Be careful what you wish for.

About seven years ago, I was talking with a friend and said, “I wish I could stay home and write all day.” At the time, I was working full-time as the director of a veterinary technician program and as a freelance writer for Rumpus. I loved my full-time job, but sometimes it was a lot, and this must have been one of those days. I quickly did some mental math and figured out how many blog posts I would need to write in a month to match my current salary. Not possible, even if I somehow found a way to write much faster. 

Less than two years later, I was working full-time as Rumpus Writing’s chief operations officer— staying home and writing all day. My wish had come true. 

 

A role made just for me?

When I became a veterinarian, I never imagined I would end up in a role that combined my passions for veterinary medicine and writing. I had no idea that such a role even existed. 

I have always loved words. My parents say that as a young child, I would choose books over toys. In fact, they would sometimes bury my books at the bottom of the toybox, hoping that I would play with the toys as I dug them out. 

I wrote my first book at age 6, about a cat.  It contained a lot of simple two- and three-letter words, and my relatives bought copies for pocket change.

As an educator, my colleagues knew that when they gave me a lesson plan or exam to review, it would come back with pink edits (because red is just mean). 

I always felt that I wouldn’t be “successful” until I was a published author. Although my initial ambition was to write a book, I have realized that goal through other ventures. I first had the opportunity to write textbook chapters and co-edit a large veterinary technician textbook. During my years with Rumpus, I have written countless online and print articles. 

All this to say that “staying home and writing” has allowed me to fulfill many of my professional goals. It has also given me the flexibility I didn’t have (but wanted) in previous roles. How did I  become so fortunate?

 

The path to business ownership

One role I had never imagined for myself was that of a business owner. 

Over the last five years, as right-hand (wo)man to Sarah Rumple Mahan, Rumpus Writing’s founder and former chief creative officer, I have learned a great deal about writing, editing, and general business. Although I had a strong foundation in writing, I have learned things about grammar, such as parallel structure and when to use an em-dash versus an en-dash, that most people never consider. I have learned to lead client meetings and content-planning sessions, and to match assignments to a writer’s strengths. 

But when Sarah approached me with the news that she was taking the role of Editor-In-Chief of Today’s Veterinary Business and offered me the opportunity to purchase Rumpus, I hesitated. Was I cut out for business ownership? To be THE boss?

After many sleepless nights, conversations with my husband, and introspection, I took the leap. On December 31, 2025, I became the owner and chief executive officer of Rumpus Writing and Editing. 

 

Onward and upward

As I take the helm as Rumpus’s new owner, I have several goals:

  • To continue delivering high-quality writing and editing services — Rumpus has built a reputation for creative, detail-oriented writing, and that will not change. Our highly skilled writing team, composed of veterinary professionals who know the field inside and out, is dedicated to delivering the same high-quality writing the veterinary industry has come to expect from us.  
  • To continue being the go-to veterinary copywriting business — We appreciate the trust our clients put in us to deliver well-written blog posts, magazine articles, social posts, email copy, website copy, and other projects. We’ll continue to do the same, and hopefully expand our reach within the veterinary community. 
  • To continue forming meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues — One of my favorite parts of working in this field is the genuine, kind people who make up the veterinary industry. I have met so many wonderful people in this role, and I look forward to fostering those relationships and getting to know other professionals in the space.

 

Not only did Sarah trust me to make decisions and work with clients, but I have been intricately involved in every aspect of operations since 2020. Rumpus has always focused on writing authentic, creative copy to meet our clients’ needs, and that is a core mission that will never change, regardless of who is in charge.

If you’d like to explore how Rumpus can help your veterinary business convey the right message, let me know. I’d love to connect!