Jean Gazis

About

I was born loving words. One of the best gifts I've ever received (and still own) was Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words, and when my kids were small I used to tell them I knew more than one meaning for every word, and more than one word for every meaning. (Only partly joking—try me!) Not surprisingly, working with words one way or another has been the through-line of my career, which includes writing, editing, nonprofit communications, and B2B marketing. I enjoy talking about books almost as much as reading them; I review traditionally and independently published titles in a wide range of genres, especially mystery and memoir, and helped judge the Independent Publishers of New England book awards for 2022, 2023, and 2024. My personal writing spans essay, fiction, and poetry. As a writer, editor, and communications specialist, I work with people and organizations who need engaging, informative content to ensure their key messages reach their target audiences effectively for all kinds of communications. (TLDR—I help get the right messages to the right people at the right time.) I have a knack for creating clear and compelling content from specialized professional and technical information, and experience with subject matter ranging from executive thought leadership to experimental fiction. My colleagues and clients say I'm an outstanding writer and articulate communicator who is easy to work with and exceptionally calm in crunch situations. I'm the Discussion List Committee Chair and Community Manager for the Editorial Freelancers Association, and also chair its External Relations board committee. I'm a member of Women's Media Group, National Book Critics Circle, Freelancers Union, Brooklyn Bird Club, the NY-NJ Trail Conference, and Park Slope Parents. For fun, I volunteer at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Prospect Park Zoo.