I love words. I love how they can take you to magical places or provide you with the answers to perplexing problems. What I don’t like is when I have a pressing question, open what seems to be an appropriate book and can’t find the information I need. That actually happened recently. For an index I am working on for a local historical society I was trying to find out the origins of the name of a community. Off of one of their shelves I pulled down a two volume set about Southern California ranchos. Great I thought. There should be something here within all these lovely pages full of photos, drawings, and lots of information. I glanced at the Table of Contents—nothing there. So I flipped to the end of the book. Nothing. Are you kidding. I grabbed up the second volume and went straight to the end of the book. Nothing. Really? There was no index. I put the books back up on the shelf with a sigh. For now they were worthless to me.
This saddened me. Here was a lot of good information which was only marginally accessible. This was not the only such example I have seen. I have a cookbook with a terrible index which I plan to rewrite some day. In my spare time I like to dabble in various art media. I also own a book on Chinese brush painting which has an index but all the page references are incorrect and, thus, useless.
We live in an age of information. Which is great—if we can find what we want. Search engines are amazing but too often give us more “hits” then a person can possible review. As a mechanism by which to logically organize information so that a reader may access it, indexing is becoming even more vital to today’s information industry. This holds true regardless of the delivery method whether it be a pBook, eBook, periodical, website, etc. As an author, packager, or publisher you need to be able to stand out in the very crowded world of words. Making your words accessible through a good index is a vital step in this process.
Like every indexer I have had people give me a blank stare when given the answer to their question of “What do you do for a job?” Most people don’t know that there are actually real individuals that write those indexes at the back of the books they have been using since they were young. I admit that I was one of those people as well until a few years ago. My daughter who has a creative writing degree was taken by a family friend to a SDPEN (www.SDPEN.com) meeting where the guest speakers were two indexers from the local ASI (www.ASIndexing.org) chapter to talk about their craft. That evening when she told me about the meeting was the first time I had heard of indexing as a profession. “Interesting” I responded then quickly forgot about it. I was still happily being a substitute teacher for the middle and high schools in the local school district. Then after a dozen years of doing this the recession hit, the teachers got pink slipped, and the substitute job openings plummeted. It was time to think of other career options.
My daughter reminded me of indexing as such an option. Pointing out that I am a detail oriented and organized person (a polite way of saying picky) she suggested that I might revisit that idea. Which I did. After taking Sylvia Coates’ UC Berkeley indexing course (Lucie Haskins was my instructor) I set up shop. I have my business computer, website, filing cabinet, and red pens. I’m ready. For you.
When you are ready I am ready to help you with your words. Your important words which deserve to be read.
Even if you are not ready for an index right now but just have an indexing question please feel free to call me at the number below. Sure, I would like an indexing job but I am also interested in promoting the art of indexing itself.
Indexing Education
University of California Berkeley indexing course
Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science periodical/database indexing course
Membership in the Southern California chapter of the American Society for Indexing (ASI)
Subscription to Key Words (ASI) and Indexing (SI)
College Education
University of California Los Angeles: B.A. in Biology
California State University Northridge: Single Subject Teaching Credential in Biology
Affiliations
American Society for Indexing (ASI) (www.ASIndexing.org)
Volunteerism
ASI southern California chapter--president 2013-2016
Indexing for the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society 2013-2014 http://rbhistoricalsociety.org/
List of Works
Dec 2015. A Newbie Gets Noticed. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Jun 2015. The Newbie and the Newspaper. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Aug 2014. More Notes From a Newbie. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
May 2014. What Is Indexing? Publishers & Writers Monthly. Publishers & Writers San Diego.
Jan 2014. Newbie Reflections. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Apr 2013. A Newbie Gets Organized. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Jan 2013. Notes From a Newbie. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Dec 2012. Indexing. The Writer’s Life. San Diego Writers/Editors Guild.
Jul-Sep 2012. Indexing Standards. Key Words. American Society for Indexing.
