Melanie Votaw

Brooklyn, NY USA
http://www.RuletheWord.com
14 Years Experience

Professional Experience

I’m a full-time freelance writer, editor, photographer, and publishing industry consultant in New York and the author of 16 non-fiction books, 6 under my own name (Running Press) and 10 ghostwritten. I have published fiction/poetry in book anthologies and literary magazines, and edited books have won 30 awards and made the NYT Bestseller List. I have written articles for such publications as Woman's Day, Business Insider, Just Luxe, and South China Morning Post, and I'm a magna cum laude college graduate with a B.A. in English. I have covered many topics: health/medicine including alternative medicine, cosmetic surgery/dermatology, law, meditation/NLP, spirituality, popular business, leadership, parenting, psychology, sexuality, entertainment (theater, dance, music, film), art, luxury travel, eco-travel, bird watching, yachting, parenting, food, wine, and more. I provide ghostwriting and copy writing services, as well as critiques, developmental editing, and copy editing.

Expertise

Copywriter 10 YearsBook Author 13 YearsWriter 15 Years

Specialty

Entertainment 5 YearsSex 12 YearsTravel 6 Years

Industries

Magazine - Trade magazines/publications (B2B) 11 YearsBook Publishing Consumer 13 YearsOther 14 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

  • Tweens News (1-2)
  • Copper in the Arts Magazine (10+)
  • Reel Life With Jane (10+)
  • Luxury Web Magazine (10+)
  • Minerva Place (6-10)
  • Running Press/Perseus Books (6-10)
  • Just Luxe (3-5)
  • City Room (3-5)
  • Global Writes (3-5)
  • Your Tango (3-5)
  • Cultural Tours Worldwide (1-2)
  • His & Hers (1-2)
  • Independent Restaurateur (1-2)
  • Inside Out Travel (1-2)
  • Dream of Italy (1-2)
  • Executive Travel Magazine (1-2)
  • Farewell Travels (1-2)
  • Fit Focus (1-2)
  • Ft. Myers Magazine (1-2)
  • American Moms (1-2)
  • Business Insider (1-2)
  • Kraze Magazine (1-2)
  • Restaurant Management (1-2)
  • Natural Awakenings (1-2)
  • Of Spirit (1-2)
  • South China Morning Post (1-2)
  • The Cute Kid (1-2)
  • Travelers Digest (1-2)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

  • Teuteberg Incorporated (6-10)
  • Aesthetic Brand Marketing (10+)
  • David Frey, D.D.S. (6-10)
  • Sinclair Intimacy Institute (3-5)
  • Rainforest Foundation (3-5)
  • Dozens more clients in varied industries (6-10)
  • Brand Development Associates International Ltd. (10+)
  • Hafner Creative Communications (10+)
  • Rosen Law Firm (10+)

Awards

Poetry and photography awards

Associations

Authors Guild; former member of American Society of Journalists and Authors; International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association; Association of Ghostwriters; International Travel Writers Alliance; New York Travel Writers Association

Other Work History

Published poetry and short fiction in literary magazines and book anthologies. Photographs published in magazines, books, and corporate marketing materials.

Technical Skills

Book typesetting and design, brochure and newsletter design, still photography, basic photo editing in Photoshop

Computer Skills

Windows, Word, WordPress, MSOffice, Excel, Photoshop, Quicken, PowerPoint

Equipment

Windows setup on desktop and laptop; Canon 30D SLR with 18-55 mm (IS) zoom, 50mm macro, 55-250 mm (IS) zoom, and 75-300 mm zoom (IS) lenses; digital audio recorder; Photoshop

References

Deborah Grandinetti, Running Press; Brenda Bence, BDA Int'l; Debra Fine

Photography

Beijing street scene
(Unpublished 6/9/2026)
Hibiscus
(6/9/2026)
Macaques in Thailand
(Unpublished 6/9/2026)
Photo taken at Khao Yai, January 2008
Pink Park Avenue
(6/9/2026)
Creative artwork
The Ultimate Bird Lover
(Health Communications, Inc. book 1/1/2010)
This is one of 14 of my images that are featured in this book.
Blue Cat in Santorini
(6/9/2026)
Creative artwork
Iceberg Drama
(Private Collector 1/1/2003)
This photo was taken in Newfoundland and is owned by a private collector.
Dog in Bangkok
(6/9/2026)
This is a creative shot that was altered in Photoshop.
Brooklyn
(6/9/2026)
Creative artwork
One of the wonders of New York State
(Unpublished 6/9/2026)
Taken at Ward Pound Ridge, summer of 2007

Copy Writing

Adult day care brochure - side 1
(6/9/2026)
Adult day care brochure - side 2
(6/9/2026)
Physical therapy practice newsletter - side 1
(6/9/2026)
Physical therapy practice newsletter - side 2
(6/9/2026)
Press releases portfolio
(6/9/2026)
Medical Writing Samples
(6/9/2026)
Most of my medical writing work has been for lay audiences. I have frequently worked with dentists, cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and medi-spas.
Legal Writing Samples
(6/9/2026)
Before my career as a writer, I worked as a legal assistant in both large and small firms in New York and California. This work involved a wide variety of practice areas, including personal injury, real estate, elder law, and corporate.

Poetry

Spiral
(American Writing:A Magazine 6/15/1997)
This poem was published in the prestigious literary magazine, American Writing: A Magazine, of Philadelphia, PA.
Desire - Punctuated!(?)
(Folio, American University 7/1/1994)
This poem was published in Folio, the literary magazine of American University in Washington, D.C.

