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Sally-Anne Watson Kane has 30 years’ professional writing and editing experience. She is a professional member of Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and Secretary of Life Stories Australia. Below is a portfolio of her  experience editing manuscripts for authors including First Nations Australians, Timorese, Nmibian, Maori and other writers, and including neurodivergent and disabled writers. 

Published books that we have edited

Edited then produced by the author or publisher

Sally-Anne has edited the following books, then the author or a publisher has produced and published them.

1. The spear the cross and the gun by Djandjay and Bob Baker (with approval from Milingimbi Elders to publish). Memoir-based local history of Milingimbi including Yolngu history and the activities of the mission and government in the area, as researched and remembered by Yolngu elder Djandjay (dec) and her husband Bob Baker.  Structural edit including rewriting and rough edit completed by On Time Typing Editing and Proofreading. Designed and published by Xlibris 2023. (C) 2023 Djandjay and Bob Baker.
2.  Te-gadda we ell (Together we can) by Gerry Marr. Structural edit completed for Gerry, who was living in NSW then moved back to Scotland. Self-published by the author in the UK, in 2022.
3. Rohingya Dreams, anthology by Rohinga Refugee Poets compiled by Emily Reid for The Danish Refugee Council. We edited it, and Risen Writers self-published the anthology in 2020.
4. Other published books: trauma education publication; we copy edited it; published by Charles Darwin University press in 2019. Two academic publications – Indigenous education issues. We copy edited them for the editors; published by a university press in 2018, and 2020.

Edited then produced by us as a self-published book

Sally-Anne (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories) has edited and produced 25 books altogether. For a full list of those publications, go to Portfolio of all the books we have produced. 

Below is a small sample of these books.

1. Good night sweet prince. Author: David W G Witts.  150 pp. Large format hardcover (casebound), print. Poetry book: a journey through the mosaic that is life, including “love, grief, despair, ecstasy, tragedy, and – in all its terror and beauty – mundanity, with occasional glimpses of the essence of life that makes everything worthwhile…” All artwork by David W G Witts. Edited and produced collaboratively with On Time Typing Books and Life Stories editor and publishing consultant Sally-Anne Watson Kane and our designer Claire McGregor. ISBN 978-0-6486485-0-5. 1. Poetry collection. 2. Autobiography and memoir. Self-published in print by (C) 2024 David W G Witts.
2. Among the Wildflowers. Co-authors: Delia Tobin, Seamus Foley and Sally-Anne Watson Kane. 96 pp, print. Poetry book comprised of three sections (one per poet) with poems based on their experiences of life, love, family and nature in Ireland and South-Eastern Victoria.  The three poets edited one another’s poems and produced this book with the support of On Time Typing Books and Life Stories and our designers. Self-published in print under the imprint of On Time Typing Books and Life Stories. (C) 2023 Delia Tobin, (C) 2023 Seamus Foley and (C) 2023 Sally-Anne Watson Kane.
3. Monty – The amazing adventures of Montague Richard Leverson: political idealist, architect of colourful practices, black sheep, and a crank on all sorts of subjects. Author: Tony Taylor. 146 pp, hardcover, print. Biography of the colourful M R Leverson. Produced from manuscript to printed book stage (editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison) by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories). Self-published by (C) 2022 Tony Taylor.
4. Bright Lights. Author: Shirley Reynolds. 120 pp., print.  Memoir, short stories, poems; themes include animals, nature, family. Produced from consultations with author (spoken word) and handwritten story to printed book stage (typing, editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison) by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories). Self-published by (C) 2021 Shirley Reynolds.
5. Hold your head up high. Author: Garry Chippindall (dec). 452 pp., print. Memoir: themes include childhood in the bush (Australia) 1950s-60s, Vietnam War, PTSD, family and love. Produced from consultations with author (spoken word) and handwritten notes, to printed book stage (typing, editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison) by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories). Self-published by (C) 2021 Sally Barlee.
6. Their lives, their times. Author: Tony Taylor. 400 pp, hardcover, print. Family history of the various branches of McCaughey, Taylor, Rantzen, Meyer, Leverson and Green families. Produced from manuscript to printed book stage (editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison) by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories). Self-published by (C) 2021 Tony Taylor.
7. My Story. Author: Shirley Reynolds, print. Memoir about the author’s childhood in New Zealand and adult life in Australia. Themes include childhood, family, bipolar disorder, violence, and love. Produced from consultations with author (spoken word) and handwritten story to printed book stage (typing, editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison) by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading (On Time Typing Books and Life Stories). Self-published by (C) 2020 Shirley Reynolds.
8. A life: I am what I am, Author (written + oral): Joan Sammon. Memoir/ poetry/ essays of themes including child sexual abuse, mental illness, life as a gay woman, and the best medicine: laughter. Produced from handwritten story and consultations with author (spoken word) – including typing, editing, design, proofreading and printer liaison – by On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading. Self-published in print by Peewee Press (now On Time Typing Books and Life Stories).  ISBN -13:978-1-921216-02-2. Barcode 9 781921 216022. (C) 2019 Joan Sammon.

