Happy clients
“If you are looking for someone who will treat you with great care, Darlene Frank is a rose without thorns. Darlene is an exceptional editor and phenomenal book coach. I might still be mired in drafts if it weren’t for her super-skilled labors. I particularly appreciate her gentle but firm approach to eliminating unnecessary words, sentences, paragraphs, and pages! She definitely squeezed a much better book out of me, and I’ve already asked her to edit my next book. I give her my highest recommendation.”
~ Martha Clark Scala
Author of Assembling a Life: Claiming the Artist in My Father (and Myself)
“I had reached an impasse in my writing in that my story arc wasn’t clear to me, and I felt anxious about how to proceed. I was searching for someone who could help me discern what my manuscript needed and also move me forward in a gentle and supportive way. Your reflection and questioning were just what I needed. When things felt confusing or mysterious to me, your comments, suggestions, and simple presence provided stability and helped me trust the unfolding process. I was amazed at how far I progressed in our short time together. I also feel more confident about my writing. I’m grateful for the gentle, patient way you approach your work and the passion you bring to it. You’ve been consistently present to my process and always encouraging. Thank you.”
~ Anne Reeder Heck
Author of A Fierce Belief in Miracles: My Journey from Rape to Healing and Wholeness (She Writes Press)
“Before talking to Darlene Frank, my content was just written words inside my journal. I had lost my dog and was in a lot of pain. Darlene helped me put together something incredibly beautiful with her expert editing as well as recommendations on photos and layout. She has meticulous attention to detail, is amazingly communicative, and has a unique way of hearing your dream and putting it into motion. I’m so grateful for her help and for the work of art we were able to create together.”
~ Jenn Lyons
Author of Losing Siggie
“My dream to become a ballerina came true beyond belief, and in my early twenties I even became a principal ballerina. At age 67, looking back at my life, I decided to produce and star in “Ballerina: A One Woman Play.” It was a huge success, so I felt the next step was to write a memoir. Yet the fear of taking on such a huge endeavor left me frozen. I would start writing but found myself rewriting the first paragraph over and over. Then my dream came true again: I was introduced to Darlene Frank. I realized instantly Darlene was the missing link for my memoir. I have been working with Darlene for nine months and am happy to say I have just finished my first draft. Darlene has not only held my hand throughout this process like a guardian angel, but her patience and clarity are uncanny. She has wisdom, knowledge, kindness, generosity, and love always. She has helped me become a better writer, and my feelings of being stuck or frozen have vanished. If you’re thinking about hiring Darlene, look no further. She is a writing coach who will be with you every step of the way.”
~ Stephanie Herman, Pilates and rehab fitness specialist
“I was feeling lost and unfocused in my writing life, and I most appreciated Darlene’s steady encouragement and practical suggestions for moving my work forward toward publication. I am better able to pull myself out of periods of self-doubt, which used to derail my writing practice regularly. I also have submitted for publication and won a contest—a big step forward! The coaching experience exceeded my expectations; I moved forward more than I expected.”
~ Barbara Stevenson, San Francisco, California
“In the coaching sessions with Darlene I experience the ‘real me.’ This is who I am in my heart. I am amazed at how far I have come in such a short time.”
~ Barb Jakary, San Francisco, California
“Coaching with Darlene not only changed my writing, it changed the way I deal with food. And with other things I need to make decisions about. Parts of myself that were fragmented have come together. I feel more centered and grounded. People say to me, “You’re different. What did you do?” Getting my two selves talking to each other was nothing short of phenomenal. That internal battle inside myself has ended and it’s showing up in other ways besides in my writing. This work has helped me on a soul level and impacts all of my life.”
Shelley Bradford Bell, Author
San Francisco, California
“Darlene turned out to be the perfect mentor for my book. From enhancing the cover and inside pages, to polishing the grammar, she guided me through the writing and publishing with enthusiasm, support, and creative suggestions that made my book better than I could have envisioned. Working with Darlene was an empowering experience, and I feel excited to go out and do the book-signing and speaking that I know are next. She was an angel who genuinely cared about my book as if it were her own. I highly recommend her book consulting and editing services to other aspiring authors!”
