Introducing Joshua Tree’s First Associate Editor
It’s an honor to announce the promotion of Victoria “Tori” Merkle to Associate Editor at Joshua Tree Interactive. Tori began working for me as an editorial assistant in June, 2018, the summer before beginning her junior year studies at Wellesley College.
Over the past two and a half years she has demonstrated her strengths in and aptitudes for the editorial process, from writing assignments and proofreading to critical reading. Always eager to learn more, Tori quickly became invaluable in copyediting, then developmental editing, and working with my clients and publishers. She possesses reliable, dependable, work habits, is always eager to undertake new assignments, and consistently delivers professional work. When literary agents said my novel, Bridge Across the Ocean, was too long, Tori skillfully edited it down to 85,000 words from 116,000. I could not have done a better job.
Soon she was learning how to manage mailing lists and had immersed herself in book marketing, contributing greatly to the successful launch of my novel, Anarchy, and developing a new promotional concept and strategy to rekindle interest in Wild Blue Yonder. As a result, my email subscriber list has been steadily growing with new readers.
Wellesley graduated Tori last spring summa cum laude with a double major in English/Creative Writing and Anthropology. I’ve recommended Tori to other writers and publishers, and each has been immensely pleased with her work. Tori has also performed many important editorial and administrative tasks for the Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE.org), which is responsible for our meeting in the first place. It’s been my pleasure to teach her what I know about publishing, and I’m doubly grateful to know I can trust and rely on her to partner with me on my writing, editing and publishing projects. I’m certain she has a bright career ahead of her.
Joshua Tree Communications opened for business April 15, 1983, offering Professional Writing and Editorial Services. Reflecting the changing nature of publishing work, it was rechristened in 1993 as Joshua Tree Interactive, providing Media and Information Management expertise. By 2020, JTI’s business services had expanded to encompass Business Book Ghostwriters, The Fictional Cafe, book podcasting, mentoring, and of course professional editorial services.
