Timmy ‘TJ’ Weber

If you read my book Beneath the Neon, you may recall that I became interested in exploring the underground flood channels of Las Vegas after reading about a murderer who used the tunnels to evade the police. That murderer, Timmy “TJ” Weber, died recently. Here is the Las Vegas Review-Journal story about his death and the heinous crime he committed.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/notorious-las-vegas-killer-timmy-tj-weber-dies-2580985/?itm_source=parsely-api

Another early milestone

Another early milestone for O’Brien Editing Services: I currently have three books in the editing queue. One is an academic work about health and nutrition co-written by two young women in Lithuania. (Thanks to my friend Jaq, who lives in Lithuania, for referring the women to OES!) Another is a memoir of sorts written by a client of a marketing and communications firm based in the States. The third is a short-story collection penned by a talented, bilingual filmmaker and writer who lives in San Salvador.

My office this week will be Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. (I’m scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.) I plan to finish editing the health and nutrition book there and start on the memoir.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported OES in some form or fashion! Strong verbs, rich imagery and no typos to you all!

‘Book Week’ discussion

I had a delightful online discussion this morning with students and teachers from the Academia Británica Cuscatleca (the British School), as part of its “Book Week.” We discussed writing, reading, my books, the Shine a Light nonprofit and assorted other related topics. Kudos to the student who asked me, “Do you have any regrets about choosing this career?” Indeed, some students have profound insight!

Seriously, with the gang lockdown in El Salvador dominating the headlines, it’s nice to be reminded of institutions and events like these. Special thanks to poet and British School director Steve Lang for arranging the discussion.

Half Pint and One Shoe Sue

Yesterday, I caught up with “Half Pint” and “One Shoe Sue,” two of the people I interviewed for my latest book, Dark Days, Bright Nights: Surviving the Las Vegas Storm Drains. I’m pleased to report they’re both doing incredibly well! #DarkDaysBrightNights #ShineALightLV #TheyDoRecover

Editing Service Update

It has been a busy first six months for O’Brien Editing Services. Thanks to everyone who has supported the venture in some form or fashion!

If, in the new year, you find yourself in need of fast, professional and affordable feedback on your résumé, cover letter, bio, academic paper, book, website, etc., please keep OES in mind. And if you’d like a price quote, submit the Get Started form on the website or contact me through this site.

Happy holidays—and thanks again for your support!

https://www.obrieneditingservices.com/

Early milestone for OES

I’ve signed a few book contracts as an author, but signing one as an editor (pictured below on the table) hits a little differently—and is a nice early milestone for O’Brien Editing Services. I’m excited to start this project and to hopefully edit more books for established publishers!

A Call for Stories

I’m a contributing editor at The News Station (https://thenewsstation.com/), a national alt-weekly, and we are looking for flash fiction (under 1,500 words) and short stories (1,500 to 10,000 words) for our Lit arts journal. The stories must be unpublished and, ideally, would be edgy or quirky and national or international in scope (i.e., not overly local). They should have an alternative (unconventional) perspective. Pay is, generally, $50 for flash and $150 for short stories.

If you have a quality story that fits these specifications, please send it to me through my website’s contact page or email it to matthew@thenewsstation.com. I look forward to reading your work!

Editing Service Update

It was a busy week for O’Brien Editing Services—the busiest to date. I copy-edited and fact-checked a book review and news feature for a national U.S. publication. I edited four blogs for an international sales-management company. I punched up and fleshed out a long bio for a teacher friend who will begin a job search in the next few months.

I needed a break. A trip to El Balsamar beach in El Salvador with my girlfriend and two other friends provided it.

But I’ll be back at my desk early Monday morning, refreshed and ready to go. Do you have a website that is not generating the response you had hoped? A résumé that needs to be edited, updated, and reorganized? Trying to revive a short story or book?

Surf the OES site (www.obrieneditingservices.com). If you’d like a price quote, submit the Get Started form or email me via the contact form on this site.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported this venture in some form or fashion!

O’Brien Editing Services

I’ve started my own business!

OES is a boutique, English-language editing service. We specialize in fast, professional editing at an affordable price and offer a personal experience in an industry that has become faceless and automated. We’re diverse rather than niche. We edit résumés, cover letters, bios, academic papers, admissions essays, books, short stories, websites, social-media posts, and more.

Please surf the website (link below). If you’d like a price quote, submit the Get Started form or email me via the contact form on this site.

And, as always, thanks for your support!

https://www.obrieneditingservices.com/