Team
YELENA CASALE, co-founder of City Owl Press, is a USA Today Bestselling Author and editor, who highly prizes quality and professionalism. She earned a Master of Science in Publishing from New York University and has always been interested in everything literature and publishing. Over the past decade, she has edited numerous fiction and non-fiction works, including novels, short stories, articles and business documentation for a variety of organizations, charities, and presses. She’s a highly experienced social media strategist and marketing expert. She is keen to share a wealth of knowledge with authors, bringing her editorial skills, expertise, and great enthusiasm to the mix. She loves strong urban fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as medieval, Renaissance and Native American historical romance. She’s currently also open to contemporary romantic suspense and sci-fi romance. You can find her wish list HERE but please note that she is currently CLOSED to queries.
TINA MOSS, co-founder of City Owl Press, is USA Today Bestselling Author and business professional with two decades of experience in the publishing industry. Starting in 2006, she began her career penning narrative fiction shorts for women’s magazines. Since then, she’s written several novels in urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and sci-fi romance. She earned a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University, and a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from Brooklyn College. Before publishing, she shared her love of books for seventeen years in academia, helping the next generation. With extensive design, business acumen, and editing expertise, she brings a critical eye to all aspects of book production. As a social media lover (and admitted TikTok addict), she emphasizes the importance of author promotion and branding for every City Owl Press book.
TEE TATE is a writer and editor from Southeast Louisiana and a member of SFWA and Codex. She has edited various popular titles across genres, including fantasy(The Witch Collector), gothic, contemporary (Ten Tiny Breaths), and romance. Tee is drawn to character-driven stories featuring strong female leads navigating diverse, intricately crafted worlds and OWN-voices narratives that blend a literary narrative with high-concept fantasy. She is particularly interested in well-crafted romantasy, fantasy romance, and lighthearted, low-stakes cozy romance while also
harboring a deep appreciation for paranormal romance, science fantasy, and mystery. She is NOT interested in hard sci-fi, shifter, vampire, or mafia romance. For more on Tee’s preferred genres, visit her Wish List.
LISA GREEN brings over a decade of experience in the publishing industry from the author’s side of things. As co-founder of The First Five Pages Workshop online, she is no stranger to helping authors put their best work forward. Lisa is a lover all things paranormal and fantasy related. Not only does she read and write it, she also lives it. Lisa is a practicing psychic. More information HERE.
DANIELLE DEVOR is an award-winning author with over a decade of publishing experience. Named one of the Examiner’s 2014 Women in Horror: 93 Horror Authors You Need to Read Right Now for her novel, Sorrow’s Point, and named Science Fiction Author of the Year 2015 by AuthorClassifieds.com, DeVor has extensive knowledge of the speculative fiction publishing industry. Holding degrees in Theatre Design and Art History with extensive graphic design, social media marketing, and editing experience, she is a jack of all trades. Her favorite genres are Horror, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy, but she is always a sucker for a good story, no matter the genre.
JESSICA SHEARER is a dedicated editor, a passionate reader, and a true lover of books. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the written word, she has carved out a fulfilling career as an editor, shaping manuscripts and helping authors bring their stories to life. As an editor, Jessica thrives on the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of a story, working closely with authors to refine their ideas, polish their prose, and ensure the final product is the best it can be. She believes in the power of storytelling and is committed to preserving the author’s voice while enhancing the overall reading experience. When not immersed in the editorial world, Jessica can be found with her nose buried in a book; her heart mainly belongs to romance and fantasy romance. She revels in the enchanting realms of fantasy romance, where she can be captivated by well-developed characters, intricate plotlines, and immersive magic systems. Jessica is an unabashed romantic at heart. She seeks out stories that ignite the sparks of passion and touch the depths of emotions. Whether it’s contemporary, historical, paranormal, or dark romance, she loves the perfect blend of tender moments, sizzling chemistry, and a dash—or much more than a dash—of spice that creates an irresistibly captivating story.”
MARY CAIN holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Since 2008, she has been a self-employed seamstress. In 2010 she began writing a contemporary romance series. After many years of critiquing for other writers, Mary began work as a freelance developmental editor and eventually joined the City Owl Press team. She seeks all subgenres of romance, with contemporary romance at the top of her wishlist. Mary loves unexpected characters with unusual goals and/or conflicts. All levels of heat are welcome. While Mary is eager to see diverse characters and new ideas, the plot must focus primarily on the developing love story between two people and deliver an emotionally satisfying resolution (Happily Ever After).
CARRIE JONES earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing form York College. With her role on the marketing and publicity side of the company, she's spent her time at City Owl Press working behind-the-scenes with business and industry partners. She's now taking on the role of the primary author liaison, and she's excited to get to work directly with the authors. When not working, she loves curling up with a good romance book and her cat, Bailey, on her lap. On the weekends, you'll find her hiking or catching up on the latest trending show (although she's partial to K-Dramas). She's thrilled to be taking on a more forward-facing role and can't wait to help the authors meet their goals.
SAM COLE has a Bachelors of Arts in English from University of Connecticut and several years of experience marketing books on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. She works as a freelance personal assistant, content creator, and social media manager for a variety of authors. She was beyond excited to join City Owl Press as a Digital Content Creator and help market their amazing stories. Sam has had a passion for reading since childhood and loves that her career involves talking about books and helping authors find new readers. Her specialty is romance books of all subgenres, but she also regularly works with fantasy, science fiction, young adult, and more. In her free time, you can find her reading sci-fi or fantasy romance books, hanging out with her parrots and fiancé, or playing video games (usually Mass Effect).
