Hi, I’m Abby—Copy Editor & Proofreader and lifelong word-lover!
I’ve always been drawn to words—from my early days of devouring tween and teen magazines and penning rhyming poetry to my career pursuits as a writer, editor, and content marketer.
I have nearly twenty years of professional editorial experience, and I knew early on that I wanted to work with words—so I’ve stayed in that lane my whole career.
My husband and I have been married for fifteen years, and we’re raising three wild and wonderful boys together. As a family, we love movies, trail walks, games, pizza, and Jesus. We also enjoy soaking up the experiences each season brings here in our lovely Midwestern state of Indiana.
meet abby
Her Specialties
My focus at MRM will be mainly copy editing and proofreading manuscripts, though I will also help with occasional projects like digital asset packages and web copy reviews. I genuinely enjoy reading and learning from every project I work on, and I love being part of the process that takes a manuscript from draft to its final, polished form.
A few key values guide my work—faith, intentionality, goodness, learning, and quality—and they show up in the care I bring to every project, from the first pass to the final polish.
Outside of my work with MRM, I also run my own editorial business, Shining Waters Editorial, where I partner with Christian writers and authors on their own projects. The name is a nod to Anne of Green Gables—inspired by the moment Anne renames Barry’s Pond the “Lake of Shining Waters.” My faith has grown alongside my career, so this imagery and its reflection of God’s beauty are fitting from that aspect as well.
“I enjoy proofreading the designed versions of manuscripts because it’s fun to see the pretty package that comes from so much hard work—and to help put the final polish on it!”
Her Recent Projects & Experience
So far this year, I’ve served as a copy editor or proofreader on several Bible studies, a quarterly magazine, a prayer calendar, a faith-centered conversation guide for parents, a few Christian handbooks, and a spiritual growth book. I’ve been an independent editor since May 2023, and in that time I’ve worked on more than one hundred projects and edited over 15,000 pages—a wide-ranging background I will bring to every MRM & MRP project.
Her Education & Training
I graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a bachelor’s degree in communications (emphasis in journalism) and a completed minor in writing/publishing—graduating summa cum laude and earning the Outstanding Student in Journalism award my senior year.
I’ve attended PENCON, a virtual conference for Christian editors, and the Taylor University Professional Writers Conference, and I’m a gold member of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network as well as a member of the Christian Editor Connection.
Some of Her mentors
I look up to Ann Handley, Jane Friedman, Thomas Umstattd Jr., and Sadie Robertson Huff—online mentors whose work has shaped how I think about words, writing, and the editorial craft.
Fun Facts
- I have a big family. I’m the fourth of five kids, with three older sisters and a younger brother. We’re all married with three kids, so when we get together with our parents, it’s a crowd of nearly 30 people!
- My real first name is Abra (like abracadabra).
- I’ve been collecting pigs (pictures, stuffed animals, figurines, etc.) since I was really young, but I can’t remember why or how this started. I think my first pig love was Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web.
claim to fame
Over the years, I’ve been told by family, friends, and even random strangers that I resemble a number of different celebrities—including Ali MacGraw, Angie Harmon, Audrey Tautou, both brunette actresses from the Fast & Furious franchise, the Pocahontas at Disney World, and Joakim Noah. 🙂
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