Piquant Publishing was founded with one goal in mind; to provide the realest fiction you didn't know you wanted, helping others by cleverly and effectively telling their stories.
Not many would assume that being born in a cornfield, raised by wolves in the heart of Amish Country, Pennsylvania has its advantages. One might argue that a small town with one road and a 30 minute drive for views not photo-bombed by hay-stacks and horses could in fact curb those crucial years of development and exploration in an impressionable child's life. As it turned out, having nothing better to do than stare at stunning mountain and valley vistas from day one until 18 years later when I executed my escape churned out a need to occupy boredom by summoning the letters of the alphabet to tell elaborate and impossible lies about worlds hidden deep in the Pine Grove mountains and the secret lives of its seemingly bucolic peoples.
I admit I have no formal training in the art of storytelling and little professional experience. I am not (yet) published, haven't won a Pulitzer, nor gained international attention by mating teenage girls with possessive sparkly vampires. I have, however, exploited nearly 20 years worth of trees (consequence of suppression perhaps?) by filling notebook after notebook with my own version of life, entertaining millions (okay, not quite millions... a handful of coerced friends, maybe).
As it is, I love writing. I love seeking out new and unique ways of telling someone's story. I often liken the experience to DNA. Think of it this way; DNA is made up of just 4 simple protein bases, (A, C, T, & G), but when arranged in different ways is capable of producing an infinite number of completely unique living things. The same can be said of storytelling. If 4 unassuming bases can have such an impact, the possibilities that accompany 26 letters (and that's just one language) are all the more endless (how's that for nerding out?)!
While I write mostly fiction as a hobby, I love working with businesses and individuals to tell very real, but creative eye-catching stories that not only draw in clientele but provide advantages against the competition.
Work Terms
As an independent services contractor, I'm open to all forms of collaboration. While you can contact me at any time, I guarantee a response Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am-6pm est. I am also a night-owl and self-proclaimed nerd who spends entirely too much time inside so please don't follow my 'office hours' as law. It's highly likely that a 2 AM inquiry will see a quick response. :-)
Typically, I require a complimentary first meeting be it in person or online so that I can have a chance to get to know about the client, the project, and the client's desired outcome and to allow the client to get to know me in return so they feel confident that their vision is in good hands before deciding to move forward.
Whatever your project may be, I'm more than happy to work with you via email, Skype, Google Docs etc... if you feel comfortable communicating remotely. I currently reside in the greater Richmond, VA area so when it comes to local clients I typically prefer (but not require) at least one in-person meeting as being able to talk one-on-one with someone about their project tends to give a uniquely personal experience. Whatever form of communication works best for you don't hesitate to ask! Also, please understand that for security reasons, I currently don't accept phone calls unless we have previously held a meeting in some other form and the client has decided to move forward with the project.
Payment is accepted via PayPal and rate is negotiable, as I'm still building up my portfolio. Rates vary by type of project but are generally calculated based on the amount of time expected to be spent completing the project. Projects totaling $100 or more require a non-refundable 10% down payment upon the client's decision to move forward. This down payment is non-negotiable and is meant to secure a client's commitment to larger, more time consuming projects. Upon delivery, I also like to ask for testimonials that can be used for display on my website.