**BA & MA in English Literature from Concordia University, Irvine, and University of California, Irvine, respectively. Fourteen years of experience as a technical writer/editor in the software sector, five years experience teaching technical writing, business writing and freshman composition at the college level. Offering editing, developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading services for almost any kind of content.
**For yourself or given as a gift to a friend, family member or colleague, my service also mentors writers and authors on all levels of effective writing with focus and clarity, while helping organize your ideas, support your drafts, and polish your manuscripts, as well as coaching the self-publishing process.
**Twelve years of prolific equestrian magazine writing resulted in around 120 published articles for publications including Equine Journal, Horse Connection, Horse International and its annual “L’Annee Hippique”, The PRE Horse, Conquistador: The World of Spanish Horses, Horse of Kings, and my own column in California Riding magazine.
**Recipient of American Horse Publications awards for Personality Profile:
“Lush writing with a rhythm that perfectly fits the profile of a woman passionate about elegant horses and riding. This is a very graceful piece that gives an insight into [the subject’s] devotion to finding her perfect horsemanship experience.”
“The lead is beautiful, both in imagery and as context for the vignettes that follow. Personality profiles are among the toughest things to write; doing so effectively by using the first hand impressions of so many authors–WOW. The reader learns something about the subject’s methods, but within the context of who he was.”
**Author of “Horse Training In-Hand: A Modern Guide to Working from the Ground: Work on the Longe * Long Lines * Long and Short Reins” first published in 2009 by Trafalgar Square Books and was a bestseller in its category on Amazon for 10 years.
**Former Managing Editor, Editor and Art Director & Advisory Board Member of an equine breed magazine.
**And now, my own publishing company, Editions Mistral LLC, which has published “Dressage Sabbatical: A Year of Riding with the Classical Master Paul Belasik” by Rose Caslar and “Foundations of Horsemanship: Understanding the Nature of Horses and Their Progressive Education In-Hand” by The Marquis MacSwiney of Mashanaglass, and coached author Lynne Sprinsky Echols through the editing and self-publishing process for her book “A Good Seat: Three Months at the Reitinstitut von Neindorff.”
WHAT AN AUTHOR/CLIENT HAS TO SAY:
I worked with Kip Mistral for almost two years on the process of editing, refining, fact-checking, proofing and designing a 315-page book I had written. She is not only great at what she does and works quickly, she’s tremendous fun to work with. I was a complete novice to the world of publishing and it was Kip’s expertise, energy, persistence, encouragement, and dedication that moved my project from a CD stuck in a drawer to an actual printed book that is selling well in a niche market. Kip shared with me her knowledge and experience, demystifying all phases of the book production process and guiding me through the hard copy and electronic publishing options available to authors today. In addition to describing the pros and cons of each option, she gave me many useful tips as to how to fine-tune my manuscript, serving as editor, style-checker, and unofficial agent on an as-needed basis. This resulted in a far more useful and readable book than would have otherwise been the case. Along the way she helped me secure an ISBN number/barcode and complete the application to the Library of Congress, coached me through the production and printing processes, and even made an introduction for me to an established publisher who focuses on precisely the audience to which my book appeals. If I ever write another book, my first call will be to Kip. ~ L. S. Echols, Coaching Client
WHAT COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY:
I first met Kip years ago when she was hired as a technical writer for a software manufacturing firm where I was employed as a graphic designer. Her ability to grasp new and complex concepts quickly was impressive. Kip was subsequently placed in the position of supervisor to the graphics department with responsibilities for project management including organization, scheduling, and writing advertising/advertorial materials and oversight of personnel. I was impressed then and after working with her on several freelance book projects since, I’m even more impressed with her editorial expertise, eye for detail, and innate sense of what works and what doesn’t. One would be hard pressed to find a more diligent writer, editor, and coach for any phase of the publishing process. ~ R. Ashbaugh, Robert Ashbaugh Digital Design
As a publisher, I have interacted with Kip over the years for the most part in terms of book reviews and book development for other authors. The clarity that she brings to reviews shows her ability to discern the value in and what is unique about the book titles, a rare gift. She is able to capture that intangible quality about a book and put it into words.
From the editorial and organizational standpoint, Kip is a superb organizer of information, making it digestible in a logical sequence and bringing out its essence. Because she can simultaneously evaluate a book from both the author’s point of view and also the reader’s perspective, Kip’s ability to organize authors in the editorial process is also unique. She is able to guide them to hone what information is germaine and valuable to the reader, then have the courage to edit and omit the content that is extraneous and not on point, and be judicious about that.
Kip’s broad experience, her high standards and her ability to see the “big picture” would be great assets to any publishing project. ~ R. Williams, Publisher