Michael S. Spence

Professional Profile

Communicator

with superior written and oral communication skills; able to express technical information in accessible language and illustrate ideas in a clear and inventive manner

New media professional

experienced with e-book production/conversion, audiobooks, social media, podcasting, and web content management

Editor, copyeditor, and proofreader

with outstanding language and grammar skills; experienced liaison and collaborator with inside and outside contributors

Creative and Technical Writer

with diverse background including grants, articles, fiction

Professional Experience

Consulting Writer/Editor/Voice Talent, dba MARS Creative Projects, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (1991–present)

Currently editing scans of books for the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust’s Backlist Project

Currently proofreading XBRL data for Merrill Corporation

Created social media presence for Fast Cab and Fast Courier, Warsaw, Indiana

Edited books for Abingdon Press and Thomas Nelson Publishers; provided copy-editing services for Oliver-Nelson Books imprint

Proofread books for the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust

Narrated The Sword of Aldones and The Brass Dragon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and House of Zeor, by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, as audiobooks for Audible.com

Contributed 18 articles to a Bible dictionary published by the Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grant Writer, Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana (2004–7)

Increased funding by producing major grant and gift proposals to corporations and foundations

Contributed editorial and proofreading expertise to Institutional Advancement projects, including annual reports

Secured renewal of Grace’s contract with the Indiana Department of Corrections, providing Grace’s degree programs in the State prison system

Designed and maintained the website for Grace College and Seminary’s Office of Institutional Advancement

Director of Corporate and Foundation Communications, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN (1986–91)

Won recognition for Meharry’s “I Have a Future” teen-pregnancy-prevention program as one of President George H.W. Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light”

Strengthened Meharry’s public presence in Middle Tennessee by editing speeches and newspaper articles for the college president

Increased funding by producing major grant and gift proposals to corporations and foundations

Helped increase credibility of grantseekers by stressing to them the importance of reporting to donors on progress of grant-funded research

Created articles for College publications along with letters for direct-mail solicitation

Bible Editor and Project Coordinator, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN (1982–85)

Boosted a major product line by creating milestone editions of New King James Version

Increased credibility and reliability of NKJV by working with translators and keeping records of text, questions, and corrections

Secured materials from outside contributors to be included in study Bibles; collaborated with those contributors on language, theology, and biblical accuracy

Education

Ph.D., Theological Studies — Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX

M.Div. / Th.M., Theology and Apologetics — Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN

A.B., English — Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Contacting

Please feel free to contact me via LinkedIn.