I’ve been in love with words and writing for as long as I can remember—in fact, my very first job had me alphabetizing the horror section of a used bookstore at the age of fourteen. My income? I was paid in books. Back then, my favorite authors were Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Orson Scott Card, and Clive Barker. But my interests are much more varied now that over thirty years has passed.

As a reader, I’m obsessed with authors who are experts at their craft. I’m very interested in thriller authors like Freida McFadden, Kiersten Modglin, and Mary Kubica, who could teach master classes about point of view and writing a book readers wants to read in one sitting. I also love less popular genres—like transgressive fiction and cyberpunk—because of what makes them unique.

My lifelong love of great fiction is absolutely why I do what I do. I love dipping into other authors’ minds to explore their unique story worlds and points of view. It is my firmly held belief that we all have a story in us—and anybody can learn how to become a great writer.

But I didn’t come to this profession straight out of high school or college. Life happened along the way, and after stepping away from a drug problem and a toxic direction in my life, I had to remind myself who I had always wanted to become.

That happened ten years ago, and ever since then, my life has been focused on editing, writing, and the publishing industry. Over the years, I’ve worked as a developmental editor, a line editor, a copy editor, a proofreader, a copywriter, a content writer, an acquisitions editor, and a managing editor. I decided to revisit my beginnings as a developmental editor because it’s what I love to do—help authors discover who they are as publishers while they learn how to build their dream story.

Hi, my name is Tina Morlock. I am a mother of two, an avid thriller reader, a poet, an animal lover, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in Oklahoma City with my youngest son, two rescue cats, and a Great Dane named Charlie.

In my spare time, I do a lot of cleaning—I MEAN, a lot! (Adulting isn’t always fun!) I also love to read, spend time with my family, and work on writing my own thrillers. My current obsession right now is reading Freida McFadden’s entire library of thrillers, but if you’re a fan of hers, you know that’s incredibly challenging, since she always seems to be publishing a new book.

When you’re ready to collaborate with a creative writer and editor who would absolutely love to help you with your dream of becoming a fiction author, shoot me an email at tinamorlock@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!

—Tina Morlock