Patricia Mansfield-Devine

Freelance writer, journalist and blogger

I have worked in publishing since 1985 as an editor, reporter, news editor, features editor, assistant editor and production editor on various titles. I now concentrate on feature writing, web editing and blogging.

My first book, Living in France, was commissioned by Harriman House and published in March 2008.

My second book, Make Do & Cook, was published by WebVivant Press in 2010.

I run the popular SecondCherry website, aimed at women over 40. And I'm developing the FreeShift blog, focusing on downshifting and non-consumer lifestyles. 

Feature writing

I am an experienced freelance feature writer covering a broad range of subjects, though my specialist areas include home-interest sectors such as interiors, gardening and cookery, along with property, lifestyle, travel and health. I have a particular focus on writing about France for a UK readership, covering in-depth articles on property purchase, case studies, legal & tax issues, news, currency issues and book reviews.

I produce regular features for Connexion, the English-language newspaper in France, and its sister publication, The Normandy Advertiser, for which I also write a monthly gardening column.

I have written extensively for consumer press titles such as France magazine, Everything France, Period House and Period Living.

Thanks to my background in trade publishing, I am able to write for both a general consumer readership or a more specialist readership.

Web Editing

I was the editor of the popular website FrenchEntrée for two years (Oct 2004-Sept 2006). I commissioned, wrote and edited articles on an extremely wide range of subject areas.

I also edited FirstRungNow.com, a site aimed at first-time property buyers in the UK, have edited copy on BT's website and was part of the launch team for the Marie Stopes International website.

I am familiar with content management systems and use my training as a production editor to ensure high levels of accuracy, readability and consistency.

Copywriting

This is a new string to my bow which I hope to develop in the coming year. My background in journalism makes me ideally suited to producing credible, informative copy that will be read and valued by its target readership.

 

 

Steve Mansfield-Devine

Freelance writer, journalist & photographer

Editor: Biometric Technology Today

I have worked as a journalist and photographer for my entire career, starting in 1981. Freelance since 1988, I use the skills I've developed to create high quality copy and images for both general and specialised markets. With an insatiable curiosity, I'm always happy to tackle new subjects and new challenges.

Journalism

Much of my current journalism centres around technology and security. I edit the Elsevier journal Biometric Technology Today and write regularly for Network Security and Computer Fraud & Security.

As a writer, I've contributed features on subjects ranging from gambling in Las Vegas to life in the Marine Corps, from teleworking to fly-by-wire. My work has appeared in The Times, the Independent, Business Traveller, FHM, International Management, Pilot and a long list of IT publications.

Since starting in journalism, I have written news, features, reviews, interviews and have worked as an editor, features editor, reporter, news editor and sub. All told, I have worked on or contributed to over 90 publications — everything from national dailies, to weeklies for the IT industry, consumer magazines and in-house publications. I have also worked on several magazine launches.

Corporate Publishing & Copywriting

Since 1990, I have applied my writing, subbing and editorial management skills to corporate publications. This has included fulfilling the role of managing editor (on a freelance basis) for Spy Design & Publishing, a London-based graphic design and publishing agency.

I have worked on projects ranging from eight-page newsletters through to a 64-page, pan-European magazine published in three languages. I handle all editorial processes on these projects, including editorial strategy, commissioning, maintaining networks of contributors, writing, subbing and page production.

I can also provide first-class copywriting services for case studies, marketing literature, white papers, mailshots and other deliverables. I have particular skills in addressing the strategic business issues around IT and technology and in tackling complex technical subjects in a clear and concise way.

I have recently worked on the launch of websites for Atos Healthcare and a&o systems + services (formerly EDS Global Field Services), providing copywriting, copy editing and editorial management services.

Past clients have included several divisions of IBM, including vertical-market businesses, Adobe, Lockheed Martin UK, Computacenter, the DTI, General Dynamics UK, EDS, TietoEnator, Atos Origin, a&o, Cognos, Informix, SAS Institute, Business Links and others.

Photography

I graduated with a degree in fine-art photography, before moving into journalism (originally on photography magazines). I've produced commissioned photography for both features and books. I cover all kinds of editorial photography with strong portfolios in lifestyle, travel, landscape, interiors, and aviation (I am a private pilot). I often provide the photography to illustrate my features and those written by Trish. My stock photographs are carried by the Alamy agency and are also available directly from me.

I am the author/photographer of three aviation photo books.

For more information, see my online portfolio. I've also started a personal project, The Human Landscape, focusing on the traces left by mankind.