Resume - Lisa A. Crayton

Maintaining integrity in every market

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PROFILE
Professional with more than 20 years' experience and exemplary communications skills. Successful corporate publications manager, writing mentor, online publisher, author, freelance writer, freelance editor, and conference speaker.

FREELANCE SERVICES

	FREELANCE EDITOR 2005-Present Serve as a freelance editor for diverse projects and clients (including magazines, self-published authors, and book publishers).
	AUTHOR ''Our Voices: Issues Facing Black Women in America" (chapter on finances) (September 2009, Lift Every Voice Books, an imprint of Moody Publishers)

''I Want to Talk With My Teen About Money Management." (Money and Financial Fitness chapter; October 2006, Standard Publishing)

"'A Student's Guide to Toni Morrison." (January 2006, Enslow)

MENTOR September 2003-Present
Serve as a mentor with the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

Publisher/EDITOR January 2002 to 2008 (publication on hiatus)
Editor/publisher of SPIRIT-LED WRITER, a website, online magazine and paying market for Christian writers. Writer's Digest magazine named SPIRIT-LED WRITER one of the "101 Best Web Site for Writers" for 2004 and 2003.

WRITER May 2000 to Present
Serve as a freelance writer for diverse Christian and general magazines, newsletters, regional parenting publications, websites and ezines (Internet magazines). Write columns, features, profiles, reviews and fillers. Specialties include: youth, personal finances, parenting, spirituality, women, African-American market (culture, church, issues), and freelance writing. Published more than 350 pieces. Recent credits. Recipient of 7 writing awards, including "Writer of the Year" (Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference 2004). Also provide diverse copywriting, proofreading, and manuscript critique services.

REVIEWER 2001 to 2007
Assigned book (and product) reviewer for Christian, and general publications and websites. Assignments:

African-American Nonfiction (Christian/Inspirational): Aspiring Retail (Formerly CBA Marketplace) (January 2005-Present)

Christian Living (including parenting, spiritual growth, women's issues): Aspiring Retail (Formerly CBA Marketplace) (January 2005-2007);

Family/Personal Finance: Christian Home & School (2004-2007)

Inspirational/Christian Fiction: The Word On Romance.com (November 2001-July 2002)

ONLINE MODERATOR

May 2006-Present -- Co-moderate, and serve as panelist, of The Christian Writers View 2, sister group to The Christian Writers View. an online forum of beginning and intermediate writers.

October 2002-May 2006-- Co-moderated, and served as panelist, of The Christian Writers View, an online forum of professional Christian communicators (including authors, an agent, a publicist, a journalist, a conference director and an acquisitions editor) and more than 600 writers.

ONLINE INSTRUCTOR

American Christian Fiction Writers September 2002
Taught month-long course: "Writing and Marketing Non-Fiction Manuscripts."

CHRISTIANRMWRITERS July 2002
Taught one-week course: "Writing and Marketing Non-Fiction Articles."

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JUDGE

	2006-Present: Christian Book Awards, Fiction category
	July 2003-Present: Inspirational category, Northwest Houston Chapter, Romance Writers of America Lone Star Writing Competition
	2008" Assemblies of God Fine Arts Festival Competition, Kappa Tau category
	January 2003: Feature Section, Association of Christian Collegiate Media contest.

	July 2002: Non-fiction articles/devotionals, Texas Christian Writers contest.
	June 2002: Non-fiction articles, Inspirational Writers Alive contest.
	January 2002: Staff Editorial, Association of Christian Collegiate Media contest.

WRITER'S CONFERENCES: FACULTY

Teach/taught workshops at the upcoming writers' conferences:

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference (August 2011)

Previous conference participation:

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference (PA; August 2002-2009)

Writing for the Soul (February 2009) (Articles Continuing Session)

Write2Ignite! (Christian Children Writers' Conference (October 2008)

St. Davids Christian Writers Conference (June 2008)

Liberty Savard's Beginning Writers School (CA; September 2007)

Write! Canada (Canada) (June 2007)

Received: 2004 "Writer of the Year" Award

Taught workshops (except in 2002); served on magazine editors' panel; conducted appointments; critiqued manuscripts. Taught Continuing Session for beginners (2005).

Revwriter Conference (PA; October 2006, 2005)

Sandy Cove Christian Communicators Conference (MD; October 2005, 2004)
Served on magazine editors' panel; conducted appointments; critique manuscripts.

North Texas Christian Writers Conference (September 2005, September 2004)
Taught Continuing Session (three workshops) on Electronic Media

Write-to-Publish (IL; June 2005)
Various Workshops

Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference (CA; March 2005, March 2004)

"Writing for Multi-Cultural Audiences" "Writing Columns"

Serve on magazine editors' panel; conduct appointments; critique manuscripts.

St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference (PA; June 2003)
"Effective Multi-Cultural Communications" & "Wired, But Wary" (freelancing online)

Evangelical Press Association (Annual Convention), (GA; May 2003)

"Effective Multi-Cultural Communications" & "Wired, But Wary" (freelancing online)

Colorado Christian Writers Conference (May 2003)
Wired, But Wary" (freelancing online); "Speaking for the Chicken-Hearted."

Served on magazine editors 'panel; conducted appointments; critiqued manuscripts.

Proclaim Christian Communicators Gathering (NC; May 2003)
Workshop: "Freelance Basics: 5 Keys to Success"

OTHER EVENTS/MEETINGS

Featured speaker at:

Religion and Politics Panel, National Association of Black Journalists' Annual Convention (August 2006)

May Term

World Journalism Institute

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CONSULTING

DESTINY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Communications Consultant-September 1997 to June 2004
Provided diverse volunteer communications services -- print, radio and
Internet -- to organizations under the Center. Wrote write award-winning
summer camp grant application for $48,000.

D''VINE SOLUTIONS
Consultant-May 1991-October 1996
Provided freelance publicity, media relations and editorial/writing
services. Conducted interviews, special events coverage and field reports
for a church's weekly TV program aired on BET.

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CORPORATE PUBLICATION MANAGEMENT

THE SEGAL COMPANY
Editor-October 1989-September 1990

INTEGRATED RESOURCES, INC. (Marketing Dept.)
Assistant Vice President/Associate Editor-August 1988 to July 1989

IRVING TRUST COMPANY (Internal Communications Dept.)
Assistant Editor-December 1987 to August 1988

JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES (Corporate Communications Dept.)
Staff Editor-October 1986 to November 1987
Assistant Editor-July 1985 to October 1986

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MEMBERSHIP
Professional Associations

Advanced Writers and Speakers Association

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Evangelical Press Association

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

CHURCH ACTIVITIES

Evangel Assembly of God

Christian Education Department: Sunday School Teacher, 5th/6th grades

FORMER CHURCH ACTIVITIES

Position previously held at former church: Elder. Delivered sermons, led a weekly women's Bible Study/Fellowship, taught discipleship classes, trained leaders, spearheaded communications projects, and conducted workshops at church-sponsored discipleship, and entrepreneurial conferences.

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EDUCATION

UTICA COLLEGE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (1985)
B.S.: Public Relations & Journalism (cum laude); Outstanding Senior;

Minor: Business; Concentration: English

MINISTRY TRAINING

ACCELERATED SUNDAY SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND TRAINING ("ASSET") (2008)

Certificate of Completion

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AWARDS

EVANGELICAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

2005 - Third Place, Freelance Article Category, for "Mommy Fears."

GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE