Last September, the Editorial Freelancers Association celebrated 55 years of editorial excellence with our first-ever virtual conference. We’re back June 26–June 27, 2026 – this time on a state-of-the-art virtual conference platform optimized for a seamless experience navigating sessions and networking with other freelancers.
This year’s theme, “Better Together: Building Sustainable Freelance Careers Through Strong Community,” homes in on our commitment to helping you grow in your expertise and identify and take advantage of new opportunities in your business. The conference will be preceded by a day of virtual meet-ups and networking sessions designed to support freelancers at all stages of their careers.
Programming tracks will include:
*If you are a member of ACES, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, U.K. (CIEP), Editors Canada (EC), the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd), Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Book Industry Study Group (BISG), or the Professional Editor's Guild, South Africa (PEG), look out for an email from (or contact) your respective organization for a member access code to receive a discount.
Building Sustainable Freelance
Careers Through
Strong Community
CHAPTER / AFFINITY GROUP FAIR
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
TO WIN PRIZES
Get a sense of the experience at a portion of the cost by registering for pre-conference day. Already registered for EFACON2026? No worries! The pre-conference day is free to folks registered for the whole conference. No need to register — just keep an eye out in your email.
Oliver Ray
Ebonye Gussine WilkinsEbonye Gussine Wilkins is the principal consultant of Inclusive Media Solutions LLC®. She is an inclusive editing guide, helping editors integrate cultural humility, accessibility, and equity into every project.
Dawn VinsonDawn Vinson helps organizations tell their stories effectively and elegantly by providing comprehensive writing, research, editing, and related services. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, she has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, project management, and event planning. When not parked in front of her computer, she can be found in a comfortable chair reading mystery novels and gothic literature or watching the types of movies in which car chases, explosions, fight scenes, and/or monsters make up the entirety of the plot.
Jerry PortwoodJerry Portwood is the founder of The Queer Love Project, which publishes personal essays, interviews and reporting that explores the diverse ways in which LGBTQ+ people put themselves together. He's been working as a journalist for over 25 years, getting his start in alternative newsweeklies and community publications, and he's been a top editor at Rolling Stone, Out magazine and New York Press. He's been teaching essay writing and arts criticism at the New School for over 10 years. Along with a memoir in essays, titled Put It in Your Mouth, he's also working on getting his debut novel, The Loneliest Boy in the World Saves Us All, published soon.
Cody Sisco Cody Sisco is an author, editor, publisher, and literary culture producer. His LGBTQ psychological science fiction series, Resonant Earth, includes three novels thus far: Broken Mirror, Tortured Echoes, and Altered Bodies. He is a freelance editor specializing in genre-bending fiction. In 2017, he co-founded Made in L.A. Writers, an indie author cooperative dedicated to supporting and appreciating independent authors. His startup, BookSwell, is a literary events and media production company dedicated to amplifying voices and connecting readers and writers in Southern California and beyond. He serves as a co-chair of the Board of Directors for the Editorial Freelancers Association.
E. is openly neurodivergent, queer, and disabled. He is autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyscalculic, and lives with CPTSD and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Editors don’t lose money and hit burnout because we're bad at editing. We lose massive amounts of time because the unpaid work goes from manageable to kraken overtaking our whole life. A “quick question” turns into an afternoon. “Just one more pass” becomes a massive rewrite. Suddenly you’re doing unpaid labor while trying to sound pleasant in email you don't want to write.
This session is a practical, editor-first toolkit for not losing your mind. We'll talk about setting expectations, writing boundaries into your process (and your contract), spotting red flags before you’re trapped, and using tools that keep relationships intact while protecting your time. Note: This session will contain discussions of AI usage for administerial purposes, NOT client work.
E. Prybylski (he/they) is the author of the Boston Blight universe and the How to Finish the Damn Book duology. A veteran of the publishing industry with close to twenty years of experience in trad and indie spaces, he works at the intersection of craft, sustainable careers, and neurodivergent advocacy.
He is the founder of the Neurodivergent Publishing Conference, the Northeastern Cohort Leader for Author Nation, and the New England Chapter Coordinator and Board Member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. A frequent public speaker, E. presents on neurodivergence, creative sustainability, author voice, and the realities of building a long-term writing life.
Outside of publishing, he is active in the Society for Creative Anachronism, where he fences and teaches fencing. He also plays several instruments and spends more time than he should gaming, both at the TTRPG table and his PC.
E. is openly neurodivergent, queer, and disabled. He is autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyscalculic, and lives with CPTSD and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Authors are often confused about the types of editing and don't know what their manuscripts need. They Google "book editor," pick a service, and hope for the best. Then they're frustrated when the edit doesn't fix their real problem.
This session gives editors a framework for diagnosing manuscripts and guiding authors to the right service before work begins. We'll cover:
→ The four stages of editing and how authors confuse them
→ Symptom-based diagnosis: matching author frustrations to edit types
→ How to explain what you do (and don't do) without losing the client
→ Red flags that a manuscript isn't ready and how to say so kindly
→ Scripts for onboarding conversations that set expectations
Attendees will leave with a diagnostic framework, sample questions, and language to help authors understand what they're paying for—and why it matters.
Alyssa Krus
Alyssa Krus
Alyssa Kruse is the founder of Book Dragon LLC, a boutique editorial studio helping nonfiction authors turn expertise into page-turners. After 20 years of teaching, she built a thriving editing practice—180+ projects, 100% job success—specializing in developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing for business books, memoirs, and self-help manuscripts. She partners with book coaches and independent authors alike, bringing the same care to a first-time memoirist as to a seasoned thought leader. Her "Editing Explained" LinkedIn series introduced thousands of writers to the four stages of editing and helped them identify which edit their manuscript actually needs. An EFA member, she believes the best client relationships start with diagnosis, not guesswork. When she's not editing, she's reading fantasy novels and knitting through her yarn stash.
Sandra Wendel and Lisa Pelto
Sandra Wendel
Sandra Wendel is a nonfiction book editor, author of an award-winning book on editing, publisher, book award judge, writing instructor, college student (yes, even at her age), and ghostwriter who helps people turn real lives into unforgettable books. Sandra works in true crime, business/leadership, and selected memoir. She claims she’s not that interesting. Her authors disagree. They include jet fighter pilots, SWAT cops, FBI, DEA, HSI, a sex worker, rock groupie, a bank robber, Holocaust survivors, and other people with stories you can’t make up. Based near Omaha, Nebraska, she kayaks on flatwater and is restoring native prairie on the family farm in Iowa.
Lisa Pelto
Lisa Pelto is a publishing services provider specializing in packaging, production, industry compliance, and planning. Her passions are nonfiction, children’s books, and coffee table books, though her work has spanned many genres over more than 40 years.
Lisa takes a practical, business-first approach, helping authors think beyond the manuscript to how their book will reach readers and what success looks like for each project. She works closely with independent authors and small publishers to guide them through editing, design, distribution, and production.
She often says she gets to work with people who changed the world, want to change the world, or created their own world—because slackers don’t write books.
This session will cover:
Therone ShellmanTherone Shellman is an award winning author, media creative, and founder of The Black American network, dedicated to elevating Black American professionals and strengthening community-focused leadership. With 16 published books spanning political thought, self empowerment, and business insight, he specializes in breaking down complex ideas into practical, accessible knowledge. His consulting work centers on organizational culture, authentic market engagement, and community driven financial strategy. Drawing on experience in quality assurance, production supervision, political advocacy, and decades of independent publishing, he helps individuals and organizations think critically, operate efficiently, and build with purpose.
Jeanette SmithJeanette "the Writer" Smith is an award-winning freelance editor, published author, and recreational mermaid currently landlocked in the Midwest. In her work, she aims to demystify the editing process through self-editing instruction and help authors produce the best manuscript possible. She also teaches writing, editing, and marketing through virtual and in-person conferences to both authors and fellow editors. Her short fiction works have appeared in Glassworks, Jelly Bucket, Second Chance Lit, and others, and her nonfiction book, Modern Mer: Become the Mermaid of Your Dreams, is available on Amazon. Jeanette believes that we rise together when we work in cooperation, not competition. She is always thrilled to help writers grow and editors upskill.
Indexes bring essential value to nonfiction works. An index is a book’s detailed “roadmap,” allowing the reader to quickly locate and explore specific information. Rather than just plucking terms from a document, an indexer reads the entire book, analyzes and extracts substantive terms and concepts, chooses appropriate phrasing, and adds cross-references to help the reader effectively navigate the index. Indexing is both a craft that uses specific tools and an intuitive art that involves understanding, conceptualizing, and organizing access to a book in a way that’s true to the nature of the book. It anticipates where readers will look for information.
Whether you’re an experienced publishing professional or are hiring your first indexer, our presentation will cover the essentials:
Elizabeth Bartmess and Michele CombsElizabeth Bartmess
Elizabeth Bartmess is the chair of the American Society for Indexing’s AI Committee. She is an award-winning freelance indexer specializing in back-of-book and embedded indexes for scholarly, trade, and technology and design books. She also develops software utilities for indexers. Her academic background is in research psychology and information science.
Michele Combs
Michele Combs is a freelance indexer and editor with more than 20 years’ experience and also works full time as the lead archivist at Syracuse University’s Special Collections Research Center. She is a past president of the American Society for Indexing (ASI), co-author of the International Digital Publishing Forum’s EPUB Indexes 1.0 standard (2015), and a member of ASI’s AI Committee. Her academic background is in history and political science, with an M.S. in library and information science.
John WarnerJohn Warner is the author of More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI and Why They Can’t Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities, among others.
Thanks to a long career as a writer, editor, and writing teacher, Warner knows writing and sees the existence of generative AI applications like ChatGPT not as a threat, but as an opportunity to break students out of the slumber of “schooling” and instead empower them to develop enduring writing “practices.” His perspective and expertise were forged through over 20 years of experience teaching writing at the University of Illinois, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and the College of Charleston. A native of Chicago, Warner lives with his veterinarian wife Kathy in the Charleston, SC area.
Bryan ThomasBryan A. Thomas serves as a wealth advisor and independent broker with LPL Financial, where he provides comprehensive wealth management and investment solutions to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and institutions.
With nearly two-decades of distinguished experience in financial services, Bryan has built a proven track record of client relationship management and strategic wealth planning. His career includes senior positions at leading financial institutions, including Vice President and Senior Regional Investment Consultant at T. Rowe Price Group, where he drove over $470 million in net new flows, and Vice President roles at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Bank of America Private Bank, where he managed nearly $500 million in client assets.
A committed community leader, Bryan serves on the boards of United Church Funds, where he chairs the Institutional Relationships Committee, and GateBridge Community Foundation. He also serves as an advisor to the Maryland Women's Business Center and maintains active mentorship roles with KIPP DC public charter schools and local Boy Scout troops.
Bryan holds an MBA in Finance from Howard University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia. He maintains Series 3, 7, and 66 securities licenses and is a proud multi-generational Washingtonian.
A well-thought-out strategic plan clearly states business objectives and outlines specific steps for achieving them. It's a road map for every aspect of your work and a powerful tool for decision-making.
This session will demystify the strategic planning process and help you create your own road map for getting where you want to go as a freelancer — whether you’re just starting out and want to clarify your professional identity or are already established and trying to figure out what the next chapter in your freelancing adventure will be. We'll look at some key plan components and explore how to adapt them to your work. You’ll get prompts and tips to help you (1) think through what you want to do and how you want to do it, (2) outline a feasible action plan, and (3) get yourself to actually implement that plan.
Dawn VinsonDawn Vinson helps organizations tell their stories effectively and elegantly by providing comprehensive writing, research, editing, and related services. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, she has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, project management, and event planning. When not parked in front of her computer, she can be found in a comfortable chair reading mystery novels and gothic literature or watching the types of movies in which car chases, explosions, fight scenes, and/or monsters make up the entirety of the plot.
Jacquie GardyJacquie Gardy is an editor, consultant, and learning‑experience designer with more than twenty years of experience helping authors and organizations communicate with clarity, purpose, and visual intelligence. She brings a thoughtful, strategic lens to every project, shaping manuscripts that are structurally sound, reader‑centered, and grounded in inclusive language. Her background includes serving as a technical writer‑editor at the U.S. Department of State, where she supported global education programs, led virtual exchanges for teachers, and developed high‑impact instructional materials for international audiences. Jacquie has taught across K–12, adult education, and university settings and is a frequent speaker at education conferences. She holds degrees from American University and California State University, Monterey Bay. Based in Maryland, she runs Gardy Learning Design Studio and finds joy in watercolor painting and quiet mornings with strong coffee.
Matt MasonFor more than 20 years, Matt Mason, SCMP, PMP has helped companies of all sizes “say what they mean, without sounding like a committee.” A longtime corporate and internal communications consultant, Matt has worked with leaders, subject-matter experts, and reluctant writers to turn vague briefs, tangled drafts, and “Can you just wordsmith this?” requests into clear, useful content.
Matt specializes in helping organizations translate strategy into language their employees will read and act upon, with experience spanning executive messaging, change communications, HR and benefits content, and internal storytelling. In addition to client work, Matt coaches writers and editors to ask and answer practical questions, clarify complexity, and build credibility as strategic communication professionals.
Ceylan OzgunerCeylan Ozguner is the editor and owner of Oz Editorial Services LLC. She offers proofreading, copyediting, line editing, developmental editing, and manuscript evaluations. After spending nearly a decade working as an editorial assistant for two publications by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and editing business documents and proposals for various businesses, she opened her own company and branched out into book-length projects, editing and proofreading both fiction and nonfiction work, particularly sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, action/adventure, and mind-body-spirit. Her clients consist of primarily publishers and independent authors.
She recently co-organized and participated in a panel on disability and language for editors, helping to broaden the ever-evolving discussion on conscious language. She is a board member at large for the Northwest Editors Guild and a chapter coordinator for the EFA. Participating as a judge for various writing contests also brings her joy.
While Ceylan grew up in Ohio, her family is Turkish, so she grew up bilingual. She has traveled to Asia, Canada, and throughout Europe and the US, but she now lives in Columbus, Ohio with her partner. When not editing, she can be found reading, enjoying nature, or traveling. You can find her at ozeditorialservices.com.
Rita ForbesRita Forbes is an American freelance copyeditor and proofreader based in Germany. With more than fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, she is enthusiastic about optimizing editorial workflows with a variety of creative tools and approaches. Rita is a Professional Member of the CIEP and holds a regional leadership role in the Verband der Freien Lektorinnen und Lektoren, Germany’s association for freelance editorial professionals.
Nick AustinNicholas “Nick” Austin is a nationally recognized attorney and strategic advisor whose work sits at the intersection of emerging technology, business transactions, and risk management. Over the course of his career, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and senior executives on complex commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital initiatives, and technology transactions — with a particular focus in recent years on artificial intelligence and cloud-based technologies.
Ghostwriting is one of the most financially sustainable and opaque paths in editorial freelancing. This session offers a clear-eyed look at what ghostwriting actually entails, especially in the book world, and helps attendees assess whether it’s a good fit for their skills, values, and working style.
We’ll unpack how ghostwriting functions as a freelance business: common project types, pricing structures, timelines, and the realities of long-term collaboration with clients. We’ll also talk frankly about proposals, contracts, credit, confidentiality, and the interpersonal dynamics that make or break ghostwriting relationships. Rather than focusing on credentials or labels, the session emphasizes how openness—to people, projects, and evolving roles—often matters more than a tidy résumé or predefined specialty.
Attendees will leave with a realistic understanding of the work, a clearer sense of what kinds of clients and projects align with them, red flags to watch for, and concrete next steps for exploring (or opting out of) ghostwriting as part of a sustainable freelance practice.
Laura K. WiseLaura K. Wise is a storyteller—working as a publicist, strategist, brand architect, and executive thought partner for clients who demand excellence and results.
Laura holds a B.S. in Marketing from Hampton University and a Professional Degree in Visual Communications from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) - Los Angeles. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Laura also sits on the board of the Freelancers Union, the nation's largest organization representing nearly 60 million independent workers.
Self-starter. Storyteller. Strategist. Laura believes in the power of human-centered narratives to drive meaningful change—and she knows exactly how to make those stories land.
Poetry.
Join award-winning storyteller Owen Kerr as we explore the nuts-and-bolts of exceptional writing. Learn how to hear the music, to find where it falters, and to foundationally improve it.
Whether it’s a Masters thesis, corporate memo, or lyrical prose, every style of writing has its own music. Good writers can follow a tune; great writers compose them.
Prepare for hands-on exercises. Bring your questions, an open mind, and a measure of enthusiasm. (Dancing shoes, optional.)
Thank you!
Owen KerrOwen Kerr (he/him) is a veteran teacher, writer, editor, and an award-winning voice actor and storyteller. His work has appeared in the Phoenix New Times, Pyramid Magazine, and Those Who Live Long Forgotten II. With a background in theatre, Owen is all about the importance of clear and elegant prose, whether narrative or informational.
As the Artistic Director and Master of Ceremonies for an actual-play livestream, he and the fine and mutinous crew of No Theoretical Bias (YouTube) laid down forty-four episodes over three seasons. He has made infrequent appearances as a guest on a handful of TTRPG podcasts, notably Characters Without Stories (S2 E12), and was honored to be a first reader for the Ribalow Prize (2005-2015).
Owen's love of language was mined in early childhood, refined by a family of educators, forged in the fires of three Shakespeare companies, tempered in his ELA classroom, and honed by decades of writing and storytelling.
He is a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth, inclusionary practices in tabletop roleplaying (and elsewhere), and neurodivergence awareness. Certified as a Therapeutic Game Master in 2021 (Dr. Anthony Bean, Geek Therapeutics), he is committed to improving all aspects of mental health care.
When he’s not at a convention, he is hitting people with sticks (SCA, huzzah!), loving dogs (especially the one at home), advising his cats against felonies, designing indie games, expounding on game philosophy, and falling in love (again!) with his spouse.
You can find him hitting people with sticks at a local SCA fighter practice (huzzah!), admiring every dog he meets (especially the one at home), talking his cats out of crimes against humanity, and expounding theories on game philosophy just about anywhere. Owen is also an indie game designer and is constantly amazed by the love and support of his spouse and family
Chloe Nicksic SigmonChloe Nicksic Sigmon is an editor and writer with a passion for literature that sparks big feelings. Her MA in English and PhD in psychology inform her approach to editing, though she has been analytical since birth and an avid reader since childhood. Chloe owns Monarch & Hare Editing Co. and offers developmental, line, and copy editing services for fiction, creative nonfiction, and academic writing. Her own writing is mostly fiction, with the occasional departure. Chloe’s thesis explored writing strategies that evoke emotions and build compassion. She believes that literature connects people in authentic, vulnerable ways, that it creates awareness and change on a substantial scale. Her editing expertise revolves around helping authors find their voice, develop complex characters, and maximize the emotional impact of their work. Connection with the literary community is invaluable to Chloe, who chose this career to be part of something bigger than herself.
Jennifer Navarre, Tiffiny Spire, Julie Scheina, Alysa Loring, Kristen BattertonJennifer Navarre
TBA
Tiffiny Spire
Tiffiny Spire offers book coaching and big-picture editing of middle grade and young adult fiction. She holds a certificate of editing and publishing from the University of California, Los Angeles. In her first career as an elementary school teacher, Tiffiny worked hard to connect kids with great books. She combines that hands-on experience with her editorial training to help debut authors transform their ideas for children’s stories into books kids will love through her freelance editing business The Pink Pen. Tiffiny has also served as a judge of indie-published contests in the kidlit categories as well as a judge for children’s poetry contests. When she’s not wielding her pink pen or spending too much money at the local bookstore, she’s probably recharging off the grid or exploring the cultures of far-off lands.
Julie Scheina
Julie Scheina is the owner of Julie Scheina Editorial Services, LLC, and a former senior editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Julie has twenty years of experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books and has edited more than 400 titles across a variety of genres. Books that Julie has edited have spent more than 125 combined weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and include #1 New York Times bestsellers, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, a William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award finalist, an Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy nominee, an Edgar Award nominee, Bram Stoker Award nominees, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book.
Alysa Loring
Alysa Loring (she/her) is a co-coordinator for the EFA’s KidLit affinity group and the owner of Bleeding Pen Editing. She provides book coaching, developmental, line, and copy editing to KidLit and academic authors. She’s worn many hats in her professional life. As a trained and experienced educator and researcher she has worked as an editor, writer, researcher, and K–12 teacher. She has had the pleasure of working with people from around the globe—from students in California, Thailand, Alaska, and Hawai’i, to Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, KidLit writers, and scientists around the globe. She loves helping writers find their voice so that their story comes alive!
Kristin Batterton
Kristin Batterton is a co-coordinator for the EFA’s KidLit Affinity Group. She provides copyediting, line editing, and proofreading for publishers and authors in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres, specializing in children’s books. She developed and runs a teen beta reading program for middle grade and young adult authors to get feedback from readers in their target audience, and she judges in KidLit categories for book award programs including Writer’s Digest.
Lisa A. CraytonLisa A. Crayton is an editor, a collaborative writer (“ghostwriter’), and a sensitivity reader for publishers and independent authors. She writes and edits material for mainstream and Christian markets, providing services that help develop and/or polish book proposals and manuscripts. While doing so, Lisa always seeks to strike the right balance between author agency, constructive criticism, and editorial input while coaching, co-writing, writing, and/or editing clients’ material. An award-winning freelance article writer, Lisa writes for children and adults and has written executive bios, articles, columns, features, profiles, theater reviews, devotions, fillers, and other material. She is also the author of nineteen books (eighteen for children) and the co-author of seven other children’s books, including Only Light Can Do That: 60 Days of MLK – Devotions for Kids (Sharifa Stevens, co-author; Camilla Ru, illustrator), a finalist in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s 2025 Christian Book Awards. Committed to helping writers succeed, Lisa provides coaching services, teaches at virtual and in-person writing events, and served more than four years as a volunteer co-Regional Advisor (co-leader) for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Maryland/Delaware/West Virigina Region comprising more than 400 members. Her volunteer activities also include serving as a judge for writing contests. In addition to SCBWI, Lisa is a member of ACES, the American Society of Journalists & Authors, the Evangelical Press Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (service). She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from National University, and her dual BS in public relations and journalism from Utica College (now Utica University). Website: www.lisacrayton.wordpress.com/
Ley Taylor JohnsonLisa A. Crayton is an editor, a collaborative writer (“ghostwriter’), and a sensitivity reader for publishers and independent authors. She writes and edits material for mainstream and Christian markets, providing services that help develop and/or polish book proposals and manuscripts. While doing so, Lisa always seeks to strike the right balance between author agency, constructive criticism, and editorial input while coaching, co-writing, writing, and/or editing clients’ material. An award-winning freelance article writer, Lisa writes for children and adults and has written executive bios, articles, columns, features, profiles, theater reviews, devotions, fillers, and other material. She is also the author of nineteen books (eighteen for children) and the co-author of seven other children’s books, including Only Light Can Do That: 60 Days of MLK – Devotions for Kids (Sharifa Stevens, co-author; Camilla Ru, illustrator), a finalist in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s 2025 Christian Book Awards. Committed to helping writers succeed, Lisa provides coaching services, teaches at virtual and in-person writing events, and served more than four years as a volunteer co-Regional Advisor (co-leader) for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Maryland/Delaware/West Virigina Region comprising more than 400 members. Her volunteer activities also include serving as a judge for writing contests. In addition to SCBWI, Lisa is a member of ACES, the American Society of Journalists & Authors, the Evangelical Press Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (service). She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from National University, and her dual BS in public relations and journalism from Utica College (now Utica University). Website: https://lisacrayton.wordpress.com.
Tiffany ValkilianTiffany Vakilian—bestselling author, award-winning speaker, creator of Dual Expression™, and founder of Speak Fire Publishing—empowers writers to transform stories into impactful, published works. She has her master’s (and additional certification) in Transformative Language Arts (TLA), and many career memberships. Tiffany's dynamic teaching and editorial guidance inspire her clients and fans to share their stories with clarity and confidence, helping them achieve sales and reach audiences worldwide.
Paul CarlucciPaul Carlucci is a freelance editor, award-winning author, and former journalist. He works with traditional and hybrid presses, self-publishing authors, writers preparing manuscripts for submission, research professionals, professors, and youth educators. He’s the author of four books. He won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and has been a finalist for two Ottawa Book Awards and two ReLit Awards. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
What is imposter syndrome? Why is so pervasive in the freelance editorial and story coaching world? How can you possibly overcome it?
Short answer: You can't. But you can learn valuable strategies for quieting that inner critic.
This workshop will help you define the emotional, mental, and physical imposters holding you back from being the best version of yourself as a freelancer, while also providing clear strategies to highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses until you can evolve them into strengths. What's more, you'll learn how to build a personal and professional support network who will help you fight off imposter syndrome a little more each day.
Shannon ScottShannon Scott (she/her) is a Black queer nonbinary story coach for contemporary fiction and narrative nonfiction independent and self-publishing authors. As a developmental editor, she specializes in contemporary queer romance and detective / psychological / mystery thrillers, especially those featuring queer protagonists. She is also a published author, having released her debut queer romance novel It Was Always You this past February, with a re-release scheduled for late summer/early fall, and its sequel It Was Never Supposed to Be You, scheduled for late-winter release. Completing her Certificate in Developmental Editing of Fiction from Club Ed Freelancers, along with voraciously consuming writing craft books and professional development courses and workshops, has allowed Shannon the chance to work with and write alongside both up-and-coming and experienced authors delving into the fiction and narrative nonfiction worlds. She takes great pride (pun intended) in helping authors bring their story vision to life through practical application of foundational fiction and narrative nonfiction writing principles.
Developmental editors face the honor and struggle of being invited into an author’s most vulnerable work. As a result, it can be tempting to push authors out of the driver’s seat because “I know best.” In this way, developmental editing is like being the gamemaster of a role-playing game, a job that requires a meticulous eye for detail, a strong sense of story, and the ability to tell when players need to be left to their own devices or nudged in a new direction.
Introducing: Running solo RPG adventures to up your developmental-editing game. Through a guided RPG session, this workshop teaches developmental editors how to use premade adventures to hone their collaboration skills. Come prepared to work through discomfort with imperfection, build feedback around a preexisting framework, and learn the difference between helping and hovering. And have some fun while doing it.
Mary DeSantisMary DeSantis (she/her) has been a professional in the book world since 2020 and an avid gamer since she was old enough to understand games. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and owns Kit ‘n Kabookle Literary, LLC, where she offers story coaching and big-picture editing for authors of fiction that focuses on making books an immersive experience. When not working, Mary can be found writing, plotting or participating in adventures for one of her D&D groups, or trying to read while people keep talking to her. She can be found online at https://kitnkabookle.com
Editing is often framed as a technical process—correcting grammar, improving clarity, and strengthening structure. But the strongest editing also relies on less visible skills: empathy, intuition, and the ability to understand what a writer is trying to achieve before attempting to improve it. Writers entrust editors with work that may represent years of effort, personal experience, or deeply held ideas, and the way an editor approaches the editing process can profoundly shape a writer’s confidence and trust in the collaboration.
This session explores the practice of gentle editing: an approach that prioritizes preserving the author’s voice while strengthening clarity, structure, and resonance. This session moves beyond editorial feedback to examine the edit itself—how editorial decisions either honor or undermine voice, and how empathy sharpens rather than softens editorial judgment.
Drawing from examples in fiction and creative nonfiction, participants will learn practical strategies for editing with rigor while safeguarding voice, approaching manuscripts with curiosity rather than correction, and building the trust that sustains editor–author relationships.
Sohini GhoseSohini Ghose (she/her) is an editor with more than fifteen years of international publishing experience. She has worked with Big Five and independent publishers, university presses, and both debut and bestselling authors, holding in-house roles at Cambridge University Press, Seagull Books, Macmillan, and now HarperCollins (Harlequin). She has also run her own global editorial business since 2015 and is a published author with books from Macmillan India and Rupa Publications.
Having lived and worked in India, the US, and Canada, Sohini has edited more than 300 books, including a title by Nobel laureate Mo Yan. Committed to the next generation of editors, she helped establish and teach editing at the Seagull School of Publishing and continues to mentor emerging professionals. When not editing, Sohini creates digital art and was first exhibited in New York City in 2021. Sohini’s interest in visual storytelling informs her approach to branding and design for editors, and she offers one-on-one Canva consultations tailored for editors seeking to strengthen their visual brand and business presence.
Even experienced editors struggle to edit their own work. Our expertise does not eliminate our brain’s tendency to “autocorrect” errors or eliminate cognitive bias when we are too close to the prose. This session takes a look at why it’s difficult to edit your own work and offers practical strategies for editing your manuscript with greater clarity and objectivity.
We’ll begin with “big-picture” developmental editing techniques—such as reverse outlining and building a “book bible.” Next, we’ll discuss how to copy/line edit your manuscript using multiple, focused passes.
The use of AI tools as a diagnostic tool to train yourself to identify personal stylistic habits, patterns, and crutches while revising will also be discussed.
Elise AbramElise Abram is an author, editor, and founder of EMSA Publishing. Since 2015, she has helped authors through the publishing process, offering services such as editing, interior formatting, cover design, and distribution. She has published over 100 books, including 29 of her own, and edited more than 300 manuscripts, fiction and non-fiction, in a variety of genres. She is also an award-winning YA science fiction author. A former archaeologist and retired English teacher with over 25 years of experience, Elise holds an MEd in Curriculum Studies. She now channels her passion for teaching into supporting writers. She works closely with authors on the craft of writing, editing, and publishing with practical, experience-based advice.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming editorial workflows, yet many freelancers are uncertain how to use these tools responsibly without compromising quality, confidentiality, or client trust. This session offers a comprehensive and practical framework for becoming an AI-savvy editor while maintaining professional integrity.
We will examine where AI tools can enhance efficiency within the editorial process—and where human judgment must remain central. Participants will learn how to establish clear boundaries with clients regarding AI use, protect sensitive materials when using cloud-based platforms, and prevent overreliance that weakens core editing skills. The session will also address pricing, value positioning, and communicating the distinct human expertise clients are paying for.
