Over the next few weeks, we are going to be featuring some of the people who have completed the Professional Author and Speaker Training and Certification Programs.
This week we’re shining the InstructionSmith spotlight on Colleen Wietmarschen.
Colleen was the first recipient of the Jan B. King Memorial Scholarship in 2015. The 2017 Scholarship is currently open for application. We have provided more information about the scholarship award program below.
Colleen is married to Steve, her husband of 33 years and has one son, Peter. Peter is the light of her life and now a partner in her business. She enjoys walking and doing Hydrofit water aerobics. In May she walked her second half marathon and completed a sprint triathlon when she turned 50.
Before starting her own business, 21 years ago, Colleen worked for attorneys where attention to detail was a necessity. She lists editing and proofreading among her passions, which came in handy when she owned a medical transcription company.
After being awarded the Jan B. King Memorial Scholarship, Colleen completed the Professional Author Assistant Course in October 2015.
She likes to write and has done Virtual Assistant work for her clients such as writing email sequences, brochures and press releases for many of the 20+ years she has been in business.
Having belonged to a writer’s group she kept hearing from writers who had books written but didn’t know the publishing process. Taking the Professional Author Assistant Course and learning the publishing process provided the knowledge and skills she needed to help them move forward after they completed their book and help them publish their book.
The first author Colleen has worked with from beginning to end is launching her book on July 7, 2017. Colleen says, “We are thrilled for her and happy to have the privilege to be on the journey with her.“
When asked for advice she’d offer someone considering becoming a Professional Author or Speaker Assistant she replied “If you really want to help writers/authors/speakers then becoming a PAA/PSA is the way to go. You have the confidence and knowledge and are a true professional to help writers/authors/speakers.
So many people don’t know what to do and there are so many offers out there to publish your book in a weekend or 30 days, and people who don’t understand the process can learn the hard way and spend a lot of time and money and ruin their reputation. I’ve had people tell me they wish they had known someone like me when they wrote their first book.“
In addition to the PAA courses Colleen has also taken Tina Forsyth’s Online Project Management course, completed the PR Success course by Diana Ennen, the 6 Steps to 6 Figure Success System by Donna Toothaker, a LinkedIn Profile course, and Kathleen Gage’s Marketing class.
Colleen has also taken courses to be a Professional Speaker and is currently working on her 60-minute speech.
Colleen’s Business and Contact Information:
Business Name: Your Literary Prose
Website: www.mcolleenwietmarschen.com (new site under construction – will be www.YourLiteraryProse.com)
Social Media Contact Information:
www.Facebook.com/mcolleenwietmarschenllc
www.Twitter.com/MCW_LiteraryPro
www.Instagram.com/mcw_literaryprose
www.LinkedIn.com/in/mcolleenwietmarschen
The Jan B. King IVAA Memorial Scholarship for Author’s Assistants
This scholarship is in memory of the late Jan B. King, founder of the Professional Author’s Assistant Training Programs.
Jan was a long time supporter of IVAA and a leader in the industry having created her training program for Author’s Assistants in 2007. She helped many Virtual Assistants create a specialty and niche, which led to success for many Virtual Assistants all over the world. Jan passed away in 2015 after a fight with cancer.
IVAA is honored to partner with Janica Smith and Michelle Scappace Mack, former students of Jan’s and the new owners of the Professional Author’s Assistant Training Program to offer The Jan B. King IVAA Memorial Scholarship for Author’s Assistants.
This Annual Scholarship will be awarded at the Live Summit along with IVAA’s other annual awards.
The scholarship includes the following:
1. Free registration to the Author Assistant training value $799.
2. Free 1 year membership to IVAA valued at $137 (or 1 yr. extension if current member)
3. Free registration to IVAA’s Online Summit – value $ 97.
Applications are being accepted until August 1, 2017 and is also open to Non IVAA members.
Click here for the online application.