I am a freelance proofreader and copy-editor based in Dorset, and have practical experience in the proofreading and editing of travel, academic and biographical writing, as well as fiction. I have a BSc. (Hons.) degree in Psychology and Social Biology from the University of Surrey, an MSc. in Health Psychology from the University of Southampton, and a Certificate in Psychological Counselling. I also have a Certificate in TEFL and have taught English in the UK and Southeast Asia. I am presently writing short stories, travel articles, a family biography and a science fiction novel. I have professional certificates in Proofreading and Copy-editing from Chapterhouse, the publishing trainers.

 

My recent work in proofreading and copy-editing has been in travel writing, working with a travel artist and writer. I have been working with him on a series of books entitled 'Where Women Rule', which involves a study and promotion of global matrilineal cultures. All four books in this series have now been published as eBooks. Other work I have assisted him with has involved the writing and editing of the articles 'Conflict in Karamojaland' (published and distributed by Karamoja Design, as part of an awareness campaign concerning issues in human rights in Uganda) and 'Slovak Gypsies Revisited' (published and distributed by Roma Gadga Dialogue to highlight issues on human rights for the gypsy minority population in Slovakia). I went on to take part in the organization of an exhibition for the artwork involved with these articles in a Dorset church. I have also just started work as script editor for a filmed documentary entitled 'Guardian of the Mau Forest'. This is an educational documentary that mixes real-life film with animation to address the issues of hunting and deforestation in the fragile ecosystem of the high-altitude Mau Forest in Kenya. [See www.travelartist.info]

 

My own writing has included working on a novel, short stories and travel writing. My short stories have involved humorous observations about the world, with such enlightened titles as 'The Panda and the Prostitute', 'An Adventure in Ordinary Madness', 'The Dark Side of Miss Fairbrass', 'A Meeting Most Macabre' and 'Of Decadence and Desire...', amongst others. The travel writing has involved anecdotes from my travels in  Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. I am currently using these travel experiences to write a sexy romantic fantasy thriller based in Thailand entitled 'Land of Poisoned Smiles', which will be initially published as a series of three eBooks. See examples of my writing in the Blog section - now including Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the first book in the Thailand series, 'A Bangkok Fairy Tale'!

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Also in the Blog section, see my prize winning entry for the Charmouth short story competition. It is a piece of flash fiction - having to be exactly 50 words in length! - and is entitled 'A Palaeo-oddity'!

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My novel is a sci-fi/fantasy entitled 'The Looking Glass Revisited'. It was inspired from my fascination with the author and mathematician Lewis Carroll and his 'Alice'  books, as well as works from my sci-fi heroes, such as Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, Brian Aldiss and Douglas Adams. A summary of the synopsis for this novel is shown at the end of this text.

 

Another facet to my writing has stemmed from genealogical research. I am fortunate enough to have a somewhat colourful historical background from my father's side. He came from a distinguished Hungarian family, and spent his childhood in such romantic and atmospheric milieus as Transylvania (then part of Hungary) and Budapest. His grandfather gained the favour of Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who bestowed upon him a grand honorary title. This is all included in my father's autobiography, of which I am presently editing and preparing for publication.

 

My initial skills and training, however, centred around the discipline of psychology. After being inspired by the subjects of psychology and social biology at 'A' Level, I pursued this interest by studying both subjects at degree level at the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education in Southwest London, which was, at the time, part of the University of Surrey (I believe that it is now a university in its own right). The psychology courses for which I studied in this degree included cognitive psychology, personality studies, social psychology, counselling and intervention, and the nature and experience of psychology. While the social biology courses included behavioural studies, human ecology, and human evolution. Subsidiary courses included research methodology, statistics, and the use of computers. My psychology dissertations were entitled: 'The Influence of Physical and Social Philosophies on Psychology as a Developing Science', 'The Relevance of Personal Psychotherapy in a World of Social and Political Realities' and 'The Effects of Social Gender on Dream Content'. As a result, I achieved a 2.1 BSc. (Hons.) in Psychology and Social Biology.

