Our team
A caring team curates personalized service from start to finish.
An experienced guide
Kathleen Groom, Founder
With more than twenty years experience as a ghostwriter, collaborator, and developmental editor in the book publishing industry, Kathleen has helped scores of authors finish their books. Some projects begin with an idea, others with a rough first draft. In the end, Kathleen’s clients from around the world now hold a copy of that long-dreamed-about book in their hands. She started Book Journey to help even more authors realize their dreams.
Our specialists
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April Rust
Editorial Project Manager, editor, formatter
In addition to being a professional copyeditor and book designer, April utilizes her skills for detail to manage Book Journey’s multiple projects. With a passion for literature, April pursued a BA in English and earned a Certificate of Copyediting from UC San Diego so she could help authors reach their dream of publication.
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Jennifer Prince
Editor, proofreader
Jennifer is a seasoned copyeditor with a passion for supporting authors as they bring their stories to life. With a keen eye for detail, she utilizes her deep understanding of written language to ensure clarity, consistency, and engaging prose, helping authors create their best work. Jennifer has earned a Certificate in Professional Editing from UC Berkeley Extension and a Certificate of Excellence in General Proofreading from Proofread Anywhere.
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Christy Distler
Editor, proofreader, typesetter
Christy Distler has twenty years of editorial experience and a writing background that includes published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction is her specialty, and in 2015 she co-authored 5 Editors Tackle the 12 Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing with four other editors. She regularly judges writing contests and teaches at writers conferences. Christy's authorial and editorial experiences have given her a broad understanding of what authors need on their publishing journey.
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Cynthia Young
Graphic designer
Books are judged by their covers. And readability is created by many design decisions. Cynthia's been refining her craft as a designer for decades, working on books, magazines, and websites. Her eye for nuance, combined with years of experience, means a compelling book—inside and out—for you and your readers.
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Sophie Danielson
Graphic designer
Sophie Danielson is a freelance writer, book designer, and curriculum creator. She is also the founder of Books Unbound, providing contextualized educational resources for refugees. Having developed projects in southern Asia and consulted for international organizations, Sophie brings extensive experience to her work. Now based in Colorado, she designs books, writes, and creates curricula, while continuing work with resettled refugees around the US and abroad.
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Deborah Stocco
Cover designer, formatter
For over 15 years Debbi has designed and perfectly prepared books of inspiration, entertainment, memoirs, etc., to be printed, put into readers’ hands, and sitting beautifully on the bookshelf for posterity. She also prepares eBook files, testing and tweaking the back end code for the expected display on digital devices. Debbi enjoys helping other authors seamlessly publish their books, as if they were her own.
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Erin Stocco
Book designer, researcher, historian
Erin Stocco crafts interiors that make reading effortless. With a BA in History and a degree in Apparel Design, Erin has an eye for structure, detail, and aesthetics. A well-designed book should feel natural, drawing readers in without distractions. Erin focuses on layout and flow, ensuring each page enhances the experience and lets authors' words shine.
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Michelle Miller
Proofreader
Michelle is a proficient proofreader dedicated to helping authors and writers improve their work for publication. She brings meticulous attention to detail and industry expertise to her clients. Passionate about supporting writers, she helps them present their best work to readers. Michelle takes professional development seriously and strives to keep her skills up to date.
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Lindsey Hauck
Marketing
As a podcast and social media enthusiast, Lindsey Hauck specializes in strategic marketing. She leverages her passion for networking by researching online communities, increasing client visibility, and driving sales through social media and local outlets. Lindsey juxtaposes these skills with her experience as an executive and virtual assistant, which qualifies her as a well-rounded director of the Book Journey marketing team.
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Steve Asay Creates
Illustrator
Steve Asay is a professional illustrator, painter, and animator. His artwork is displayed in art galleries, on book covers, children’s illustrations, and more. Steve’s popular, hand-drawn pen and inks are ideal to represent memories and scenes—from small images for chapter headings to full-page illustrations. His wife, Scottie, with 20 years of experience in business communications, runs their day-to-day operations. Steve and Scottie Asay are the owners of Steve Asay Creates.
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Kaelin Groom, PhD
Cartographer
Passionate about fieldwork, cultural stone decay, and the profound intricacies that hold the world together, Dr. Kaelin Groom is a cartographer, professional researcher, instructor at Arizona State University, and founding director of the Stone Heritage Research Alliance LLC.