Editing projects currently underway (2024)

We are currently editing the following books. The plan is for us to then produce them for the author, as a self-published book. Each author’s name will be revealed after their book has been published.

1. Poetry and short stories by a Namibian-Australian author who lives in Adelaide SA. Coaching in self-editing, and editing.
2. Literary novel by a First Nations writer who lives in Northern Territory. Structural (developmental) editing and coaching in self-editing since 2023.
3. Graphic novel by a neurodivergent male author who lives in Sydney NSW. Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
4. Memoir by a female neurodivergent author who lives in Melbourne VIC.  Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
5. Memoir including poetry by a neurodivergent female author who lives in Queensland. Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
6. Novel (fantasy) by a female neurodivergent author who  lives in South Australia. Scribing verbal storytelling and at the same time, coaching in self-editing.
7. Memoir by a female neurodivergent author who lives in New South Wales. Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
8. Historical novel by a female neurodivergent author who lives in Tasmania. Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
9. Various projects including a novel by a neurodivergent male author who lives in Perth WA. Structural (developmental) editing, and coaching in self-editing.
10. Autobiography by a First Nations man who lives in Northern Territory. Recording and transcribing oral stories by this man, family members and friends, then writing, editing and compiling his life story. Currently in the writing stage.
11. Oral history publication – special project. Recording and transcribing  storytelling for later publication.

Other previous editing projects (unpublished manuscripts)

In her role as structural and developmental editor and/or copy editor, with the assistance of her editing team Sally-Anne has edited the below manuscripts. To our knowledge these books have not yet been published.

1. Memoir of the author’s trauma, ancestral history and identity, by a female White settler-heritage writer in Perth WA. Developmental edit completed in 2023. Author engaged in self-editing/rewriting process.
2. Literary novel  (including poems) based on the author’s childhood and coming of age, by a male writer in Geelong VIC. Developmental edit completed 2022. Author engaged in self-editing/rewriting process.
3. Murder mystery novel, by a female author who lives in NSW. Structural edit  completed in 2022; author then continued the self-editing/rewriting required. Author  engaged in self-editing/rewriting process for submission to a publisher.
4. Memoir by an autistic author who lives in Gippsland, Victoria. Coaching in writing and self-editing in 2021 and 2022. Memoir not completed due to lack of funding.
5. Memoir/local history by an  author who lives in South Australia. Develomental edit completed 2020. Author intended to continue self-editing/rewriting.
6. Historical novel based on ancestors’ activities in WWII in The Netherlands. Developmental edit completed 2009. Author intended to continue self-editing/rewriting.
7. Memoir (including poems and artworks) by a First Nations author from Katherine NT. Developmental editing, and coaching in writing/self-editing. Collaborated with author to produce manuscript: memoir, poems, artworks and instructions on how to make a didgeridoo. Manuscript edited to design-ready stage in 2005. Intended by the author for design and self-publication.

For our experience in editing articles, reports and policies, see here.

Image: Sally-Anne Watson Kane.