generously seek to give in all they do.

“Use your light in the service of others.”

Matthew 5:16 states that we’re to let our light shine in the world. But why? So God will be glorified. It’s not about us. Our service for others is always about bringing glory to God, who’s deserving of our gratitude. He poured out Himself sacrificially on our behalf, and we’re to do the same as we live lives of service to Him. As we do, we reflect the goodness of the loving Father who created us. And we’re never more like Jesus Christ than when we’re pouring ourselves out for the hopeless, the helpless, or those in pain.

Dr. Rackner concludes her blog by encouraging her readers to honor Oprah. I would encourage you, instead, to honor the God who created and gifted Oprah and to say as she did, “to God be the glory.”

Mabel Iam, international best-selling author and relationship, love, and motivational therapist, suggests that people focusing on self-improvement “Observe [their] inner dialogue, see the positive aspects of the past and move on.”

While I can agree with Mabel that observing the positive aspects of my past can bring a smile to my face, the negative aspects of my life are the ones that trip me up — spiritually, emotionally, relationally — and send me crashing to the ground. Moving on can be hard when I don’t recognize that I often walk in circles because I tell myself lies every day and convince myself those lies are true.

An article in the May 25th issue of Christianity Today, written by Sarah Sumner and titled “The Seven Levels of Lying,” (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/may/7-levelslying.html) presents a truth we’d rather not face: we’re born liars. According to Sumner, “Every person on the planet at times is an Oscar-winning liar.” And often we shroud our lies in rationalizations. The Bible tells us “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

We lie to self-protect. We lie to gain power and shove others to the end of the line. We lie to promote our agendas and get our way. We lie and tell ourselves we’re better than other people — then we rip off their dignity with selfish actions and attitudes. At the core of my being, I am NOT okay, and neither are you. An honest look at our inner dialogue shows us that self-centered motives are twisted around even our most noble moments.

For instance, I’m married to the most gracious, loving, giving man in the world. Yet at times I find myself wanting to shame him to rationalize my own selfish agenda. To humiliate him in an argument so I can “win.” To put my good before his. All the while carrying on an inner dialogue to convince myself my behavior is acceptable.

I’ve found I’m easily self-deceived. My template for truth must be something — Someone — beyond myself. I’m entirely too capable of telling myself I’m loving my neighbor while cursing them simply because they cut me off in traffic or gave me less than what I thought I deserved.

So take a listen. Observe your inner dialogue. Talk less and listen more to the voices in your head. Ask yourself what your motives really are when you’re losing your temper or trying to shove your agenda down someone else’s throat. Ask God to speak to you in those moments  – to reveal the lies you’ve believed about yourself, others, and God.

Our self-talk holds the key to spiritual transformation. As you learn to evaluate your inner dialogue, the Spirit of God will show you how to let go of who you used to be and how to become the child He created you to be.

A free guide is now available to help people navigate the newest changes in Medicare benefits since the Affordable Care Act was signed into legislation last year. Washington, D.C. -info-zine is making the fifteen-page publication available. Vital information includes

• How to access drug discounts now available when you reach the gap in the Medicare plan known as “the doughnut hole”
• How to qualify for free and low-cost coverage for preventative services, such as mammograms, prostate screenings, flu shots, and wellness visits
• New limits on annual out-of-pocket costs
• Explanations of enrollment dates and qualifying criteria
• Contact information for key agencies, including toll-free numbers for assistance in every state

Free copies of Medicare: 6 Things You Need to Know Now are available for a limited time by calling 1-855-CR-GUIDE or visiting http://ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

We raced from pillar to post finding doctors and filling prescriptions and ultimately discovering we were battling Parkinson’s disease, as well we obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as cancer and a heart condition. Some days it could take me an hour simply to get Norman to sit in a chair. Another hour to get him to swallow his collection of pills.

So imagine my horror the morning I awoke to the sound of a tornado siren blaring. A tornado was headed in the direction of our home, and our only hope of safety was to head to the basement of our tri-level home.

