Sigrid's Testimonials

Working with Clients with Disabilities -- Judy Guralchuk Writes a Fabulous Book Despite Challenges

2009-05-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

"When I first found Sigrid from a Google search, I was scared to send her my first attempt at writing, because it was from a woman that had a mental and physical handicap from having a stroke at birth. The book was wordy, and sometimes the intent was barely understandable.

"Sigrid took my manuscript under her wing, and performed magic. In a timely matter, she worked with me, shooting emails back and forth, asking if the revisions met with my approval, and exhibiting more patience and understanding than I'd ever seen before. She took a novice writer's attempt and made it into a polished interesting book, one that readers would not likely put down.

"She did an excellent job and I'd recommend her to others. There's not one thing that she could improve upon."

Judy Guralchuk, author of A Life Preserver in a Sea of Debt: How to acquire a new mindset to transition from overspending to permanent financial stability.

http://www.alifepreserverinaseaofdebt.com/

From the father of the Multitalented Stefan Bhagwandin

2009-03-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

"It is a real pleasure working with Sigrid. I have found her editing to be error-free and reasonably priced. She meets promised timelines and is always very prompt in responding to questions.

"Additionally, Sigrid has a genuine interest in the manuscripts she edits and provides lots of "after editing" advice. I have benefited not only from Sigrid's editing, but also in the marketing aspect of the novel. I will definitely have Sigrid edit my next manuscript."

Danny Bhagwandin, father of Stefan Bhagwandin, author of The Ebon Pocket Watch

Gail Smith, author of The Cattle on a Thousand Hills

2009-03-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

"As a person, Sigrid is reliable, honest, and a great communicator. She has edited for me a large devotional book, and many children's stories, and I have found her work to be error-free. She has valuable skills in this area, and I have been extremely pleased with her work.

"She has been one I could trust with my work, and have found her to be most reasonable in her pricing.

"Dare to put your work in her hands – you will never be disappointed."

Gail Smith

Praise from erotica author, Cinthia Racicot-Hamelin

2007-10-12T12:31:00.001-07:00

"I am so happy to have contacted this editor. She did an exquisite job on polishing my erotica story. The words of my story just flow naturally and titillate my readers completely. Now my story has this professional glow that I have seen in many best seller novels. All thanks to Sigrid Macdonald. Thank you so much for helping my story to shine of all its might."

Cinthia Racicot-Hamelin
Author of The Girl in the Cage
http://www.writing.com:80/main/view_item/item_id/1272123

New review of D'Amour Road by the author of Equal Partners

2007-09-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

What I liked about D’amour Road

I finally managed to find the time to read D’amour Road. The book is well written and carefully edited. But of course I would expect nothing less from Sigrid Macdonald. What I want to include here is the outstanding features. They are not listed in order of importance.

1. The story unfolds in Ottawa and surrounding areas. As an Ottawan, I found myself in a familiar environment. If you’re not from Ottawa, the book may tempt you to come and pay us a visit.

2. Without apologies, the author serves us a “slice of life.” It’s all there: addiction; unrequited love; greed; entrapment in an unsatisfactory job, marriage, etc.; confronting middle age and of course our own mortality; our obsession with looks and youth; and many other human flaws.

3. The book kept my attention from the first sentence to the last. I was tempted to peek at the last pages; good thing I didn’t. I would have missed out on a really surprising resolution.

4. Dialogues are never easy for a novelist. But Sigrid makes it look easy. The dialogues are vivid; the characters seem to be talking in my presence, like in a play.

5. The epilogue is unusual. It includes the “About This Book” as part of the book. It reminds us that reality and fiction are not clearly delineated. A clever device; I am sure the author won’t mind if she is imitated.

6. The novel opens a small window into the female mind through which males can peer! Other female writers have done that; but it was done quite effectively in this case.

7. The book does not mention it, but Evolutionary Psychology (E.P.) figures prominently here . E.P. deals with old instincts that we still carry from our primitive days. The woman who starts a relationship with a former prison inmate, or an abuser, is responding to an instinct as old as the world. In primitive times a woman chose the toughest male she could get. She had a better chance of surviving if her mate was as vicious as possible. Hers was a world inhabited by frightening beasts and even more dangerous humans. While not needed anymore, such an instinct is acted upon by some modern women. E.P. applies to men as well but in different ways.

Roland Ezri, author of Equal Partners
http://www.equalpartners.ca

What My Clients Have To Say

2007-05-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm an author, a book coach and a book editor. I also help people to publish their own books with print-on-demand companies and show them various methods of promoting their books online and off-line.

Here is a collection of comments that my former clients have made about my work. I learned something unique and important from every one of them.

Sigrid Mac

Robyn Demby -- Author of What the Storyteller Brings

2007-05-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

"In my quest for an editor, I came across Sigrid Macdonald’s name and began familiarizing myself with her website. Intuition pulled me in her direction, and after working with her, I discovered that my instincts were right. Sigrid proved to be a vital component to my book, as she has this skill of applying her expertise and meticulous detail into my work without affecting my writing style. Her questions and suggestions gave me a chance to see my novel through the eyes of a professional, which was very important to me. After I saw the magic of Sigrid’s editing, I was very pleased and felt as if it was our book because she had worked with me. The outcome was a polished product that gave me the encouragement that I needed to move to the next level.

"Sigrid’s positive feedback provided me with the confidence that I needed, which is a crucial element because confidence ignites motivation, and motivation inspires the energy to keep that dream alive. Sigrid prompted me to move ahead when I had 'submission paranoia!'

