Whether you’re trekking the foothills of the Himalayas, climbing Mt. Everest, or bringing your book idea into a published reality, you need a Sherpa. Let To Press & Beyond be your guide!
GAIL 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: Rewrite! Rewrite! Rewrite! Writing is all about rewriting. Also, hire a professional book editor. It can make a major difference in a manuscript’s success and salability.
PENELOPE PAINE
Art Director, Project Manager
Hometown: London, England; Lives in Santa Barbara, California, and London, England.
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
KATHY MORAN
Web Designer and Developer
Hometown: Brockport, New York; now lives in Ojai, California.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California State University Stanislaus.
Past Lives: Business Systems Manager for the Ventura County Star newspaper. Information Technology Director for Tracor Aviation at the Santa Barbara Airport.
Passions: Technology, beautiful websites, nature and wildlife. Reading great books.
Advice to Authors: Share your book with the world through a variety of social media channels, online advertising, and your author website.
Website: www.webdevelopmentartistry.com
ISABELLA PIESTRZYNSKA
Copyeditor, Proofreader
Hometown: London, United Kingdom; recently Bronxville, New York; now lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in American Literature, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
Past Lives: Editorial assistant at Harvey Miller Publishers, Wimbledon; copywriter; freelance proofreading, copy-editing and graphic design; Senior Graphic Designer at PwC; actor both in the UK and the US.
Passions: Excellent writing. Proper English. The ballet. My grandchild.
Advice to Authors: Don’t be self-indulgent. Don’t repeat the word “said” ten times on a page. Be clear, concise, and generous.
NANCY SAYLES
Publicist
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 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.
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
ÁINE O’NEILLL
Social Media Producer
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland; now lives in Los Angeles, California. Fresh off the boat!
Education: Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and History), Carlow College. St Pats.
Past Lives: Still working in the Motion picture industry, Producer and Actor. Presented my own show in Ireland called Life and Soul.
Passions: People and Joyous living; and they come in different shapes everyday.
Advice to Authors: Use your words to voice your heart. Your life is a story and only one that you can tell.
PERI GABRIEL
Book & Cover Designer
Hometown: Costa Mesa, California; now lives in Beaverton, Oregon.
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Visual Communication Design, California State University, Long Beach.
Past Lives: Director of Fun Pinot’s Palette Alameda paint and sip studio, event designer, advertising art director, 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.