Norman had never as much as seen the lower level of our home. His feet had never even touched the carpeted stairs that led to the mid level. We’d settled him comfortably into three rooms with handicap accessibility at the top level of our home. My husband Dan and I had never considered what we’d do in the event of a tornado. And we certainly had NEVER thought of what I’d do if I ever be faced with the challenge of wrangling Norman to the basement on my own — during the hours of the day when Dan was at work.

I’m certain that YOU’RE far more prepared than I was. But just in case, I’d advise the following:

* Think through your emergency response and your emergency route, and PLAN your course of action.

* Prepare emergency supplies so they’re available to grab at a moment’s notice: medication, med lists, physician and emergency phone numbers, assistive devices, batteries or emergency power sources, water, snacks for diabetics.

* Plan where you would go and what you would do to provide an alternate means of care for your loved one if your home was threatened. Make necessary contact or arrangements in advance.

* Talk to neighbors about your plan and ask them to assist in case of emergency. Communicate your plan to family and/or close friends.

* Be aware of weather patterns in your area and stay informed. http:

For further reading, see the article at  http://bit.ly/jCBfHx

1. clip coupons
2. sort laundry/sort coins
3. count pennies/change
4. rake leaves
5. sweep the kitchen/sidewalk/deck
6. read out loud
7. bake cookies
8. look up names in the phone book
9. read the newspaper out loud
10. enjoy a visit from a child
11. listen to music
12. tend a garden (indoors or outdoors)
13. look at photographs
14. toss a ball
15. color pictures
16. make simple cards
17. make lemonade
18. clear the table
19. weed the flowers
20. cook or bake simple recipes
21. have a spelling bee
22. sing old songs
23. play games
24. string Cheerios to hang outside for birds
25. create a simple bird feeder
26. bird watch and identify types of birds
27. make simple crafts
28. reminisce about “firsts”
29. reminisce about travels
30. reminisce about favorite people
31. reminisce about favorite events
32. sort and match socks
33. roll yarn into a ball
34. clean and carve a pumpkin
35. make a floral arrangement
36. sew sewing cards
37. knit or crochet
38. paint
39. finish Bible quotes or hymns
40. answer simple trivia questions
41. trace and cut out leaves
42. cut out pictures from magazines
43. make sandwiches
44. straighten out drawers
45. sort and straighten closets
46. decorate placemats
47. give pedicures or manicures
48. rub in body lotion
49. sand wood in simple shapes (making coasters, etc.)
50. look at pictures in National Geographic
51. mold with PlayDoh
52. finish famous sayings
53. feed the ducks or fish
54. visit the zoo
55. visit the museum
56. take a ride in the car
57. go for ice cream
58. make paper butterflies
59. plant flowers or trees
60. take flowers to shut-ins
61. pop corn
62. name the presidents
63. write letters to family members and friends
64. decorate picture frames
65. make seasonal cards
66. sort playing cards by color, number, or symbols
67. make homemade ice cream
68. dance
69. exercise
70. grow Magic Rocks
71. dust
72. play horse shoes
73. have afternoon tea
74. reminisce about inventions
75. paint a sheet or a canvas
76. cut out paper dolls
77. identify states and capitals
78. make a family tree
79. have a cookout
80. make Valentines
81. water house plants
82. play Old Maid
83. play Go Fish
84. dress up in silly hats or costumes
85. watch a classic movie
86. finger pain
87. visit an antique store
88. attend an art exhibit
89. attend a parade
90. read or recite poetry
91. play with bubbles
92. celebrate birthdays and holidays
93. browse through colorful catalogs
94. play with a baby or toddler
95. listen to audio books
96. make s’mores
97. go to children’s movies
98. color Easter eggs
99. play with a Wii
100. visit a farmers’ market
101. use your imagination!!

