Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Wendee Mullikin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Wendee, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic, deeply rooted in my upbringing, has been the driving force throughout my life. From an early age, I witnessed the value of hard work through my parents’ examples. My mother worked in my grandparents’ business—building cheese boxes and bushel baskets, while my father, by age fourteen, was a bricklayer’s assistant.
When I was eight, my parents started a construction company. My “help” organizing scrap materials quickly evolved into real responsibilities. By my preteen years, I was safely using a couple power tools and earning money through various chores. This early exposure to the family business instilled in me the importance of contributing and taking pride in my work.
At fourteen, I landed my first job: preparing items for tole painting. This experience taught me patience, attention to detail, and the satisfaction of a job well done. Throughout high school, I balanced this work with my studies, continuing to support the family business, and developing crucial time management skills that would serve me well in the future.
I also remember learning the value of a dollar when I was in high school: You work for what you get. My parents had agreed to pay for my half of the tuition to attend a prestigious music camp for two weeks during the summer of my sophomore year. I wanted to go hang out at the roller rink with my friends before I left, but that would’ve left me twenty dollars short on my fee. It was tough to hear at the time, but my dad said, “I guess you need to decide whether you’re going to camp, then.” I stayed home and mowed the lawn to earn more money, so I’d be able to go out once I got home.
College brought new challenges that further honed my work ethic. Despite a full-ride music scholarship, I needed to cover gas and books, as I lived at home. I worked as a bartender four nights a week while pursuing my degree. This juggling act between academics and work strengthened my resolve and taught me the value of perseverance.
My career as a parochial school music teacher demanded more than just classroom hours. I organized concerts, managed liturgical music, and balanced the needs of middle and high school students. Simultaneously, I was raising three children. This period taught me the importance of efficiency and prioritization—skills that became cornerstones of my work ethic.
When the school system went another direction for their music and art classes, I pursued a master’s degree in special education while teaching full-time in a charter school. This was a particularly challenging time, especially as I navigated a divorce. Yet, I persevered, often working late into the night to complete grading, documentation, lesson planning, and other tasks after my children were asleep. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of hard work and determination.
My passion for reading led me to review books and eventually edit romance novels under the pen name Deelylah Mullin. I balanced this new passion project with my teaching career and parenting, often sacrificing sleep to pursue my dream. This willingness to put in extra hours to achieve my goals became a hallmark of my work ethic.
From 2012 to 2016, I worked my way up in small publishing houses, eventually becoming an acquiring senior editor. When these presses closed, I transitioned to freelance editing. During this time, I also wrote two novels and several novellas, with one achieving bestseller status. This period demonstrated my ability to adapt to new challenges and my commitment to continuous improvement.
For 27 years, I juggled parenting, teaching, and editing. During the last eleven years I spent my day job hours as a special education teacher in a challenging environment, teaching me the importance of resilience and maintaining a strong work ethic even in difficult circumstances.
In 2018, I took on a role as an editor for a nonprofit literacy organization, working from home. I worked remotely before all the cool kids did it. However, the stress of being undervalued and overworked began to affect my health. This experience taught me an important lesson about my work ethic: While hard work is crucial, it’s equally important to recognize one’s worth and set healthy boundaries.
With my spouse’s support, I made the difficult decision to resign from my full-time role and focus on freelance work. This decision allowed me to apply my strong work ethic in a way that better suited my health and personal needs. My father’s advice to “under promise and over deliver” became my guiding principle in freelance work, ensuring I consistently exceeded client expectations.
Today, as a freelance editor, I continue to embody the work ethic instilled in me from childhood. I often work additional hours to meet deadlines, demonstrating my commitment to delivering high-quality work on time. My journey has taught me that a strong work ethic isn’t just about working hard—it’s about working smart, valuing oneself, and finding a balance that allows for sustainable, long-term success.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Picture this: I’m sipping my first cup of coffee while listening to some of my favorite jams, getting ready to step into a world of passion, intrigue, and happily-ever-afters. No, I’m not dreaming—I’m living my best life as a romance author and editor.
