Tag: events

Posts with this tag are identified by writer Cortni Merritt as related to topics of live and in-person book-related events.

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Announcing: SRD Sponsorship of Editor Cortni Merritt in 10th Annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run (Orlando)

Community Rainbow Run logo
SRD Editing Services is proud to sponsor editor Cortni Merritt in the 10th Annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run, to take place June 6, 2026, in downtown Orlando, Florida. It is Cortni’s sixth 5K run for charity out of seven 5Ks in the past five years.
Editor Cortni Merritt at the Monster Dash 2024
Editor Cortni Merritt at the Oviedo Mall Monster Dash 5K, 2024
Editor Cortni Merritt displays her medal after completing the Monster Dash 2024.
Editor Cortni Merritt displays her medal after completing the Oviedo Mall Monster Dash 5K, 2024.
The CommUNITY Rainbow Run commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy in Orlando, which occurred on June 12, 2016, and during which 49 people lost their lives to gun violence.
Cortni’s goal is to raise $10 per person for each of the 49 lives lost. Please consider donating to the fundraising page to help Cortni meet this goal! All donations benefit the permanent Pulse Memorial scheduled to open in Orlando in 2027.
Cortni has been an advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality and rights since the 1990s. In an effort to best serve all members of every community, she has taken advanced webinars in inclusive language and conscientious editing,  trans allyship for authors and editors, and editing with sensitivity to disability from the Editorial Freelancers’ Association.
In past years, Cortni has run charity 5Ks for other notable causes, including mental health awareness (with NAMI),  funding high school music and PTA programs, and breast cancer research.
A long-time resident of Orlando, Cortni was living in the area in June 2016 and remembers the local reaction and outpouring of support from the community after the event at Pulse Nightclub. With great fondness, she recalls a night in 2011 at Pulse to celebrate a friend’s birthday when she was enrolled as a student at the University of Central Florida: “There was something special about the vibe. People just coming together as themselves, having fun and dancing. What I remember most is the laughter through every corner of the club that continued all night.”
For more information about Cortni, her editing experience and availability in June, her history of running 5Ks, or for any other inquiries, please Contact SRD Editing Services.
To donate to the fundraising page for the 10th Annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run on June 6, 2026, please visit Cortni’s Strengthen Orlando fundraising page.
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Excellent Experience at the Read It Write It! Book Festival

Cortni Merritt MA stands next to her table at the Read It Write It book festival in Wellington Florida on June 14, 2024

Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival

Editor Cortni had a wonderful time at the Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival 2024. The event took place at the Mall at Wellington Green on a bright and sunny Saturday, June 15, a perfect backdrop for the sunny group of writers who met to swap ideas and share their stories. While most writers were local to central or south Florida, at least two had traveled from Georgia and South Carolina to connect with other authors.
The most represented genre was romance, with everything from sweet to spicy making an appearance. Additionally, fiction genres of various authors included fantasy, small-town mystery, and science fiction.
Our editor also spoke with authors of nonfiction, including memoir and social/political critique and analysis. Additionally, several authors at the event were showcasing their children’s books as well.
Speaking of a showcase, SRD Editing Services was privileged that several of our own writers were kind enough to send copies of their printed books to display and distribute. Cortni gave away several copies of various books from the display at no cost to interested people. We love sharing and promoting our authors’ work and hope everyone who walked away with a copy enjoys their gift!
SRD Editing Services display table at the Read It Write It book and writing festival 2024
SRD Editing Services display table at the Read It Write It book and writing festival 2024.
Throughout the event, there were several highly interesting panel discussions. Panelists included award-winning authors and publishers of a variety of materials Unfortunately, due to our table placement and the acoustics of the venue, they were sometimes difficult to hear unless stationed near the seats at the front of the stage.
When visiting various writers’ tables, we saw inventive, interesting merchandise from numerous authors, including 3D-printed figurines of characters, colorful and creative stickers, bookmarks, calendars, and notebooks. Several writers described using QR codes to lead readers to Spotify playlists that accompanied their stories.
Perhaps most interestingly, one author of a children’s book explained how he integrated a QR code for readers to scan in order to access augmented reality features designed to enhance the kids’ reading experience. How cool! Can’t wait to check it out.
There was so much talent that the room was bursting with it. In addition to all the writers, publishers, and illustrators, Cortni even chatted with a few future editors who stopped by the table to ask for advice.
At the end of the day, no visitor left empty-handed. Whether you picked up some merch or some swag, you at least walked away with the knowledge that the book reading and writing communities are strong in South Florida.
SRD Editing Services is looking forward to maintaining these new connections and growing these new relationships with all the Read It Write It authors over the next year. In fact, the date has already been announced for 2025, and we’ve submitted our interest form. See you in June next year!