Celebrating Your Voice
At Sharpened Pencils, we specialize in historical/archival research and editorial services for nonfiction. Danielle has over twenty-five years of archival research experience and has established relationships with archivists and librarians across the U.S.
Whether you need broad historical background for a film, detailed information for a documentary, help locating your ancestors, or finding that needle in a haystack that will make your project, we’re here to help. We love using archives to reveal stories of traditionally underrepresented people, ideas, and places and to offer nuance and depth to well-known subjects. And we love finding the perfect image, film footage, or document that not only tells your story but fits your budget.
Do you know exactly what you need, but can’t travel to an archive in Texas? We can scan items and provide you with digital images.
We also provide beta reads, developmental editing, and page proof-reading for nonfiction manuscripts. Danielle is an experienced reviewer and an empathetic editor who has worked with both academic and trade presses.
Danielle brings enthusiasm and curiosity to every project. She values diverse voices and enjoys helping others share the stories that matter most to them.
Reach out today to see how Sharpened Pencils can assist you.
About Danielle Sigler
More than 25 years historical/archival research experience, specializing in U.S. history and literature
Ph.D. in American Studies with concentrations in U.S. Literature, U.S. Religious History, and African American History
Work published by Abrams Books, AltaMira Press, Indiana University Press, and Oxford University Press
Reviews and essays in The Daily Beast, Journal of Africana Religions, Journal of American History, New York Times Disunion Blog, Ransom Center Magazine
Exhibition curator: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; Banned, Burned, Seized, and Censored; co-curator: The King James Bible: Its History and Influence
Editing program certificate, Graham School, The University of Chicago
Former Associate Director for Research and Programs, Harry Ransom Center, humanities library and museum
Reviews
“The Texas exhibit, with charm sufficient for kids and scholarly depth for adults, proves the truth that a classic is never cast in bronze or carved from marble.”
The Wall Street Journal
“The editors of this fine collection of essays have resurrected the influence and importance of Arthur Fauset's classic study Black Gods of the Metropolis (1944) for the field of African American religion. . . Summing Up: Highly recommended..."
L. H. Mamiya, Choice
“Danielle has been reading my pages since 2002. Her editorial direction has shown me how to refine my writing for both general and scholarly readerships. Her commitment to clarity, musicality, and intelligence has made my work stronger and smarter.”
Walton Muyumba, Associate Professor, Indiana University
“A historical and revelatory exhibition . . . It’s a complex subject, and curator Danielle Sigler has wisely organized the display into manageable gulps.”
Austin American-Statesman
“Suffice it to say, it would be a sin to miss this.”
Austin Monthly