www.mediaoscura.com | heather@mediaoscura.com
Freelance writer, web designer, social media director, former community radio DJ, and former administrative professional with 20 years of practical experience looking to apply passion and skills to meaningful, collaborative projects.
I am a media enthusiast—books, music, film, television, visual art, podcasts, etc.—and particularly love empowering creators, makers, and entrepreneurs to put their best foot forward online.
February 2019 - present
As sole owner and operator, have brought over 40 projects to fruition, building a loyal clientele of repeat customers and drawing new ones largely from word-of-mouth.
Web design portfolio includes a diverse mix of professionals and community organizations, award-winning authors and entertainers, and other creators and makers that now have an online presence reflective of their values and aesthetic.
In addition to website design and maintenance, my services include marketing and administrative work to reinforce each client’s brand: writing newsletters and website copy, creating a consistent aesthetic between website and social media profiles, and creating graphics for related digital and physical material as needed.
November 2020 - present
Conceptualized and designed phylliscurott.com, integrating MailChimp, Calendly, and Patreon and creating a highly organized space for promotion and services resulting in an increased online profile that has drawn more publicity and PR opportunities for my client.
Design multiple social media campaigns, newsletter, and Patreon graphics on a weekly basis, and deliver projects with minimal advance notice.
More than doubled Instagram followers in first five months of taking lead on the account, and helped garner nearly 150 patrons (most at the highest tier offered) in first two months of Patreon launch.
Coordinate with my client’s publisher on book publicity and promotion.
October 2015 - October 2022
Curated and hosted weekly show Radio Oscura on LPFM station Downtown Radio, and independently produced over 300 shows over seven years.
Radio Oscura was the only darkwave-centric radio show broadcasting in southern Arizona, filling a musical niche often ignored in broadcast radio.
Designed all promotional material and maintained a branded social media presence on Instagram (3.4K followers) and Facebook (2K likes/follows), and maintained communication with artists, record labels, promoters, and listeners.
Facilitated song premieres for acts Victorian Death Photos (Dallas, TX), Rare Kreature (Gilbert, AZ), Blood Moon Wedding (Oakland, CA/Reading, UK), and SKLTN CHR (Austin, TX).
Starting in March 2020, I recorded, edited, and mixed each show for broadcast.
March 2020 - October 2022
As Web Administrator (March 2020 - October 2022) maintained the station’s website at downtownradio.org.
As Administrator (March 2020 - September 2022) coordinated incoming DJ applications for Programming and facilitated on-boarding new DJs and staff, assisted organizing the programming schedule which encompassed 71 time slots and 39 shows, maintained all avenues of communication (mailing lists, emails, Slack) and the station’s website at downtownradio.org.
As a member of the Board of Directors (March 2020 - December 2021) co-facilitated grant applications and presentations that landed the station a $10K grant from the City of Tucson, co-coordinated station operations and programming for a staff of over 50, recorded and produced underwriting spots for air, designed and maintained Downtown Radio’s social media presence, and redesigned downtownradio.org to more prominently feature our DJs/shows, community partnerships, and mission of mental health awareness.
March 2003 - December 2018
As Web Coordinator (May 2007 – Oct 2009) cultivated and maintained Bookmans' early web presence through the company's website and various social networking services.
As a Music Buyer (Mar 2003 - May 2007, Oct 2009 - Mar 2016) and Music Manager (Mar - Sep 2016) analyzed current inventory and identified gaps in product, remained abreast of current media trends and adapted purchasing accordingly, and managed a team of six employees.
As Administrative Assistant at the Bookmans East location (Sep 2016 – Dec 2018) balanced daily bookkeeping, human resources, supplies purchasing, and administrative duties for Bookmans’ largest retail location and a staff of 40 employees.
February 2009 - May 2014
Co-designed, executed, and maintained the popular, award-winning website Vampire-Diaries.net which was subsequently archived and its domain sold (available on Wayback Machine). At its peak, the site pulled in nearly 100,000 visitors a day.
Coordinated staff writers and editors, in addition to posting breaking news and hosting a robust forum.
Wrote weekly column The Originals in Review.
Featured in the special features of The Vampire Diaries season one DVD/Blu Ray.
Website’s popularity led to co-editing and co-writing three books published by Smart Pop Books and ECW Press.
2005 - 2015
Hybrid Magazine—music reviewer/interviewer
Portland Book Review—book reviewer
Vampire-Diaries.net—columnist
Alloy Entertainment—contributor
Exceptional communication, verbal and written
Writing and editing, technical and creative
Web design and SEO
Marketing strategy
Administrative duties: bookkeeping, accounting, human resources
Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Pixlr, WordPress, Squarespace, Google Workplace, Microsoft Office Suite, OpenOffice, Scrivener, Audacity.
Project management
Research skills
Type 70 wpm
A Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls: Your Favorite Authors on The Vampire Diaries
Edited by Red & Vee of Vampire-Diaries.net
Love You to Death: The Unofficial Companion to The Vampire Diaries Season 4
Written by Crissy Calhoun & Heather Vee, foreword by Julie Plec
Love You to Death: The Unofficial Companion to The Vampire Diaries Season 5
Written by Crissy Calhoun & Heather Vee, foreword by Kevin Williamson
“Heather took my whole business to a new level with her ability to provide and create a website that truly represents my passions and how I desire to present my business to the world. The reaction from my community and clients has been huge, and I have already received more inquires and interest in my products and services! Her work ethic is unmatched and her ability to deliver in a timely matter was super impressive.”
Anthony “Mr. Nature” Aldinger, award-winning children’s performer of Mr. Nature’s Music Garden
“Heather is a delight to work with. She's thorough and professional and extremely good at her job. I had been dreading updating my website, but she made the process so easy, and I couldn't be happier with the results—my site now looks beautiful and does what I want it to. I absolutely recommend working with her.”
Kat Howard, award-winning author
“I spent a long time being extremely intimidated about getting my author website professionally designed. I didn’t know if I could go to someone without any of my own ideas in place, and I had none. Heather made the process basically painless. She walked me through finding what I like and don’t like in a website, what kind of colors and designs I really love. She also really thought about what my website would actually be used for, about my own skill level and what I could update on my own, and she made me a website that isn’t only beautiful, it’s functional. A genuine delight to work with.”
Sarah Hollowell, author and activist
I am a voracious reader with a particular fondness for speculative fiction, but read widely in most fiction and non-fiction genres.
Music is a lifelong passion and I was a volunteer DJ at community station Downtown Radio in Tucson, Arizona for 7 years.
I meditate daily.
I am an avid appreciator and collector of perfume, especially indie and unusual fragrances, and have a keen interest in the history and science of scent.
My husband and I are antiques and vintage enthusiasts and are regulars at the local antique malls and markets.