Attendees will leave with a structured approach to developing their own AI-use and disclosure policy, ensuring they remain competitive, ethical, and future-ready in an increasingly automated publishing landscape.
David Sunday AraotiDavid Sunday Araoti is an AI Governance and Digital Policy researcher specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence, institutional accountability, climate governance, and public financial management. His work advances responsible AI systems, algorithmic transparency, sustainability analytics, and evidence-based public sector transformation across emerging and global contexts.
Alysa Loring (she/her) is a co-coordinator for the EFA’s KidLit affinity group and the owner of Bleeding Pen Editing. She provides book coaching, developmental, line, and copy editing to KidLit and academic authors. She’s worn many hats in her professional life. As a trained and experienced educator and researcher she has worked as an editor, writer, researcher, and K–12 teacher. She has had the pleasure of working with people from around the globe—from students in California, Thailand, Alaska, and Hawai’i, to Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, KidLit writers, and scientists around the globe. She loves helping writers find their voice so that their story comes alive!
Bryan A. Thomas serves as a wealth advisor and independent broker with LPL Financial, where he provides comprehensive wealth management and investment solutions to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and institutions.
With nearly two-decades of distinguished experience in financial services, Bryan has built a proven track record of client relationship management and strategic wealth planning. His career includes senior positions at leading financial institutions, including Vice President and Senior Regional Investment Consultant at T. Rowe Price Group, where he drove over $470 million in net new flows, and Vice President roles at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Bank of America Private Bank, where he managed nearly $500 million in client assets.
A committed community leader, Bryan serves on the boards of United Church Funds, where he chairs the Institutional Relationships Committee, and GateBridge Community Foundation. He also serves as an advisor to the Maryland Women's Business Center and maintains active mentorship roles with KIPP DC public charter schools and local Boy Scout troops.
Bryan holds an MBA in Finance from Howard University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia. He maintains Series 3, 7, and 66 securities licenses and is a proud multi-generational Washingtonian.
Ceylan Ozguner is the editor and owner of Oz Editorial Services LLC. She offers proofreading, copyediting, line editing, developmental editing, and manuscript evaluations. After spending nearly a decade working as an editorial assistant for two publications by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and editing business documents and proposals for various businesses, she opened her own company and branched out into book-length projects, editing and proofreading both fiction and nonfiction work, particularly sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, action/adventure, and mind-body-spirit. Her clients consist of primarily publishers and independent authors.
She recently co-organized and participated in a panel on disability and language for editors, helping to broaden the ever-evolving discussion on conscious language. She is a board member at large for the Northwest Editors Guild and a chapter coordinator for the EFA. Participating as a judge for various writing contests also brings her joy.
While Ceylan grew up in Ohio, her family is Turkish, so she grew up bilingual. She has traveled to Asia, Canada, and throughout Europe and the US, but she now lives in Columbus, Ohio with her partner. When not editing, she can be found reading, enjoying nature, or traveling. You can find her at ozeditorialservices.com.
Chloe Nicksic Sigmon is an editor and writer with a passion for literature that sparks big feelings. Her MA in English and PhD in psychology inform her approach to editing, though she has been analytical since birth and an avid reader since childhood. Chloe owns Monarch & Hare Editing Co. and offers developmental, line, and copy editing services for fiction, creative nonfiction, and academic writing. Her own writing is mostly fiction, with the occasional departure. Chloe’s thesis explored writing strategies that evoke emotions and build compassion. She believes that literature connects people in authentic, vulnerable ways, that it creates awareness and change on a substantial scale. Her editing expertise revolves around helping authors find their voice, develop complex characters, and maximize the emotional impact of their work. Connection with the literary community is invaluable to Chloe, who chose this career to be part of something bigger than herself.
David Sunday Araoti is an AI Governance and Digital Policy researcher specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence, institutional accountability, climate governance, and public financial management. His work advances responsible AI systems, algorithmic transparency, sustainability analytics, and evidence-based public sector transformation across emerging and global contexts.
Dawn Vinson helps organizations tell their stories effectively and elegantly by providing comprehensive writing, research, editing, and related services. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, she has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, project management, and event planning. When not parked in front of her computer, she can be found in a comfortable chair reading mystery novels and gothic literature or watching the types of movies in which car chases, explosions, fight scenes, and/or monsters make up the entirety of the plot.
Elise Abram is an author, editor, and founder of EMSA Publishing. Since 2015, she has helped authors through the publishing process, offering services such as editing, interior formatting, cover design, and distribution. She has published over 100 books, including 29 of her own, and edited more than 300 manuscripts, fiction and non-fiction, in a variety of genres. She is also an award-winning YA science fiction author. A former archaeologist and retired English teacher with over 25 years of experience, Elise holds an MEd in Curriculum Studies. She now channels her passion for teaching into supporting writers. She works closely with authors on the craft of writing, editing, and publishing with practical, experience-based advice.
Elizabeth Bartmess is the chair of the American Society for Indexing’s AI Committee. She is an award-winning freelance indexer specializing in back-of-book and embedded indexes for scholarly, trade, and technology and design books. She also develops software utilities for indexers. Her academic background is in research psychology and information science.
E. Prybylski (he/they) is the author of the Boston Blight universe and the How to Finish the Damn Book duology. A veteran of the publishing industry with close to twenty years of experience in trad and indie spaces, he works at the intersection of craft, sustainable careers, and neurodivergent advocacy.
He is the founder of the Neurodivergent Publishing Conference, the Northeastern Cohort Leader for Author Nation, and the New England Chapter Coordinator and Board Member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. A frequent public speaker, E. presents on neurodivergence, creative sustainability, author voice, and the realities of building a long-term writing life.
Outside of publishing, he is active in the Society for Creative Anachronism, where he fences and teaches fencing. He also plays several instruments and spends more time than he should gaming, both at the TTRPG table and his PC.
E. is openly neurodivergent, queer, and disabled. He is autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyscalculic, and lives with CPTSD and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Jacquie Gardy is an editor, consultant, and learning‑experience designer with more than twenty years of experience helping authors and organizations communicate with clarity, purpose, and visual intelligence. She brings a thoughtful, strategic lens to every project, shaping manuscripts that are structurally sound, reader‑centered, and grounded in inclusive language. Her background includes serving as a technical writer‑editor at the U.S. Department of State, where she supported global education programs, led virtual exchanges for teachers, and developed high‑impact instructional materials for international audiences. Jacquie has taught across K–12, adult education, and university settings and is a frequent speaker at education conferences. She holds degrees from American University and California State University, Monterey Bay. Based in Maryland, she runs Gardy Learning Design Studio and finds joy in watercolor painting and quiet mornings with strong coffee.
Jeanette "the Writer" Smith is an award-winning freelance editor, published author, and recreational mermaid currently landlocked in the Midwest. In her work, she aims to demystify the editing process through self-editing instruction and help authors produce the best manuscript possible. She also teaches writing, editing, and marketing through virtual and in-person conferences to both authors and fellow editors. Her short fiction works have appeared in Glassworks, Jelly Bucket, Second Chance Lit, and others, and her nonfiction book, Modern Mer: Become the Mermaid of Your Dreams, is available on Amazon. Jeanette believes that we rise together when we work in cooperation, not competition. She is always thrilled to help writers grow and editors upskill.
Julie Scheina is the owner of Julie Scheina Editorial Services, LLC, and a former senior editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Julie has twenty years of experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books and has edited more than 400 titles across a variety of genres. Books that Julie has edited have spent more than 125 combined weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and include #1 New York Times bestsellers, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, a William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award finalist, an Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy nominee, an Edgar Award nominee, Bram Stoker Award nominees, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book.
Kristin Batterton is a co-coordinator for the EFA’s KidLit Affinity Group. She provides copyediting, line editing, and proofreading for publishers and authors in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres, specializing in children’s books. She developed and runs a teen beta reading program for middle grade and young adult authors to get feedback from readers in their target audience, and she judges in KidLit categories for book award programs including Writer’s Digest.
Ley Taylor Johnson (she/they) is a fiction editor and writing coach based in the Pacific Northwest. Driven by a lifelong passion for storytelling, she began her freelance career in the hopes of connecting with indie authors looking to improve their stories and their craft. She now works with new and practiced authors alike, and specializes in developmental editing for science fiction, fantasy, romance, and horror. Ley is the author of the ebooks How to Write a Dynamic Act One and How to Write a Compelling Act Two, and currently serves as the founder and coordinator of the EFA’s LGBTQ+ affinity group and Secretary of the Editors Tea Club.
When they’re not editing, Ley can be found reading, playing D&D, and obsessing over their hobby of the month. Their own stories (both short and long form) feature queer, disgruntled protagonists who think too much.
Lisa A. Crayton is an editor, a collaborative writer (“ghostwriter’), and a sensitivity reader for publishers and independent authors. She writes and edits material for mainstream and Christian markets, providing services that help develop and/or polish book proposals and manuscripts. While doing so, Lisa always seeks to strike the right balance between author agency, constructive criticism, and editorial input while coaching, co-writing, writing, and/or editing clients’ material. An award-winning freelance article writer, Lisa writes for children and adults and has written executive bios, articles, columns, features, profiles, theater reviews, devotions, fillers, and other material. She is also the author of nineteen books (eighteen for children) and the co-author of seven other children’s books, including Only Light Can Do That: 60 Days of MLK – Devotions for Kids (Sharifa Stevens, co-author; Camilla Ru, illustrator), a finalist in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s 2025 Christian Book Awards. Committed to helping writers succeed, Lisa provides coaching services, teaches at virtual and in-person writing events, and served more than four years as a volunteer co-Regional Advisor (co-leader) for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Maryland/Delaware/West Virigina Region comprising more than 400 members. Her volunteer activities also include serving as a judge for writing contests. In addition to SCBWI, Lisa is a member of ACES, the American Society of Journalists & Authors, the Evangelical Press Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (service). She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from National University, and her dual BS in public relations and journalism from Utica College (now Utica University). Website: https://lisacrayton.wordpress.com.
Concierge Publishing Services
Lisa Pelto is a publishing services provider specializing in packaging, production, industry compliance, and planning. Her passions are nonfiction, children’s books, and coffee table books, though her work has spanned many genres over more than 40 years.
Lisa takes a practical, business-first approach, helping authors think beyond the manuscript to how their book will reach readers and what success looks like for each project. She works closely with independent authors and small publishers to guide them through editing, design, distribution, and production.
She often says she gets to work with people who changed the world, want to change the world, or created their own world—because slackers don’t write books.
Mary DeSantis (she/her) has been a professional in the book world since 2020 and an avid gamer since she was old enough to understand games. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and owns Kit ‘n Kabookle Literary, LLC, where she offers story coaching and big-picture editing for authors of fiction that focuses on making books an immersive experience. When not working, Mary can be found writing, plotting or participating in adventures for one of her D&D groups, or trying to read while people keep talking to her. She can be found online at https://kitnkabookle.com
For more than 20 years, Matt Mason, SCMP, PMP has helped companies of all sizes “say what they mean, without sounding like a committee.” A longtime corporate and internal communications consultant, Matt has worked with leaders, subject-matter experts, and reluctant writers to turn vague briefs, tangled drafts, and “Can you just wordsmith this?” requests into clear, useful content.
Matt specializes in helping organizations translate strategy into language their employees will read and act upon, with experience spanning executive messaging, change communications, HR and benefits content, and internal storytelling. In addition to client work, Matt coaches writers and editors to ask and answer practical questions, clarify complexity, and build credibility as strategic communication professionals.
Michele Combs is a freelance indexer and editor with more than 20 years’ experience and also works full time as the lead archivist at Syracuse University’s Special Collections Research Center. She is a past president of the American Society for Indexing (ASI), co-author of the International Digital Publishing Forum’s EPUB Indexes 1.0 standard (2015), and a member of ASI’s AI Committee. Her academic background is in history and political
science, with an M.S. in library and information science.
Nicholas “Nick” Austin is a nationally recognized attorney and strategic advisor whose work sits at the intersection of emerging technology, business transactions, and risk management. Over the course of his career, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and senior executives on complex commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital initiatives, and technology transactions — with a particular focus in recent years on artificial intelligence and cloud-based technologies.
Owen Kerr (he/him) is a veteran teacher, writer, editor, and an award-winning voice actor and storyteller. His work has appeared in the Phoenix New Times, Pyramid Magazine, and Those Who Live Long Forgotten II. With a background in theatre, Owen is all about the importance of clear and elegant prose, whether narrative or informational.
As the Artistic Director and Master of Ceremonies for an actual-play livestream, he and the fine and mutinous crew of No Theoretical Bias (YouTube) laid down forty-four episodes over three seasons. He has made infrequent appearances as a guest on a handful of TTRPG podcasts, notably Characters Without Stories (S2 E12), and was honored to be a first reader for the Ribalow Prize (2005-2015).
Owen's love of language was mined in early childhood, refined by a family of educators, forged in the fires of three Shakespeare companies, tempered in his ELA classroom, and honed by decades of writing and storytelling.
He is a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth, inclusionary practices in tabletop roleplaying (and elsewhere), and neurodivergence awareness. Certified as a Therapeutic Game Master in 2021 (Dr. Anthony Bean, Geek Therapeutics), he is committed to improving all aspects of mental health care.
When he’s not at a convention, he is hitting people with sticks (SCA, huzzah!), loving dogs (especially the one at home), advising his cats against felonies, designing indie games, expounding on game philosophy, and falling in love (again!) with his spouse.
You can find him hitting people with sticks at a local SCA fighter practice
(huzzah!), admiring every dog he meets (especially the one at home), talking his cats out of crimes against humanity, and expounding theories on game philosophy just about anywhere. Owen is also an indie game designer and is constantly amazed by the love and support of his spouse and family
Paul Carlucci is a freelance editor, award-winning author, and former journalist. He works with traditional and hybrid presses, self-publishing authors, writers preparing manuscripts for submission, research professionals, professors, and youth educators. He’s the author of four books. He won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and has been a finalist for two Ottawa Book Awards and two ReLit Awards. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Rita Forbes is an American freelance copyeditor and proofreader based in Germany. With more than fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, she is enthusiastic about optimizing editorial workflows with a variety of creative tools and approaches. Rita is a Professional Member of the CIEP and holds a regional leadership role in the Verband der Freien Lektorinnen und Lektoren, Germany’s association for freelance editorial professionals.
Sandra Wendel is a nonfiction book editor, author of an award-winning book on editing, publisher, book award judge, writing instructor, college student (yes, even at her age), and ghostwriter who helps people turn real lives into unforgettable books. Sandra works in true crime, business/leadership, and selected memoir. She claims she’s not that interesting. Her authors disagree. They include jet fighter pilots, SWAT cops, FBI, DEA, HSI, a sex worker, rock groupie, a bank robber, Holocaust survivors, and other people with stories you can’t make up. Based near Omaha, Nebraska, she kayaks on flatwater and is restoring native prairie on the family farm in Iowa.
Shannon Scott (she/her) is a Black queer nonbinary story coach for contemporary fiction and narrative nonfiction independent and self-publishing authors. As a developmental editor, she specializes in contemporary queer romance and detective / psychological / mystery thrillers, especially those featuring queer protagonists. She is also a published author, having released her debut queer romance novel It Was Always You this past February, with a re-release scheduled for late summer/early fall, and its sequel It Was Never Supposed to Be You, scheduled for late-winter release. Completing her Certificate in Developmental Editing of Fiction from Club Ed Freelancers, along with voraciously consuming writing craft books and professional development courses and workshops, has allowed Shannon the chance to work with and write alongside both up-and-coming and experienced authors delving into the fiction and narrative nonfiction worlds. She takes great pride (pun intended) in helping authors bring their story vision to life through practical application of foundational fiction and narrative nonfiction writing principles.
Sohini Ghose (she/her) is an editor with more than fifteen years of international publishing experience. She has worked with Big Five and independent publishers, university presses, and both debut and bestselling authors, holding in-house roles at Cambridge University Press, Seagull Books, Macmillan, and now HarperCollins (Harlequin). She has also run her own global editorial business since 2015 and is a published author with books from Macmillan India and Rupa Publications.
Having lived and worked in India, the US, and Canada, Sohini has edited more than 300 books, including a title by Nobel laureate Mo Yan. Committed to the next generation of editors, she helped establish and teach editing at the Seagull School of Publishing and continues to mentor emerging professionals. When not editing, Sohini creates digital art and was first exhibited in New York City in 2021. Sohini’s interest in visual storytelling informs her approach to branding and design for editors, and she offers one-on-one Canva consultations tailored for editors seeking to strengthen their visual brand and business presence.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theroneshellman
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Therone Shellman is an award winning author, media creative, and founder of The Black American network, dedicated to elevating Black American professionals and strengthening community-focused leadership. With 16 published books spanning political thought, self empowerment, and business insight, he specializes in breaking down complex ideas into practical, accessible knowledge. His consulting work centers on organizational culture, authentic market engagement, and community driven financial strategy. Drawing on experience in quality assurance, production supervision, political advocacy, and decades of independent publishing, he helps individuals and organizations think critically, operate efficiently, and build with purpose.
Tiffany Vakilian—bestselling author, award-winning speaker, creator of Dual Expression™, and founder of Speak Fire Publishing—empowers writers to transform stories into impactful, published works. She has her master’s (and additional certification) in Transformative Language Arts (TLA), and many career memberships. Tiffany's dynamic teaching and editorial guidance inspire her clients and fans to share their stories with clarity and confidence, helping them achieve sales and reach audiences worldwide.
Tiffiny Spire offers book coaching and big-picture editing of middle grade and young adult fiction. She holds a certificate of editing and publishing from the University of California, Los Angeles. In her first career as an elementary school teacher, Tiffiny worked hard to connect kids with great books. She combines that hands-on experience with her editorial training to help debut authors transform their ideas for children’s stories into books kids will love through her freelance editing business The Pink Pen. Tiffiny has also served as a judge of indie-published contests in the kidlit categories as well as a judge for children’s poetry contests. When she’s not wielding her pink pen or spending too much money at the local bookstore, she’s probably recharging off the grid or exploring the cultures of far-off lands.
