Books and other projects I’ve worked on, with acknowledgments from the authors.
Acknowledgments
Developmental editing, Line editing
The Rock Crusher: A Model for Flow-Based Backlog Management
Steve Adolph, Shane Hastie, and Ryland Leyton
“… master of the art of cat herding.”
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We wish to thank our professional editor, DeAnna Burghart, not only for being a pleasure to work with but also for her professional skill, her knowledge of the domains of business analysis and agility, and her patience in working with the three of us. DeAnna truly is a master of the art of cat herding.
Line editing, Indexing
Extraordinarily Badass Agile Coaching: The Journey from Beginner to Mastery and Beyond
Robert L. Galen
“A joy to work with.”
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DeAnna Burghart has edited several of my books and is a joy to work with. She is incredibly skilled, passionate, meticulous, experienced, and kind. I can’t think of another person that I’d rather co-create a book with than DeAnna. I can’t recommend her highly enough nor thank her enough for her contributions to and advice for the book. And, it was a fun journey too!
Line editing
The Value-Driven Business Analyst: Practical Techniques for Effective Business Analysis
Laura Brandenburg
“Ability to bring clarity to the content.”
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To DeAnna Burghart, my editor, for your meticulous attention to detail and ability to bring clarity to the content—your expertise is woven into every page … thank you for making it inviting and accessible.
Line editing
Forging Change: Agile Restructuring in Practice
James Carpenter
“Exceptional, insightful edits.”
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I was extremely fortunate to find my editor, DeAnna Burghart, via a reference from Robert Galen. Her previous experience editing similar books in the agile space resulted in exceptional, insightful edits, matched only by her overall professionalism.
Line editing
Teamwork 9.0: Successful Workgroup Problem Solving Using the Enneagram
Matt Schlegel
“Grace and humor.”
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I was so happy when editor DeAnna Burghart self-identified as Enneagram Type 1. My intention was to hire a 1 for the job, and I was elated that DeAnna was not only a 1 but an Enneagram-aware 1. My good luck! Not only did DeAnna perfect my prose, she did so with both grace and humor that made what would have otherwise been an arduous job a chuckle-filled delight. Thank you, DeAnna!
Line editing
Beyond Requirements: Analysis with an Agile Mindset
Kent J. McDonald
“A great job helping me sound like me.”
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DeAnna Burghart provided the first line of defense that prevented me from doing horrendous things to the English language. I have worked with DeAnna for several years as she edited my pieces for ProjectConnections.com. I knew when I started working on this book … that I wanted her editorial help. She, as always, did a great job helping me sound like me.
Line editing
Scrum Product Ownership: Navigating the Forest AND the Trees, 3rd ed.
Robert Galen
“Fun to work with.”
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I want to thank my editor, DeAnna Burghart, for cleaning up the meanderings, mistakes, and fuzzy logic of my writing. This is the first edition where I’ve engaged a proper editor. While I know the value of that profession, I was remiss in taking the time in my earlier work. This edition is so much better for DeAnna’s wonderful editorial hand. And besides that, she was fun to work with.
Developmental editing, Manuscript Prep
Organizational Survival: Profitable Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Gregory Balestrero and Nathalie Udo
“Spectacular.”
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It was very important to us to make the book helpful to readers, which meant harmonizing our different writing styles into one clear voice. The conductor for this effort was DeAnna Burghart. For more than eight months, she guided, cajoled, pushed, and scolded us through this process on a daily basis. She was rigorous about deadlines, consistency, grammar, and readability. Her persona changed to match the situation; she was mother, coach, disciplinarian, wordsmith, therapist, and editor. Her commitment to the entire project was only surpassed by her sense of humor and her love of science fiction. She was nothing short of spectacular and constantly exceeded our expectations. We all bonded as a team from the first day and remain close friends.
Line editing
Scrappy Women in Business: Living Proof That Bending the Rules Isn’t Breaking the Law
Kimberly Wiefling, ed.
“Makes criticism fun!”
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DeAnna edited my first book, and has been editing a column I write for ProjectConnections.com for many years. She’s a comic genius, and even makes criticism fun!
Other projects
- Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces, by Kimberly Wiefling (Line editing)
- Acknowledgment: “The first person ever to make it fun to have my mistakes pointed out to me!”
- Executive Turned Consultant: Transitioning from Experienced Executive to Trusted Advisor in Healthcare, by Scott A. Mason (Line editing)
- Acknowledgment: “I am particularly indebted to DeAnna Burghart for her professional editing support.”