But it is possible to have meaningful interactions with those with dementia. Creating memories “within the moment” becomes our goal. Focus on simple interactions: manicures, household tasks, lunches, listening to music, watching favorite television shows, looking through or creating photo albums, reading books, reminiscing about favorite memories, taking walks, visiting or calling friends, gardening. Engage in activities that create moments of pleasure for your loved one in small islands of time. Silence can also be a gift that draws us together if we can learn to enjoy the beauty of “being” with one another.

People sometimes asked me why I engaged in activities with my mother when she had Alzheimer’s and wouldn’t remember what we’d done or that we’d spent time together. Wasn’t I wasting my time? I believe I was investing those with my mother — sowing countless moments into her life as we paged through picture books, peeled boiled eggs together, or as I sat and rubbed lotion into her arms.

Every moment was a treasure. I wouldn’t take back a single second.

As you move through the holidays, a few key suggestions can help minimize the stress of the season:

Conserve your energy. Shop online and use catalogs. Pare down on gift-giving. Prepare a list and asking a friend to do some of your shopping on your behalf, or shop WITH someone who can help double your efforts. Schedule time for relaxation and breaks away from your caregiving routine.

Let convenience rule. Ask another family member to host the holiday dinner or celebration this year. Suggest that the meal be a potluck, or have family meet at a restaurant and forget the preparation and the dishes. Use festive paper products and forget the clean-up. Purchase your baked good from a church or school bake sale.

Focus on balance. As much as possible, try to maintain a routine of regular exercise, healthy eating, and rest. Enjoy holiday goodies in moderation. Make time to care for your own health needs, including staying as physically fit as possible. Ask a friend or two to provides some hours of respite while you walk at the mall or borrow a friend’s hot tub.

Tell yourself that the way it was is not necessarily the way it always has to be. Create new holiday traditions if it’s necessary to break from old ones. Give yourself permission to allow things to feel and look different from the way they have in the past. Remember to keep the focus on people and making memories now.

Be as flexible as possible. The unexpected can always be expected to come up in the life of a caregiver. Investigate respite plans in advance. Think through the possibility of alternative plans in the event of unexpected medical events. Evaluate in advance how you might respond if you needed to choose between a caregiving priority or a holiday event.

Submit your expectations to God. Recognize that ultimately, the ultimate goal of our lives is to love God by loving people. A goal of loving people can never be blocked. The greatest gift we can offer this season is the gift of our love, and that gift is never limited by cash flow or financial expenditures.

But God has a funny way of sneaking up on us, changing us, and using us in ways we might never imagine. For me, one of those ways is as a speaker for Daughters of Destiny prison ministry, presenting seminars and evangelistic messages in prisons across the nation.

Daughters of Destiny is the country’s fast growing and largest full circle women’s prison ministry. Their mission is to equip, train, and empower volunteers to reach incarcerated women for Christ and to disciple them while in prison and after release. More than one million women are currently serving time in prisons across the United States. Ninety percent of those women have been abused and are broken and hurting. Daughters of Destiny uses special evangelistic events and seminars, as well as life groups (discipleship Bible studies), Women 4 Women correspondence relationships, and a discipleship network that mentors women upon release.

Over the past several months, it’s been my privilege to travel to a number of prisons across the nation and present seminars on my book The Silent Seduction of Self-Talk. Every facility where I speak receives a gift of 100 copies of my book for the prison population to study. Women across the nation are coming to Jesus Christ, and lives are being transformed as women learn to do battle with lies that have held them in bondage for years. In the Topeka Correctional Facility alone, 24 women trusted Jesus Christ for salvation.

Please pray for my ministry with Daughters of Destiny. It costs me approximately $1,500 to donate copies of my books to each prison, as well as fund my travels costs. But I am committed to this life-changing ministry to women. I was the victim of one of Michigan’s most notorious serial rapists, but for years the only injustice I cared about was the injustice that came into my life with the act of violence targeted at me. But God changed my life and gave me a passion for the hurting and broken.

I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to share God’s message of love and hope to my sisters in prisons. If you’d like to partner in my ministry with Daughters of Destiny, donations can be made to the account of Shelly Beach at Daughters of Destiny, 3028 N. El Paso, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

Seminar in Topeka