TANISHA WASHINGTON loves creating social media content for her clients. As a recent graduate, she's happy to put the knowledge she's gained through her schooling to use and utilize her skills. Her favorite platform is Instagram, although she likes the community of Discord and TikTok, and the reader and genre groups on Facebook. Working for City Owl Press and indie authors allows her to combine her love of reading with her knowledge of social media. She is excited to showcase all of the amazing books. In her spare time, you'll find her traveling, visiting family back home, or cooking up a new dish (or a Jamaican classic).
MICHELE MOORE has a Bachelor and Master of Arts in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has over ten years of copyediting and proofreading experience, with an emphasis on fiction during the last eight. She also taught English 101 and 102 for four years. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, watching hockey and college football, and traveling whenever possible. She lives in Alabama with her husband and their dog and two cats.
RENE OSTBERG lives in Illinois. She has worked in publishing roles in the Chicago area ranging from assistant cookbook editor to copy editor and fact checker for reference books to communications coordinator at a professional association. Her essays, poems, and fiction have been published in numerous lit journals and magazines. She has a bachelor’s in English from Southern Illinois University and is currently earning her master’s in library and information science at Dominican University. Before her publishing days, she studied culinary arts and worked in rural Ireland for several summers.
BETH HALE is a USA Today Bestselling Author who decided to launch her editing career after seeing the need authors have for experienced, affordable editors. As an author herself, she remembers the struggle of finding quality editors that fit into her budget. With a background in English and Creative Writing, as well as her experience as an author, Beth felt the time was right to step into the world of editing. She’s open to editing manuscripts of any genre and welcomes those from diverse authors.
LISA CARLISLE is USA Today Bestselling Author of over 40 books, mostly paranormal romance and suspense. She’s written and edited both fiction and nonfiction over the past 25 years and has critiqued manuscripts for many authors. She earned a graduate degree in English and American Literature from Harvard University’s School of Extension Studies and undergraduate degrees in Comparative Literature and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Currently, she lives in the Boston area with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
JENNY SLIGER has a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. After letting her degree gather dust for a short time, she realized there is a strong need for editors in the indie publishing world who bring an author’s work to its fullest potential while retaining their voice and vision as well as being affordable. Thus began her foray into freelance copyediting and proofreading three years ago. She specializes in the romance genre (particularly niche subgenres like sci-fi, paranormal, monster, and LGBTQ+), but has also worked on fantasy, urban fantasy, young adult, new adult, horror, and Amish fiction. She is an army wife and boy mom who likes going to the beach, reading, and spending time with her family.
VANESSA WOJTANOWSKI received her bachelor’s degree in history, but loved reading and editing so much she decided to join the publishing world as a freelance editor. Before joining the City Owl team, she was an intern at Parliament House Press. Her favorite genres to read and edit are fantasy, romance, and horror. In her free time she enjoys baking, hiking the Rockies, and trying to grow giant pumpkins to carve on her favorite holiday, Halloween.
ALEXANDRA CARPENTER has over fifteen years of editing experience in the publishing and academic industries. She has edited YA, fantasy, and fiction novels. She has two boys and one dog and enjoys the outdoors, martial arts, books, and traveling.
CHRISTY NICHOLAS is an author, artist and accountant. After she failed to become an airline pilot, she quit her ceaseless pursuit of careers that begin with A. She graduated from Florida International University, and has been a practicing CPA since 1997, specializing in taxes for small businesses, specifically artists and authors. In her artistic pursuits, she writes magical realism, in both historical fantasy and time travel flavors, and creates bead-woven jewelry as both pictorial and sculptural pieces of wearable art.
SBR MEDIA is a literary agency for all genres and a Top 3 agency for international sales. The agency began in April of 2016 and has over 300 clients represented by owner, Stephanie Phillips, and Literary Agents, LaSheera Lee, Laura Pink, Kim Tatum, Nikki Groom, Katie Monson, Meagan Burgad, Vanessa Taylir, Dani Sanchez, and Amanda Wooden. For rights inquiries regarding City Owl Press titles, please contact Katie Monson at katie@sbrmedia.com or Amanda Wooden at amanda@sbrmedia.com.
MIBLART, starting from the dorm room, today is a team of 20+ people, constantly expanding and growing professionally to let the world know that a great book cover can be both affordable to anybody and made without a single drop in quality. We are proud to be connected with and recognized by the best in business. We’re artists and won’t settle for something mediocre when it comes to working on your book cover. That’s why we won’t stop perfecting it until you’re 100% happy with our work. Find us at miblart.com
PAINTED WINGS PUBLISHING offers a variety of author and publisher services, most notably digital fore-edge designs embedded directly into manuscript PDFs. They also provide interior formatting, alternative inking formatting, typography, and cover designs. What began as a simple publishing imprint for the owner, an indie author, has now grown into a family business that works with authors of all genres.
OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED MEDIA is a prestige content brand delivering digital experiences that entertain and inform readers around the world; their network of digital properties produces compelling stories that keep audiences engaged across devices. A global eBook publisher, our catalog includes legendary authors such as Joan Didion, William Styron, Alice Walker, Dee Brown, Pat Conroy, Gloria Steinem, Octavia Butler, John Jakes, Pearl S. Buck, Walker Percy, and Sherman Alexie. Driven by the mission of bringing great literary works back to life, Open Road Media partners with premier authors of classic and contemporary works, making their content available to readers around the world. openroadintegratedmedia.com