YOUR MESSAGE.
YOUR BOOK.
Maybe you’re planning to write a nonfiction book. You’re building a business and a platform, and you’ve got some traction. You’re bringing in revenue, serving clients, connecting with peers, and living into your life’s purpose. But you’re ready to see what’s next on the horizon. You’re ready to go bigger, to act more boldly, and to truly step up as a leader in your industry.
Maybe you’re planning to write a fiction series or a memoir. You have a story to tell, with people you know your readers will love and a journey you know will change their hearts, minds, and lives through the pages of your book.
It’s time for you to publish your book. You have a message for the world that is uniquely your own, just might change everything for you, going forward, and you know you’re ready. So, why does it feel so daunting to begin?
But the publishing industry is difficult to navigate.
Should you find an agent and pitch to a traditional publisher, knowing that you’ll probably face dozens of rejections and waste precious time?
Should you self-publish? And if you do self-publish, how the heck do you find freelancers to help you with editing, designing, and marketing?
Should you research those “hybrid” publishers, who publish your book but want you to invest upfront and share profits with them? And how do you know which of these online hybrid publishers are legitimate and which ones are scams?
All of these questions circling in your mind is enough to make you procrastinate on putting your book out for another year.
What if you could find a publishing company that could help you self-publish on a quick timeline but with the same quality as a traditional publisher?
What if the publishing company would let you have full say in your book’s content and style? A traditional publisher would tell you what you have to take out of your book and what the cover has to look like. But it’s your book, so you should be the one making these important, creative decisions.
What if the publishing company would let you keep 100% of the profits of your book? A traditional publisher, and even many hybrid publishers these days, will take anywhere from 50% to 90% of your book’s profits for the entire lifespan of your book. But you wrote the book, so you should be the one reaping the profits for years to come.
What if the publishing company would let you work with a team of professionals who are seasoned experts in their craft? You know your zone of genius, and you know when you’re not in your zone of genius. You are the creator of the content and the face of the book. When you work with a team of professional book editors, designers, and marketers who are all experts in their craft, you know the power of your message will create waves of impact when you launch your book.
That’s exactly what makes Paper Raven Books different—a quality publishing company, without all the strings attached.
Paper Raven Books is your team publisher. We help you write, publish, and market the best book possible, with your vision leading the way.
We are a team of seasoned editors, designers, and marketers, and we’re here to walk you through the entire publishing process, step-by-step, all the way from a rough manuscript to a beautiful, published book.
When you work with the Paper Raven Books team, we bring our expertise to streamline the message of your book, fully edit every sentence, design every page with an eye for gorgeous typography, create a truly stand-out cover, and distribute your book as an ebook, paperback, and hardback.
Together, we will publish your beautiful book that is every bit as quality as a traditional or hybrid publisher would produce, looks good on a bookshelf, and can be purchased from anywhere in the world—yes, in bookstores, too.
The best part of all this? Through every phase of the publishing process, you direct the quality look and feel of your book, and in the end, you keep 100% of the profits from your book sales.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO
PUBLISH WITH PAPER RAVEN BOOKS?
When we bring in your book for publishing, we have a publishing planning session on the phone. We talk through the vision of your book, how our team will work with you throughout the publication process, and what the timeline will look like so that you feel comfortable and fully informed from Day One. Together, we’ll progress through these milestones on your author journey:
BOOK CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
We’ll assess the market viability of your book with you. Is there a market of readers that’s hungry to buy a book like yours? Will this book actually help you grow an author platform and a business? Can we shape or position your book idea to line up with a market of readers that will be with you for the long-haul of your author career and business? We dig into the research to get to the heart of this critical question, FIRST.
Once we have green lights on the market assessment, we move on to shaping and structuring the content with you. Some authors will want to start from scratch, with a blank piece of paper and create a new outline. Some authors will want to bring in an existing draft for our content development team to help shape. Either way, we work with you over several months to get from vague ideas to a finished first draft that’s ready for editing.
COMPREHENSIVE EDITING
We offer full-spectrum editing because your book needs every one of these levels in order to become the polished, publishable manuscript that’s ready to publish.
Developmental editing fine-tunes the broad structure of your book. Most first-time authors don’t realize this, but creating a tight, logical flow of your book is the key to a compelling book. When you lead the reader smoothly from one paragraph to the next and one chapter to the next, the reader reaches the end of your book thinking, “Wow! That was an incredible book.”
Copyediting looks closely at every sentence. We want your voice and style to stand out and be consistent, from introduction to conclusion. We examine each sentence for clarity, consistency, and flow within the broader context.
And proofreading looks at every word and punctuation mark. We create a style sheet, especially for your book, so that all of the capitalizations, abbreviations, and spellings are perfectly consistent throughout your book. And, of course, we’re catching every grammar error and typo along the way.
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATION
We offer custom cover design and custom interior design for every book we publish. The first part of a book’s design is the cover. You know that a good cover is absolutely crucial to your book becoming a bestseller and having the impact you know it could have. We believe that every book has a different visual style and vibe, so we ask a pool of designers to submit their cover concepts, we offer our advice on which covers adhere to classic design principles, and you pick the cover that best represents your vision.
After your manuscript has been fully edited and proofread, we begin the interior design process. We create a typographical style that suits your book’s character, and we make sure that every page looks good. Then, we look at each element of every page, from chapter headings to page numbers and paragraph spacing to bullet points, in a final proof. When we finalize your book’s files, you’ll know that it’s publishable perfect.
We manage publishing your book to Amazon KDP as an ebook and IngramSpark as a paperback and a hardback. You’ll have one, consolidated Amazon page, where any reader in the world can buy all three versions of your book. You’ll also have an IngramSpark account, which allows any library or bookstore to order and stock your book on their shelves.
“PLATFORM-BUILDING” BOOK LAUNCH
You’re publishing like a pro, so let’s launch your book like a pro, too. Our team is here to be as involved as you would like us to be involved.
On the less involved end, we can offer you our tried-and-true launching strategies to hit Amazon #1s in your book’s most relevant categories and get reviews from your book launch team.
Or, on the all-hands-on-deck end, we can manage your book launch for you. We create a launch strategy that’s particular to your platform’s strengths. We draft and schedule email campaigns and social media shares. We arrange your book launch team and contact independent reviewers to help you get reviews ahead of the book’s launch. We research the geeky metadata and set up promotions during the launch so your book can hit #1 bestseller rankings in your best Amazon categories. We schedule a podcast tour to get your message and newly published book in front of more audiences. Sound overwhelming? You’ll have a project manager by your side, keeping every step on track and on time.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Throughout all of this, from editing to launching, your book will have a dedicated project manager who will be in constant contact with you and your book’s team. Your project manager will make sure all your questions are answered, that your book stays on schedule, that every file is ready on time for your publication date, and that your launch is smooth. Don’t worry, we’ll be there with you every step of the way. Because we’ve got your back, you can use all your energy and excitement to promote the heck out of your beautiful book.
MEET THE TALENTED + FUN
PAPER RAVEN BOOKS TEAM
We are a small, tight-knit team, representing some of the industry’s best publishing professionals. A team of editors, a book designer, a book launch strategist, a support assistant, and a project manager works on every book that comes into Paper Raven Books. We all share the same vision for your book, but we also bring our unique gifts and talents to your book. It’s a comprehensive and efficient way to help your rough manuscript evolve into a high-quality, published book that sits beautifully on a shelf and that you’re proud to sell.
Morgan Gist MacDonald – Founder/CEO
Morgan began her career in academia, as a Sociologist, but soon found the entrepreneurial pull to take her skills as a researcher, writer, teacher, and leader into building a publishing company, from the ground up. With more than 15 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing books, Morgan leads the Paper Raven Books team in developing the best practices for publishing successfully in the modern, digital age.
Karen Furr – Director of Operations
Karen is our operations guru, and she’s an author in her own right. Karen is super organized, calm in a crisis, and encouraging through it all. She keeps our teams and processes running smoothly and ensures that everyone has the tools and resources needed to support our authors in the best way possible.
Karen (Yen) Romero – Executive Assistant
Yen has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and has worked with several companies as a Technical Support Engineer. Because she is a passionate communicator and enjoys interacting with people, she made a name for herself as a top sales agent. Her collection of professional experiences also led her to start her own business. Away from work, Karen finds pleasure in reading books and, more often, spending tender moments with her daughter, Grey.
Production Team
Megan Buttaro – Director of Projects
Megan ensures that communication flows freely and that you have the best team for your project. She is here to answer any and all questions you may have and will be your go-to person for all of your project needs. She holds a BS in Psychology as well as an MA in Organizational Development and Leadership. When she is not painting, writing, or traveling, she is relaxing with her husband and dachshund Buddy in the San Francisco Bay area. She tries to live her life by her favorite Ernest Hemingway quote: “Live the full life of the mind, exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual.
Brandy Lay – Project Coordinator
Brandy holds a BA in English from The Ohio State University and is a fellow author specializing in Children’s Literature. She assists the Project Management team in initial project setups while ensuring that the lines of communication are open for your project.
Brandy is an avid reader when she’s not being a soccer and karate mom to her two loving and adoring children. She also enjoys sitting by a campfire with her husband and listening to ’70s and 80’s music, although she’s usually singing the wrong lyrics.
Amanda Bronson – Project Coordinator
Amanda is a paralegal turned Project Coordinator. She is here to make sure our authors feel comfortable and that workflows are as smooth as possible. Amanda loves reading everything from the latest horror release to the fifth read-through (in a row) of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See for her son. In her free time, she is one half of the podcast Graveyard Coffee Talk and plays tabletop RPGs with her husband and friends.
Rachel Martorano – Project Coordinator
Rachel is your driven and passionate Project Coordinator dedicated to our authors and ensuring that their projects move through the processes seamlessly. Raised in Michigan, she moved to Phoenix, AZ three years ago to escape the snow with her fluffy, gray cat, Steel. Rachel has been writing her own short stories and publishing them to contests and events for nearly a decade, and currently working on a long-time project. In her free time, when not writing, Rachel can be found in her garden, hiking with her fiance, working out, attending rock concerts or spending time with her two nieces and nephew.
Editorial Team
Heather Preis – Head of Editorial/ Fiction Writing Coach
Heather is an editor and book coach and loves helping authors craft their stories, from concept to fine-tune proofreading. She grew up reading romance and fairy tales, but in her own writing, she imbues real-life experience and an authentic voice to shine light on contemporary issues. Heather is a voracious reader who also loves to paint and experiment with landscape photography. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband.
Brian Dooley – Editor/ Nonfiction Writing Coach
Brian has been a proofreader and style editor for over a decade. He has worked on projects as diverse as doctoral dissertations in the humanities, academic journal articles, and e-books for aspiring professionals looking to reach a broader audience. He is incredibly enthusiastic about working with the nuances of language to bring forward the voice of every author. His love of editing and writing dovetails with a deep commitment to teaching and communicating. He currently lives in Berkley, California.
Kate Allyson – Editor/ Memoir Writing Coach
Kate is an editor and book coach at Paper Raven Books. She loves helping authors find their voice so they can share their unique stories. She has been an avid reader and writer since childhood. Kate has a background in education, which she uses to teach authors how to write books that connect with their audience. She currently lives in central Pennsylvania. When she is not working or reading, you can find her doing yoga or hiking with her rescue dog, Trixie.
Darcy Zornes – Editor
Darcy has been a writer and academic (psychology) for over 10 years and has been an editor at Paper Raven since 2018. In addition to her doctoral training in child clinical psychology at Pacific University in Oregon, she works with undergraduate and graduate students and academic peers in writing everything from proposals and papers to theses and manuscripts. In her spare time, Darcy enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, playing board games with her husband, and managing the joyful chaos of life with four cats.
Colleen Tomlinson – Editor
Colleen is passionate about the art of Story. After receiving her degrees in Media Communications and Creative Writing from Florida State University, her 20-year career began in script and story development for film and TV production. Now as a book coach and editor, she relishes helping writers mold their vision into reality. When she’s not lost in the world of imagination, she enjoys going on bike rides and adventures with her husband and daughter.
Ashley Swanson- Editor
Ashley has always been fascinated by the power of stories. It is that deep love of words that led her to earn a B.A. in Journalism from William Penn University, as well as an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University. After graduate school, she became a college English instructor and spent over half a decade helping new writers hone their craft. As an editor for the last several years, she is passionate about making sure every project is polished to perfection. Ashley also loves hiking and camping with her family and rescue pup.
M.A. Hinkle – Proofreader
M.A. Hinkle has held various publishing positions for the past decade. She has worked for a variety of small presses and self-published authors. In her free time, she likes talking to her cats because there’s not much else to do in the middle of nowhere.
Sales and Marketing Team
Patrice Migliore – Sales Consultant
Patrice is a passionate consultative sales professional with extensive experience in the publishing and real estate industries. She loves to inspire her clients! She loves helping people find their purpose and connect the dots to what their next steps may be. She is also an author and understands the importance of launching a book as one of the pillars for your business or career. She gets the challenges and setbacks that authors face and can help you find your voice through publishing your book and getting your message out to the world. She lives in the Daytona Beach area, loves the beach lifestyle, and enjoys spending time with her two grown daughters and her 3-year-old grandson, Jetson.
Sarah Amedio – Sales Consultant
Sarah is an educator with a passion for learning and a deep respect for the written word. A voracious reader, Sarah spends her free time exploring as many different genres as possible and dabbling in writing her own sci-fi adventure. Operating from a place of empathy and directness, Sarah has a knack for helping others realize their potential and reach their goals. The characteristics she is most proud of are her honesty, patience, and commitment to always do what she says she will do. When her nose isn’t stuck in a book, Sarah and her family love to search for waterfalls and the treasures of nature in the mountains of North Carolina.
Charlotte Zang – Marketing Assistant
Charlotte is an author of fantasy and horror with three published novels. When she’s not spinning a new tale, she keeps busy designing anything from wedding invitations to websites. It’s important to her to stay abreast of the indie author scene via social media and workshops, while her work on set as a production designer for music videos and short films plays into her long-held passion for interior design. She’s a collector of books, master of her garden, mother to basset hounds, and wife to a dope husband.
Abbey Ryan – Marketing Analyst
Abbey has worked in marketing for going on 5 years… or 15 years if you count helping out at her Dad’s marketing business. With a specialization in copywriting, keywords, and effective communication, she loves making projects digestible for the modern internet audience. When she’s not at her computer working, she’s probably traveling in her self-converted sprinter van, painting pictures of sunsets, and eating a big bowl of chips and guac.
Stefanie Gilmour – Graphic Designer/ Formatter
With a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Stefanie enjoys helping people visually communicate their ideas. She hails from the Midwest and lives there with her patient husband and their two tolerant cats.
Rachela Brisindi – Graphic Designer
A lover of all things color and extremely passionate about good design, Rachela has been professionally designing and teaching graphic design for almost 20 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations & Marketing from Georgia Southern University and continued on to receive her graphic design training at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada.