GAIL M. KEARNS
President, Book Sherpa, Project Editor, & Production Coordinator

Hometown: Bennington, Vermont; now lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Hunter College, City University of New York.

Past Lives: Motion picture industry, Production Coordinator and Development Executive. Worked with numerous screenwriters and scouted for books that would make good movies.

Passions: Helping authors shape their books; Finding the perfect B&B (where she can read the latest manuscript).

Advice to Authors: Be imaginative; Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite!

PENELOPE C. PAINE
Art Director, Project Manager

Hometown: London, England; now lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of London.

Past Lives: Author and marketer of award-winning children's books; National trainer for educational initiatives.

Passions: Imparting her wisdom; Sipping a perfect cup of tea.

Advice to Authors: Identify the benefits you hope to achieve in writing your book; Target your market.

Website: http://pennypaine.com

LUCY LEVENSON
Marketeer, Online & Off

Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts; now lives in Kennebunk, Maine.

Education: Bachelor of Arts (acting and creative writing), Bradford College.

Past Lives: Actress; Co-Founded Boston Film Festival; Founding Partner, Pacific Imaging Center.

Passions: My daughters, chocolate and traveling. Support for the arts and children through my work on the boards of several nonprofits.

Advice to Authors: Believe.

NANCY SAYLES
Publicist

Hometown: Milwaukee, Illinois; now lives in Woodland Hills, California.

Education: BA in Journalism from California State University, Northridge.

Past Lives: Always been a PR Lady. First job in PR was in college promotion department for Herb Alpert's A & M Records, and promoting unknowns like The Carpenters and Carole King.

Passions: Getting national publicity for previously unknown authors, raising a teenage boy (and living to tell about it), and searching the world for the perfect sushi (not necessarily in that order).

Advice to Authors: Produce the very best product you can through writing, editing, interior and cover design, and when it's finally a book, tell everyone you know. Then tell everyone you don't know.

PERI POLONI-GABRIEL
Book & Cover Designer

Hometown: Costa Mesa, California; now lives in Naperville, Illinois.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Visual Communication Design, California State University, Long Beach.

Past Lives: Advertising art director, event designer, Mary Kay beauty consultant, theatrical performer/dancer.

Passions: Translating an idea into a tangible visual expression; traveling the globe; finding the perfect glass of red wine.

Advice to Authors: Covers sell, do it right the first time, you won't regret it.

Website: http://www.knockoutbooks.com

KATE MCMILLAN
Web Designer & Developer

Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut; now lives in Portland, OR.

Education: BA in Behavioral & Social Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park.

Past Lives: Punk Rocker; European Tour Guide; Member of an Appalachian Search & Rescue Team.

Passions: Great design and user experiences; Beautiful locations and gorgeous food.

Advice to Authors: Hire people whose skills you admire and who know their stuff, then let them get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the ordinary.

Website: http://outboxonline.com

PERRY NORTON
Audio Production and Voiceovers

Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland; now lives in Santa Barbara, California, but is a New Yorker at heart.

Education: University of Maryland, College Park, New School University and many other institutions of merit!

Past Lives: Played electric guitar in NYC’s best clubs; NPR Producer; Game Show Host.

Passions: Food, wine and music; The Big Apple; continually learning new things.

Advice to Authors: Write what you know, and find a book shepherd who will be honest and push you to do your best.

Website: www.panright.com or www.perryannenorton.voice123.com