Wanda Whitaker
Author of Angels and Spirit Guides
www.anchoredinspirit.com
“I have nothing but glowing praise for the exceptional editorial work of Darlene Frank. She patiently guided me step by step through the process of publishing my book of poetry, so that the final product exceeded my expectations. Darlene edited the back cover, managed the layout and integration of illustrations, and verified punctuation and grammatical integrity after each proof. She managed last-minute additions and changes without complaint for the additional time and effort required. The entire experience was a most satisfying journey through what was to me a totally unfamiliar landscape. Thank you, Darlene, for professional work well executed.”
Jo Carpignano
Author of Paper Wings and Other Things
“Without Darlene’s support, my poetry book would not have been completed. I became stuck and was ready to scrap the whole project, but Darlene’s gentle encouragement and persistent support kept me going. She combines skill with empathy, an invaluable combination in a writing coach. At my book launch party, I felt as happy as I did on my wedding day!”
Elaine Mannon
Author of I Sing With a New Voice: A Journey Shaped by Dreams and Poems
“As a result of my participation in the San Mateo Literary Stage and inclusion in their book, Carry The Light, I won a written critique and telephone consultation with Darlene Frank. In our far-ranging discussion, I learned so much! She helped me overcome a bad case of writer’s block and suggested ways of enhancing and deepening the personalities of my characters. Darlene is knowledgeable, insightful, and a gracious editor.”
Judith Shernock, MA, MS, LMFT
San Jose, California
“As a new writer on a mission to produce an instructive book on yoga, I had the good fortune to meet Darlene Frank. It changed everything. Let me count the ways: her insight, patience, clarity and tact, singular focus, persistence, and writing ability were ever present. I had the feeling that Darlene cared for my book as if it were her own. Thank you, Darlene. My book is what I hoped it would be because of you.”
Thea Sawyer
Author of Put Your Back at Ease: Pain-Free Posture for Fitness and Health
“I cannot tell you how great it is to be working with you. In the midst of all the chaos you have been a voice of calm, stability, and reason. Thank you!”
Monique Lombardelli
Realtor and producer of People in Glass Houses: The Legacy of Joseph Eichler
“I know that whenever I’m going to talk with Darlene, I can expect a conversation that is focused and uncluttered.”
Cheryl Simas Valenzuela
Wild Dog Art & Media
“Darlene Frank was brought in to write a script for a video that traced the history of my family from 1900 to 1965. The complex story line involved many colorful family members, 300 photos, a narrator, interviews with the family matriarch, and a music soundtrack. And run time not to exceed 35 minutes! Darlene carefully and systematically scripted a simple but effective story line and narration to complement all the elements. There are many things I like about the final production, but none better than the beautiful, sometimes understated writing that it all hangs on.”
Marty Arbunich
Publisher, CA-Modern magazine
Eichler Network
“I could not have been more pleased with the work Darlene Frank did on my books. She is an astute and sensitive editor, with a keen eye and a high standard of excellence—qualities hard to find these days. She is professional, reliable, multitalented, and a joy to work with.”
Janja Lalich, PhD
Professor of Sociology
California State University, Chico
www.janjalalich.com
“Darlene has an inquiring mind and the ability to see the big picture as well as the fine detail. She is down-to-earth, fun to work with (finds humor in the darkest hours!), and a good communicator.”
Barbara Berry
Museum consultant and instructional designer
”I was so blessed to have you on my team as writer and editor for the San Francisco Events Calendar. Your clear thinking and skilled information design, as well as your high professional standards, have helped make the calendar a product I feel proud of. Thank you so much!”
Doug Roth, publisher and photographer
“Working with you is incredibly helpful. My speeches are more organized and you help me get clear about what I want to say. Also I would not have been able to produce such professional looking promotional flyers without your help. It’s been invaluable. Thank you so much.”
Marcia Rafinski, LCSW
Psychotherapist and speaker
