Barbara Rishel and Dawn Dancer Press

An Independent Publisher of uplifting books - Dawn Dancer Press

Dawn Dancer Press was created by Barbara Rishel, an avid reader, to publish quality fiction and nonfiction books that honor the earth and uplift the spirit.

Services: Technical Writing, Editing, Project Management

Fourteen years in the publication field, ten of them preparing technical documents for computer products. Ten years in secondary and adult education, primarily as a mathematics instructor.

Technical Expertise

Platforms: IBM-PC compatible personal computers, Sun Workstations

Operating Systems: MS Windows 95, NT, 3.11; Unix; DOS

Software Packages: A variety of word processing and editing packages including MS Word, Lotus WordPro, Lotus AmiPro; MS Front Page (HTML); nroff, troff, various scripting languages; various database programs

Desktop Publishing Packages: Interleaf (Unix & PC platforms), Framemaker (PC platform)

Technical Products Documented: User documents, online help, and marketing collateral for display and processing terminals, controllers, printers, PC boards, networking and software products

Summary of Experience

Writing

Technical Writing: While employed by a computer equipment manufacturer, wrote installation guides, user guides, online help, and technical reference guides for customers. Worked with software and hardware design engineers, marketing representatives, field engineers, manufacturing personnel, and customers to design, write, and revise documents for a variety of computer products including networking and software packages, display and processing terminals, controllers, printers, and PC boards.

General Writing: Proficient with a variety of styles and formats including books, marketing collateral, and business and technical subjects. Authored the book Earth Friendly Living: The Healthy Planet Sourcebook for Arizona.

Editing

Technical Editing: Revised and edited end-user documents and engineering specifications; performed both developmental and copy edits. Especially skilled in organizing complex material and tailoring it to the intended audience. Worked with affiliated companies in Germany and France to assist with creating German versions of many documents.

General Editing: Wide experience editing newsletters, articles, promotional material, World Wide Web pages, and books. Skilled at developmental and copy editing.

Project Management

The last technical writing assignment entailed complete responsibility for a variety of projects, one with sixteen integrated documents and more than 2500 pages. Tasks included scheduling, defining concept and organizing documents, assigning writers as needed and supervising their work, interfacing with engineering and marketing schedules and requirements, preparing documents and delivering the camera-ready artwork in a timely manner.

Desktop Publishing

Versed in all aspects of document preparation and production. Skilled in design and layout for books and computer manuals, brochures, newsletters and other material. Converted documents from one platform to another and from one book design to another.

Employment History

Dawn Dancer Press

Phoenix, Arizona and Kirkland, Washington (1995-present)

Free-lance writing, editing, book publishing. Researched, wrote, produced camera-ready copy, and published the book Earth Friendly Living – The Healthy Planet Sourcebook for Arizona.

IDEA, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona
(formerly Alcatel Information Systems and ITT Courier Terminal Systems)

Principal Technical Writer (1989 - 1994); Senior Technical Writer (1987 - 1989);
Technical Writer (1985 - 1987); Phototype Specialist (1983 - 1985)

Technical writer and editor for computer manufacturer; wrote wide variety of hardware and software manuals for end users. Trained and mentored other writers.

Mathematics Instructor

Taught mathematics at the junior, senior, and community college level for ten years.

Education

University of California, Riverside, CA
Bachelor of Arts with Mathematics major, English minor. Elected to Pi Mu Epsilon, national honorary mathematics society.

University of California Extension, Los Angeles, CA. Graduate level courses with concentration in computer science, education, and social sciences (30 units)

Additional classes, conferences, reading, and research in areas of computer science, technical writing, motivation, creativity, personal development, cooperation and group dynamics, alternative methods of education, brain/mind research, and environmental issues.

Barbara Rishel, 3239 Flint Hill Road, Naples NY 14512
(716) 554-6371 or Fax (716) 554-6556
Send E-Mail to Dawn Dancer Press: dawndancer@earthlink.net