- Leading with Your Upper Brain: How to Create the Behaviors That Unlock Performance Excellence, by Michael E. Frisina, PhD, and Robert W. Frisina (Line editing)
- Feelin’ Alright: How the Message in the Music Can Make Healthcare Healthier, by Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, with Ken Terry (Line editing)
- Organizational Behavior and Theory in Healthcare: Leadership Perspectives and Management Applications, 2nd ed., by Stephen L. Walston and Kenneth L. Johnson (Line editing)
- It’s About Your Career: Skills for a Lifetime of Loving Your Work, by Ryland Leyton (Line editing)
- Meals and Memoirs II: Recipes and Recollections of African Americans in Tucson, Arizona, 2nd ed., Tani Sanchez, PhD, ed. (Copyediting and indexing)
- Organizational Agility Unleashed: Getting Work Done in an Increasingly Complex Digital World, by Jim Grundner, Kimberly Andrikaitis, and Bob Galen (Line editing)
- KultureGames products (Copyediting, fact-checking, and proofreading)
- Didn’t Come from Nothing: An African American Story of Life, 2nd ed., by Tani Sanchez, PhD (Line editing)
- Soulmates & Strangers: A Friendship That Lasted a Lifetime, by Judith Umlas (Copyediting)
- You’re Totally Awesome! The Power of Acknowledgment for Kids, by Judy Umlas (Proofreading)
- The Captured, the Sick, and the Dead: Confederate Soldiers at Camp Randall, by Laurence Donald Desotell (Developmental editing)
- Keeping Score: A 9-Step Approach to Managing Any Project, by Frank Ryle, PMP (Line editing)
- Research, writing, and editing projects for several other clients, including university-affiliated centers, corporate clients, consulting firms, and family offices
What clients say
“A laser sharp eye and keeps the full picture in mind.”
Nathalie Udo
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DeAnna is an amazing editor, writer, and critic, whom I highly recommend to anybody who wants pure quality. She has a laser sharp eye and keeps the full picture in mind, something that I as a writer sometimes lose by getting stuck in the details of the words. She is a delight to work with, providing sharp and direct feedback in a fun way that makes you laugh out loud. She is a pure artist with words! She is my go-to person for any writing advice and she should be yours!
“The only person I’ve ever met who could critique me while making me laugh.”
Kimberly Wiefling
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DeAnna has been my trusted editor, writing advisor and friend for nearly a decade. In addition to her keen understanding of the art of the written word, she’s the only person I’ve ever met who could critique me while simultaneously making me laugh. Her wise counsel and excellent judgment have been a guiding light for my writing career since before my first book was published in 2007. When my instincts are right on but I’m hesitant, DeAnna gives me the courage to “go for it.” And when I’m off base, she brings me to my senses with the perfect combination of strength and compassion. Thank you, DeAnna, for your partnership over these many years!
“A remarkable author and editor.”
Gregory Balestrero
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DeAnna is a remarkable author and editor. She transformed what would have been an ungainly manuscript from multiple authors into a smooth book (Organizational Survival) with one voice … and added such value that I have always considered her the “fourth author” of the book. Her insights in reaching the reader were invaluable and her ability to weigh the value of every aspect of the book was remarkable. More than anything, was her creative view and perspective to help us think out of the box. She was, in short, brilliant.
“Head and shoulders above the rest.”
Carl Pritchard
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As an author and training materials developer (and trainer, and lecturer), I get to deal with a LOT of editors and content folks. DeAnna stands head and shoulders above the rest. She has the gift of both being a superb editor (copy and content), as well as being able to manage the prima-donna-sometimes author who frankly NEEDS a solid edit. She has always left me feeling good about my work and extraordinarily grateful for her deft hand at improving it. She’s timely in her responses, cheerful about her role(s) in the organization, and blessed in her ability to truly “manage” others. I’m honored to work with her.
“She’s the best!”
Geof Lory
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DeAnna brings to her editing not just form and style but also my voice. For 15 years she has made my marginal writing worthy of praise I didn’t deserve. It has been my pleasure to have her thoughtful eye and mind tighten up and button down my writing without ever losing my personal style. She’s the best!
Editor’s note: Geof’s modesty does him no favors here; he is a far better writer than he gives himself credit for, and his work is worth your time.
Have a project in mind?
I take a limited number of freelance projects each quarter. A free sample edit confirms the fit and gives you a reliable estimate.