Workshops
2020. Indexing Basics. San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN)
2018. Indexing Basics. Publishers Writers San Diego (PWSD)
2014. Indexing Basics. San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN)
Books Indexed
Vivien Thomas
Jan Pottker, 2024
Biography of often overlooked contributor to the medical community.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2autv3bt
Next Generation Customer Experience
Jeofrey Bean, 2024
How companies can use customer experiences for the next generation of shoppers.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3ujk4nd4
Martin Luther's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ian Osborn, 2023
A new perspective on how Luther used OCD to futher his faith.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/jpz242b6
Immigrant Health
Joachim & Dolorus Reimann, 2023
A guide for health professionals to help immigrant communities.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/26hswym5
Walled Culture
Glyn Moody, 2022
A detailed history of ebooks and copyright laws.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3hrc7h84
Immigrant Psychology
Joachim & Dolorus Reimann, 2022
A guide for health professionals to help immigrant communities.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4rxcy4ps
Ancient Yoga
Leila Worby, 2022
A guide to a journey practicing yoga.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2ee3dmxa
Baby Ecology
Anya Dunham, 2022
An in-depth guide to help new parents during the first year with their new arrival.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4um8dkba
Luckiest Boy in the World
Patrick & Dennis McBride, 2021
Personal memoir of Patrick McBride about family, professional sports teams, and career.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4tvpr4aa
Immigrant Concepts
Joachim & Dolores Reimann, 2021
A guide for new immigrants.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/46jum2f2
Andamarcan Textiles
Joseph Fabish & Alan Colville
An in-depth analysis of the traditional Andamarcan textiles of Peru.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/kvch44fu
Relentless
Jerold L. Zimmerman, 2020
An analysis of mobster business practices and how they can be applied to your business.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4f5mbjx9
Fed Watching for Fun & Profit: A Primer for Investors
Edward Yardeni, 2020
An in-depth analysis of how the Federal Reserve Bank works and those who have served as its chair.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y8wl3tjg
Anonymous Is a Woman
Nina Ansary, 2019
Throughout history these women from around the world have contributed to the arts and sciences or led their people into battle. Who are they?
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yabq6dka
The Selection Effect
Herb Mertz, 2019
A personal journey to discover if the mind could control a random-event generator (REG) to produce a desired result.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ycbxdo5v
The Liberating Birth of Jesus
Lee Van Ham, 2019
A new perspective on the birth of Jesus to help guide the modern world.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yx6hw
6 Healing Questions
Madonna Treadway, 2019
Guide to healing from childhood trauma based on the author's personal journey.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/tengj
Tulum: Modern Turkish Cuisine
Coskun Uysal, 2019
Modern take on tradtional Turkish cuisine from an Australian restaurant.
Find it on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y55p42az
Guide to California Planning, 4th Ed.
William Fulton & Paul Shigley. 2018
Detailed discussion on how government and citizen groups intereact to direct CA land use.
Find it at Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y7wkjhos
California Land Use & Planning Law, 36th Ed.
Cecily Talbert Barclay & Matthew S. Gray. 2018
Definitive analysis of California's land use laws.
Find it at Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y8ds34sv
Simply Indian
Nita Desai. 2017
Explains how to cook Indian food and offers the best in everyday recipes for a family.
Find it at Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yd2b5a9y
Africa in Black Liberation Activism: Malcome X, Stokely Carmichael, and Walter Rodney
Tunde Adeleke. 2016
An in-depth comparative analysis of three of the most well-known black activists.
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/zqyc9cp
Quest For Water: Tulare Irrigation District--Its History, People And Progression
Richard Zack. 2016
The definitive guide to TID and an interesting look at the history of water in California.
Find at the Tulare Irrigation District: http://tulareid.org
Register Your Book: The Essential Guide to ISBNs, Barcodes, Copyright, and LCCNs
David Wogahn. 2016
An essential guide for anyone who is serious about self-publishing.
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/z6x4gb6
Tastes Of The Camino: 30 Authentic Recipes Along The French Way
Yosmar Monique Martinez. 2016
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/gtwgnsr
A delightful culinary journey with delicious recipes
Tom Waits for No One: The Illustrated Scrapbook
John Lamb. 2015
A fun and colorful scrapbook of the first rotoscoped music video (1979) of singer Tom Waits.
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/o5pa87q
Jewels of Allah
Nina Ansary. Revela Press. 2015
A history of the feminist movement in Iran since the time of Genghis Khan.
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pgqk6qa
A history of the feminist movement in Iran since the time of Genghis Khan.
Master of the Mission Inn
Maurice Hodgen. Ashburton Publishing. 2014
Find it at Amazon: www.tinyurl.com/n45jpsk
A biography of Frank Augustus Miller, the driving force behind the development of Riverside CA, especially his beloved Mission Inn.
Blinded By Progress
Lee Van Ham. One Earth Publishing. 2013
A study on how current business and social pactices have had profound negative impacts upon our planet and well-being.
Find it at Amazon: www.tinyurl.com/mf9t3a4
Outlasting The Nazis And Communists--My Life in Vienna and Prague
Paul Vantoch. Pumish Publishing. 2013
A personal memoir of author's experiences as a mischlinge in Vienna and Prague during WWII and the subsequent socialist regime followed by his escape to America.
Find it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/p9ejply
You may also find me on Linked-In.