In 2010, Justin Skelton of Apex Training got in touch with with us to ask if Jane-Ann would ghost/co-write a book with him. He wanted to take a new approach to training managers on how to spot and solve problems. This new approach entailed using narrative to guide trainees through the minefield of leadership and positive action.
The result was The Dead Cat, a story that uses the character of entrepreneur Jack Creswell. Jack is attempting to grow his start-up business into a major player. There is also a story within the story told to Jack’s 5-year-old son Joe. This is where the training concepts are introduced, and an intriguing sub-plot involves Jack’s wise and inventive mother.
The Dead Cat was extremely well-received by Justin’s clients and now has its own website, where you can read some of the comments from those who have read and enjoyed the book.
“I have worked with Jane-Ann for the past four years and during this time she has been involved in a variety of product development assignments as a researcher, writer, and more recently photographer.
“Jane-Ann is a pleasure to work with. She has an easy personality and is uncomplicated in her approach
– an essential quality if you need to deliver quality work quickly.
“She is quick to grasp ideas and always adds value to projects. I value her opinions as I know she looks at things from different angles, and that is important when producing written work for a variety of audiences – particularly international ones.
“In fact, Jane-Ann’s challenging and questioning almost always helps us to avoid mistakes we could have made further down the line. She doesn’t just think about the written piece, she thinks about the big picture.
“Jane-Ann is also a very accomplished writer. She produces captivating and interesting work and I know that she challenges herself (and us) to produce better and better quality material.
“For all of these reasons and more, Jane-Ann has become a key part of our product development mix and I have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone who needs to produce world class written material.”
Justin Skelton, Managing Director, Apex Training and Development Ltd