 

I went on to specialize in the health and counselling aspects of psychology, and achieved the MSc. in Health Psychology at the University of Southampton, as well as becoming a graduate member of both the British Psychological Society and its Division of Counselling Psychology, regularly attending conferences in counselling and health psychology. The courses for which I studied for in the MSc. were addictive behaviours and neuropsychology. I wrote a dissertation entitled: 'The Medical and Social Acceptability of ECT as a Treatment for Mental Illness', with other topics in risk behaviours in smoking and the nature of chronic pain. While at the university, I also acted as a part-time tutor, teaching health psychology, report writing skills and research methodology.

 

The main dissertation for the MSc. Health Psychology was entitled: 'An Investigation into the System of Medical and Social Support for Outpatients Primarily Diagnosed with Schizophrenia as Related to Its Ability to Meet Individual Needs'. This study endeavoured to investigate the levels of satisfaction shown by psychiatric outpatients in the Southampton region who had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, as related to the treatment and support they received from the health care professionals within the NHS provided Care Programme Approach (CPA). I had originally intended to also investigate hospitals and institutions outside the Southampton region (as Southampton, itself, already had a good reputation in its care for patients with mental health problems), but I encountered too many barriers to my research from those institutions that I approached and, thus, my results for the general efficacy and efficiency of CPA became somewhat limited. This unexpected resistance did, indeed, make me wonder - did these places have something to hide? My results, therefore, showed, unsurprisingly, that the participants were generally satisfied with the services that were provided for them, but those participants who did show levels of dissatisfaction tended to present more barriers to treatment. It was suggested that such patients should be more closely monitored during the treatment process.

 

I also have experience of the more practical side of psychology in the form of counselling. I have attained the Certificate in Psychological Counselling, which involved 100 hours of practical counselling experience. I have applied these skills to art, drama and dance therapies with adults and children with learning difficulties. Furthermore, I have had preliminary training in the skills of hypnosis and have designed a general hypnotherapy package.

 

After my work in psychology, I felt the need to travel and see the world, and, in so doing, became enchanted with the country of Thailand - the 'Land of Smiles'! So, in order to return there for the long term, I trained in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and achieved my TEFL Certificate, which opened the doorways of teaching employment for me both in the UK and, of course, Thailand, itself. I went on to teach English in a variety of different locales around this fascinating country, but mainly in Bangkok.

 

 

Summary of the Synopsis for 'The Looking Glass Revisited'

 

It is sometime in the future when the technology has finally been realized to allow for the first manned voyage, or 'transit', to other universes. Three exalted scientists are chosen for this mission, or the Project as it becomes enigmatically known. The chief premise behind the Project is based on the theory that there are an infinite (or near infinite) number of universes all moving like amoebic blobs in a lava lamp through an infinite (or near infinite) void. Each universe has its own individual set of physical laws different from our own. The collision of two or more universes creates a new universe - a Big Bang!

 

The scientists, however, encounter problems in their mission, and, as a result of equipment failure, find themselves in a universe at coordinates that are a direct 'reflection' of the coordinates of their home universe. Furthermore, the environment in which they have materialized has a strong resemblance to England in the nineteenth century.

 

During their exploration of this new world, the three travellers meet famous contemporaries of the time, such as Charles Ludwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), Alfred Lord Tennyson and the Liddell family, including Alice, herself. Astonishingly enough, these 'real life' characters exist alongside the characters created by Dodgson in his 'Alice' books.

 

At first, all appears amiable and hospitable, but, as time goes on, the book characters become more and more sinister in their appearance and behaviour. This, coupled with the problem of acquiring the right materials to repair their equipment and return to their own universe, causes mounting tension and danger for the  trapped travellers. They, gradually, become aware that events transpiring in this universe are being influenced by their own personalities and mental state, which creates further paranoia and mistrust between one another and the beings they encounter in this obscure alternative culture.

 

The conclusion presents the idea that each and every universe is a reality waiting to happen. It is the thought processes of a visiting sentient, self-aware being that sparks this reality which becomes based upon the individual being's own personality and experiences. Furthermore, it is suggested that the 'God' which created our universe could well have been one such visiting sentient being from another universe.

 

If you are interested in learning more about my books and short stories, or sharing your writing experiences, please do not hesitate to email me.