Click Cover to order this book

Janet Abbott Fast

Freelance Writer, Editor, Publisher, Photographer

Warsaw, Virginia

Click Above Logo to Browse or download a copy of Janet's On-line Magazine

Click Here to Contact Janet for Assistance: Free Estimates

(10% discount for CBW Members)

Endorsements

"Jan is very professional to work with. She is quality oriented,
fastidious with an eye for detail, and never misses a beat with almost continual changes." --- Cheryl Darwell, Owner, Lottsburg Printing

"Without the editorial expertise provided by Jan Fast, my two books would undoubtedly never have been published.  She ... served as my mentor in teaching me proper format.  Her professionalism in editing and setting up my books in camera-ready copy saved a considerable amount of money at the printers. As one of her many writers, I have been impressed through the years with her creative capabilities and her impressive editorial talents. Color and layout are her specialties." -- Nancy W. Vickers

"Your patience and perseverance in getting a quality item done (above) is remarkable.You aim high and please many." -- Susan Christopher, Northumberland County Ambassador Program

 Experience

Born in Kentucky, Janet grew up in Richmond. After graduating from James Madison University, she moved with her family to Wisconsin and later, Illinois. For more than 25 years, sales and marketing were her primary sources of income, initially part time, and later full time. After nine years of selling something "you could see, smell and feel", she made the transition to insurance—rising to the position of Regional Sales Manager "selling a piece of paper you didn't need, until you couldn't get it." In all of her years in sales she constantly published newsletters to market the products she was selling. She later learned that many of her insurance agents kept notebooks with the information and flyers she had created.

In 1991, Janet returned to Virginia for a high school class reunion. In 1993, she moved back to Virginia. She now jokes that "the next time my furniture leaves my home will be when my ashes are spread over the marsh". She shares her home with several German Wirehaired Pointers (which she breeds, trains and shows), rescued cats, and a variety of parrots.

In the midwest, Janet taught Red Cross Swimming and Adapted Aquatics. She continued this commitment to public service in Virginia, teaching creative writing to inmates at the Northern Neck Regional Jail.  She is preparing a small book containing a collection of inmate writings and poetry based on that experience.

Once settled, Janet began by doing freelance work, undertaking such projects as designing brochures for antique shops and other businesses in Tappahannock. It was only a short time before she found full-time work as writer, reporter and photographer for the Northern Neck News. She then did a stint as editor of Chesapeake Publishing's start-up newspaper, The King George Chronicle, before returning to the Northern Neck News to become senior writer as well as editor of the seasonal publication,  Riverviews. After four years with the Northern Neck News, she struck out on her own to create and publish the award winning monthly magazine, Chesapeake Style. She later converted it to an online-only magazine. (www.chesapeakestyle.com)

Janet has worked with several writers, preparing their books for printing; Nancy Whitney Vickers, Poems From the Heart, and The Whitney Storybook.   She was also commissioned by Ethyl Corporation to write a book about Chief Tecumseh Deerfoot Cook, to celebrate his 100th birthday. She invited Jewell Keroher to contribute to the book. Most recently she was commissioned by Northumberland County Economic Development Commission to create, design and make ready for printing a brochure to market the county. She has also worked for other area publications, writing, editing and doing the layouts for pre-press publication.

The German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue, Inc. recently asked Janet to put together a book about the 60 plus rescues the group has placed in the past year. It will include testimonials from new owners, photos et al. Sales of the book will benefit the not-for-profit GWP Rescue, Inc.

Janet is a long-time member of the Rappatomac Writers, a critique group, which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Writers. She works effectively with QuarkXpress, as well as the Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe products. She is available to assist with editing as well as publishing books, pamphlets, brochures or magazines, to name a few.

Estimates are free. CBW Members receive a 10% discount.