Fiction

Restaurant Opening
(Five-Minute Erotica (book anthology) 9/2/2003)
This is one of two of my stories included in the anthology published by Running Press, "Five Minute Erotica." Three of my stories appear in the sequel, "More Five Minute Erotica."

General

Peter Riegert Talks Cameron Crowe, Surviving the Film Industry, and Being an Homage
(Reel Life With Jane 12/23/2011)
5 Ways to Ruin Your Sex Life
(Minerva Place 7/1/2012)
How to Kiss Like You Mean It
(Minerva Place 7/1/2012)
10 Ways to Give Your Sex Life Mouth to Mouth
(Minerva Place 7/1/2012)
10 Best Cities for Bird Watching
(Farewell Travels 5/1/2012)
Dirt Candy - Small Venue, Big City, Huge Success
(Independent Restaurateur 3/15/2011)
Cover story profile of New York City vegetarian restaurant, Dirt Candy.
Click and Mortar: Ensuring Your Brand Personalities Match
(Restaurant Management 5/3/2011)
Tony Awards 2012 Feature Jesus, Mormons, and a Little Faith
(Reel Life With Jane 6/11/2012)
Martin Scorsese on Growing Up and Not Going to the Movies
(Reel Life With Jane 1/19/2012)
Schtiller & Plevy: A Commitment to Restoring History
(Copper in the Arts Magazine 7/1/2009)
Motivational Benefits of Meditation - pg2
(Fit Focus 6/1/2005)
Motivational Benefits of Meditation - pg1
(Fit Focus 6/1/2005)
Little Reporters, Big Stories
(Tweens News 11/1/2004)
Story about Children's PressLine
Will Moving In Together Ruin Your Sex Life?
(YourTango.com 3/8/2011)
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Indian Culture and Art Deco
(Cultural Tours Worldwide 1/10/2012)
Bradley Cooper on Stage: An Elephant Man in Reverse?
(Reel Life With Jane 8/11/2012)
Australia is for the Birds
(Farewell Travels 9/12/2012)
The Many Charms of Oklahoma City
(Luxury Web Magazine 12/1/2011)
Jamaica Inn review
(City Room 8/4/2011)
10 Ways to Be a More Seductive Date
(Minerva Place 7/1/2012)
52 Weeks of Passionate Sex
(Running Press 1/21/2004)
Excerpts from my book, which went into second printing within a week of release.
Hummingbirds: Jewels On Air
(Courage Books 4/15/2003)
Excerpt from my coffee table book, which also includes 8 of my photographs.
Sometimes Travel is For the Birds: Ecuadoran Andes
(Global Writes 6/10/2010)
6 Ways Couples Can Rediscover Erotic Sex
(YourTango.com 6/23/2010)
The Revived Art of Brass and Bronze Marine Hardware
(Copper in the Arts Magazine 3/1/2008)
Getzen: The Music of Metal
(Copper in the Arts Magazine 3/1/2010)
Profile of Getzen brass musical instrument company
Niagara on the Lake: A Little Ice Wine with Everything
(Business Insider 11/18/2011)
Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill Talks Marvin Hamlisch PBS Special
(Reel Life With Jane 12/26/2013)
Interview with Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill about her experiences with Marvin Hamlisch.
Choosing the Best Jeans for Your Body Type
(American Moms 4/1/2007)
Fashion article for women to choose best jeans for different body types
Can Tenderness and Sexual Heat Coexist
(YourTango.com 6/23/2010)
Sex Secrets of the Free-Lovin' 60's
(Kraze Magazine 2/1/2011)
Cindy Williams interview
(Reel Life With Jane 4/13/2012)
Do I Have to Talk to My Kids About Sex?
(Minerva Place 7/1/2012)
Kinetic Art: Copper in Motion
(Copper in the Arts Magazine 1/1/2010)
Article about kinetic metal art.
Entree: Calgary
(South China Morning Post 3/18/2009)
Restaurant round-up
Graham de Zille, the Man Behind the Amnesia Series of Superyachts
(SuperyachtTimes.com 9/19/2008)
Profile of yacht builder
Baby Boomers Face Menopause
(The Cute Kid 12/1/2005)
Valentin Yotkov: Continuing the Master Craft of Repoussé
(Copper in the Arts Magazine 4/1/2009)
Profile of metal artist
7 Ways to Make Your Love Life More Sensual
(YourTango.com 7/7/2010)
Attracting Backyard Hummingbirds
(Sarasota Magazine 4/1/2005)
Philomena Lee on Judi Dench, Adoption Rights & Meeting the Pope
(Reel Life With Jane 4/22/2014)
Interview with Philomena Lee, the subject of the film, "Philomena" starring Judi Dench
Entree: New York
(South China Morning Post 3/11/2009)
New York restaurant round-up
Cadogan Hotel, London Review
(Luxury Web Magazine 9/1/2012)
Ronan Farrow Receives Cronkite Award at Reach the World Event
(Reel Life With Jane 2/28/2014)
Coverage of award presentation to Ronan Farrow.
Surrender to Salzburg
(Luxury Web Magazine 8/1/2012)
War Horse: The Film vs. the Broadway Production
(Reel Life With Jane 2/14/2012)
Fun and Fooling Around at the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival
(Reel Life With Jane 1/22/2012)