Every day, I embark on a literary journey that’s as thrilling as any romance novel. For the first three hours, I’m the architect of my own love stories—weaving tales that make hearts flutter and pulses race. Then, like a literary fairy godmother, I spend the rest of my day sprinkling glittery magic on other authors’ manuscripts, helping to transform their romantic visions into reality.
But here’s the real love story: I’m head over heels for my job. As an editor specializing in new and neurodiverse authors, I have the privilege of nurturing fresh voices in the romance genre. It’s like being a midwife to countless love stories, each one unique and beautiful in its own way. And just like any great romance, the relationships I build with authors are long-lasting. I’ve been working with four incredible writers for nearly a decade, watching them grow and bloom like the most exquisite of slow-burn romances.
My editing services are a bit like a romantic trilogy. First comes developmental editing, where we shape the overall story arc—think of it as the “getting to know you” part of the editing world. Next is line/copy editing, where we polish every sentence until it shines brighter than a diamond ring. Finally, proofreading ensures the manuscript is as flawless as a fairy-tale wedding. To keep my brain from getting overwhelmed by all this literary love, I use different colored backgrounds for each service—a rainbow of romance, if you will.
But wait, there’s more! In January, I’m launching an exciting new venture: the Purple Pen Powerhouse. This intimate group coaching experience is designed for self-publishing romance authors who are ready to take their passion to the next level. Limited to just ten members, we’ll journey through every phase of writing a romance novel, from the first flutter of an idea to the triumphant moment of publication. We’ll even bring in a marketing expert to help authors build their brand while they write – because in the world of romance, it’s never too early to start planning for success.
So, whether you’re a budding author looking to pen your first love story, or a reader eager to peek behind the curtain of romance writing, remember this: in the world of words, love truly does conquer all. And I’m here, pen in hand, ready to help make those literary love connections happen.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the most impactful qualities in my journey has been empathy and emotional intelligence. As a special education teacher, I learned to connect with students on a deep level, understanding their unique challenges and perspectives. This skill translated beautifully into my work as a romance author, allowing me to create authentic, relatable characters and portray complex emotions in my writing. As an editor, these aspects of my personality have served me well when giving feedback to authors. For those early in their journey, I’d advise actively practicing empathy in your daily interactions. Try to understand the emotions behind people’s actions and words. This skill will serve you well in any field, but especially in creative and people-oriented professions.
The ability to adapt and be versatile has been crucial in my career transitions from teaching to writing and editing. Each role required me to apply my skills in new ways and learn quickly. This adaptability allowed me to see connections between seemingly disparate fields and use my teaching experience to inform my writing, and vice versa. My advice for newcomers would be to remain open to new opportunities and challenges, even if they seem outside your current path. Embrace learning and be willing to apply your skills in novel ways. This flexibility can lead to unexpected and rewarding career developments.
Attention to detail has been a cornerstone skill throughout my career. As an English teacher, it was essential for grading and providing constructive feedback. As an author and editor, it’s crucial for crafting polished, professional work. This skill helps maintain consistency in storytelling, catches errors that might otherwise slip through, and elevates the overall quality of writing. For those starting out, I’d recommend developing this skill through practice. Whether you’re writing, editing, or working on any project, take the time to review your work carefully. Look for small inconsistencies, typos, or areas for improvement. Over time, this habit will become second nature and will significantly enhance the quality of your work in any field.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I launched my editing business under the Purple Pen Wordsmithing moniker in August 2023, so I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on what’s gone well and what still needs work.
Processes are the biggest area of improvement–I didn’t really have any when I was only editing around six or eight books a year. More than doubling that workload definitely requires business processes. It’s not a hobby anymore. So, I’ve got accounting, project management and all the tools I use while editing. Developing those and polishing the processes are something I feel I’ve done really well.
But, I’ve also been working on the dreaded imposter syndrome. I must admit I haven’t questioned whether I’m worthy of working on all these books in over three months. I think the positive mindset meditation must be working!
Contact Info:
- Website: PurplePenLLC.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vampbard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deelylah
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendee-mullikin-editor/