"In addition to her knowledge and experience, she seems to have this amazing network of contacts from every facet of the writing business so that she is always updated on what her clients need to know. If you are a new author, or even an old author who has lost hope and decided to step back into the arena, she can provide you with guidance and answers to get you moving again in the right direction. I would recommend her to anyone because in addition to her diligence and thoroughness, her personality makes her a wonderful person to work with. I have lots more to say about Sigrid, but I guess I have to leave room for the other testimonials!

"Thank you Sigrid!"

Robyn Demby
Author of What the Storyteller Brings

Gwen Gades, publisher of Dragon Moon Press, says hire me!

2007-02-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

"My authors love working with Sigrid. She's professional, knows her stuff and I can honestly say, the fastest editor we've ever worked with. She cleaned up my backlog of manuscripts in a big hurry (so fast in fact that I am now AHEAD of schedule).

"Her depth of knowledge and skills will make your writing that much better. Hire Sigrid. You'll be on time, on track and that much better for it."

Luiz Henrique - Author of Keep Your Eye on the Ball

2006-10-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

"I want to say that I could not had given my story to anyone else but you. You are super. I am much relieved. I am more than happy with your work. I am sure my story will finally get published. Thanks to you and your editing job. Excellent Sigrid! "

Luiz Henrique

Jennifer Rahn -- Author of The Longevity Thesis

2006-08-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

"Sigrid is a wonderful person and the consummate professional when it comes to editing. The combination of her friendliness and editorial knowledge makes her very easy to work with and resulted in a very satisfactory final manuscript. I enjoyed the process of having my novel reviewed by her."

Jennifer Rahn
www.longevitythesis.ca

Judy Guralchuk -- Author of A Life Preserver in a Sea of Debt

2006-07-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

"I'm indebted to Sigrid Macdonald. As my editor, she understood my shortcomings as a writer, due to my handicap, and went the extra mile to insure the proper intent of my message.

"I had a story to tell and Sigrid clarified it while keeping my original intent. She is largely responsible for seeing A Life Preserver in a Sea of Debt getting published."

Judy Guralchuk

Tatyana Elmanovich -- Author of Channeling Vysotsky

2006-05-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

"Sigrid Macdonald is a wonderful editor. She tunes into the heart of your writing, into the nature of your thinking, and her editing brings out the best in you in your text. She works wonders if you know that this ability to line up with other people’s thoughts isn’t always nature’s free gift. Mostly, a person earns it by years or decades of toiling as a journalist, doing interviews, and writing for deadlines!

"Lasting effort in this direction sensitizes a person (better than psychic development exercises, which drive so many male journalists to drink in order to dull their excess sensitivity).

"Female journalists often release that sensitivity by becoming excellent editors! Sigrid Macdonald is one of them -- cooked by the heat of media boilers (boiling rooms) to help you!

"You do not have to take my word for it. You can make up your own mind by reading excerpts from Sigrid's book D'Amour Road on her web site …

"She wrote it, she edited it, and she can do the same for you!"

Tatyana Elmanovich
http://www.tanika.com/

Roland Ezri -- Author of Equal Partners

2006-05-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

"In December 2005, my book, Equal Partners was finally completed to my satisfaction. The next big step was getting it ready for publication and going through the complex process of publishing it. A friend recommended Sigrid Macdonald. From December to June, Sigrid has assisted me from some editing (it was edited before), to guiding me through the publication process, and on to recommending the right publication company and experts (where special expertise was required). She also provided me with many marketing options.

"I would highly recommend Sigrid. She will assist you regardless of where you are in your writing project."

Roland Ezri
www.equalpartners.ca

Cheryl Driskell -- Author of Child And Youth Reiki Program

2006-05-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

"In 2005 I wrote an Educational Children's book that Sigrid Macdonald was the primary editor of. Her re-structuring of the book assisted greatly in its flow and ultimately made the most sense for the reader. No one likes criticism, but Sigrid is great with constructive feedback. I had no fear in sharing my work with her.

"My timelines were short and she produced quickly, in spite of a busy schedule.

"Thanks, Sigrid!"

Cheryl Driskell
http://www.jiala.ca/

Don Ayre on behalf of Logan Ayre -- Author of In My Own Words

2006-05-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

"My father will be 104 in October and recently became an author of a book of his recollections with the assistance of Sigrid Macdonald as editor and publisher. He is a very sound, albeit sometimes highly critical, mind and writing has become his passion.

"Shortly after my mother died, my father learned how to use the computer twenty years ago (an Apple IIe) and he began to write to pass the time. He wrote essays and short bursts of interest and concern from his experience. Sometimes these were just recollections and sometimes feisty “letters to the editors” of newspapers and magazines.

"We experimented with self-publishing his writings but it was Sigrid Macdonald’s thinking that we should collect his writings under the very appropriate title of In My Own Words and make it available on the Internet.

"The result was really quite amazing – a well-edited finished product with a cover presentation and professional look: something that my father has been truly proud to distribute. He has already given out books to most of the staff at the nursing home and earned a new respect for himself.

"We write, it seems, because we need to say something. What's difficult is saying it in a way and packaging it so that it means something to someone else. Sigrid Macdonald had the editing and publishing know-how to make it real for my father."

Don Ayre, the son of Logan Ayre, who will be 104 in October.

Anita Flegg -- Author of The Other Sugar Disease

2006-05-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

"As an author, I am always looking for ways to get the word out. Not knowing the ins and outs of internet marketing, I turned to Sigrid for help.

"Within just a few days, Sigrid had arranged for three book reviews and had placed 10 articles in various on-line newsletters, and article spaces that my potential customers are likely to visit. I would never have managed to arrange that kind of exposure so quickly. Thanks, Sigrid!

Anita Flegg , Editor and Author
www.theothersugardisease.com