IN SIXTH GRADE, the local newspaper editor visited our classroom to show us a pasted up version of that week's to-be-printed newspaper. I was fascinated. When the paper was printed that Thursday, I was hooked on publishing.

After writing newspaper columns, producing the high school newspaper and yearbook and publishing several genealogical books, I went to college where I served as news editor for the daily student newspaper, wrote even more history books, and majored in journalism.

After graduating college, I worked primarily in healthcare, providing editorial content and direction for trade magazines and journals. And all the while, I continued writing books, participated and mentored students in national journalism associations, freelanced for a variety of industries, and honed my craft while indulging my passion. My life's work has been communicating messages.

After many years of working in the publishing field, including editor-in-chief of a national trade publication with a circulation of 65,000, my range of experience is broad. From publishing books before I even had a driver's license to contracting with Fortune 500 companies to tighten and craft their messages, I have enjoyed bringing words to life. Every time I see my work and words in print, on the web or in a book, I feel the same sense of excitement I felt back in sixth grade.

Please take some time to look through my site for some published clips. For the most current copy of my resume, please send me an email at matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.