Megan Elizabeth Hoyt

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the writing world. Whether you need marketing materials, advertising/direct mail copy, or lightning fast proofreading and copyediting, you've come to the right place. I've been a freelance writer off and on for the past 14 years, primarily for large nonprofits. My most recent clients are Entro Magazine, The Inspiration Networks, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and The Christian Broadcasting Network. I can provide references for you from any of these companies. You can also check my credentials at http://creativepowerhouse.vpweb.com. For further information, contact me at 704-919-1352 or megan@creativepowerhouse.com. My fees are available by clicking on "rate sheet" in the navigation bar to your right.

I have a Master's degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Graphic Design and Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in both English and History. My two main areas of study were Renaissance history and nineteenth century children's literature. My areas of expertise are writing promotional materials and magazine articles for museums, symphony associations, and Christian nonprofit organizations.

On another level, after five years of coddling and cuddling, my children's picture book manuscripts are finally ready to leave the nest. Destined for the slush piles of every major publishing house in the civilized world, one by one I send them off on a wing and a prayer, hoping they'll withstand wind and hail, discouraged and overworked editors, and a myriad of other mishaps which may or may not occur along the way.

Here's a brief outline of what I've written, crumpled up, slashed through, torn apart, rewritten, deleted, and finally birthed anew over the past five years...

Texas Turandot

This is a classic retelling of the Puccini opera with a Texas twist. Turandot, a Chinese princess, has a cold, hard heart that needs to be transformed by the love of a handsome prince. But Turandot wants nothing more than to go and live in Texas. This makes for an interesting contest of wills. Poor Turandot. She never stood a chance!

Celeste in Sad Shape

Celeste is a young Christian girl who always tries do do what's right. But she has one flaw. She loves to follow her sister everywhere she goes. Finally, her sister gets fed up and so do her sister's friends. That's when little Celeste learns she's in sad shape. This story teaches children that words can hurt or heal.

Sunflowers for Kobe

This picture book is a photodiary of two young boys, survivors of the Hanshin earthquake, who traveled across Japan by bicycle, sharing sunflower seeds with schoolchildren who were also victims of natural disasters. Their story is one of courage and hope and I'd like to share it with the world. Their mother has released the photos to me and I'd love to get this book published.

Little Lady Bakeman

A few years ago, we met a charming pastry chef at a quaint seaside coffee house in Virginia. She bakes entirely by smell, without tasting so much as a morsel of the rich desserts she prepares. (Great for the waistline!) We took our four children to the shop after it closed to help her bake the next day's chocolate mousse, after which they interviewed her for OUR picture book. (The children claim part authorship of this one!) It turns out this unassuming chef grew up in 1980s war-torn Chile just down the street from a candy factory. She learned to bake sitting beside her grandmother's cook in their home beside the sea.

A Fool Named John Goose

This story basically wrote itself one day as I was researching court jesters for a lesson I was preparing to teach. I chose to focus on how Henry VIII grew to realize his brother Arthur would soon die, leaving Henry, untrained in such matters, to become king. Arthur's death is not a major part of the story, and since we hear the tale from the point of view of Henry's jester, it's whimsical instead of somber.

I have a few more stories in the works, but they aren't yet ready to submit. It's time to roll up my sleeves and get back to work, so I'll be signing off now!