Welcome, 2021 Board Members!
Every year the Northwest Editors Guild’s board loses some past members and gains a few new ones, and every year here on the Guild’s blog we take a moment to introduce you to the dedicated volunteers on our board who work so hard to keep things running smoothly. This year we say farewell to outgoing board members Erin Cusick, Michael Schuler, and Matt Bennett, and hello to new members Sarah M. Peterson, Erica Akiko Howard, Alessandor Earnest, and Ivonne B. Ward!
Find out more about the new (and ongoing) board members below, and be sure to say hello if you meet them at an event.
Executive Committee
Jesi Vega, President
As a Puerto Rican-Jewish Latina born and bred in The Bronx, my mission as an editor is to support writers of color whose voices and points of view have too often been unfairly judged, misunderstood, and ignored. As a member of the Guild’s Board of Directors since 2020, I am equally passionate about diversifying the fields of publishing and communications so that our culture not only benefits from new voices, but from the new mentors, guides and gatekeepers who will nurture them.
Prior to my career as an editor, I trained as an actor and playwright, earned a Masters Degree in History of Religion from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade.
A proud Tacoma resident since 2012, I am also delighted to be mom to two extremely creative young people and step-mom to two more and have the greatest partner a busy social-justice entrepreneur could hope for. You can learn more about my work and read occasional blog entries at www.representeditorial.com.
MariLou Harveland, VP of Board Development
Whether teaching, writing, or editing, I have always loved working with language in one way or another.
In 2001, while earning a master's degree in English Literature, I joined the Microsoft Learn team, editing technical training manuals, contributing to their in-house style guide, and training new writers in the U.S. and in Denmark.
Though I’ve been writing since childhood, I published my first work of fiction in 2012, The Seventh Soul, which won first place in the Indie Reader Discovery Awards—Paranormal category at the International Book Expo in New York, NY.
I freelanced for a few years thereafter, delving into developmental, substantive, and copy editing (fiction and nonfiction), but returned three years ago to technical editing, which remains my editorial passion. When not writing and editing, I enjoy traveling in the camper van with Dan (my husband) and Ember (our Golden Retriever and best gal-pal).
Kris Ashley, VP of Member Services
I've worked in the publishing industry for over twenty years, including eight years as an editor at HarperCollins Publishers, as well as experience at bookstores and literary agencies, and thirteen years as a freelance editor. And as an odd aside, I have a Master's degree in Early and Middle Welsh Prose and Poetry from the University of Wales at Aberystwyth!
I'm a developmental editor for, well, just about anything; I've edited several novels and memoirs, and my nonfiction books edited include how to transition from film to digital as a photographer, how to deal with depression affecting your sex life and your relationship, a wonderful biography of a Sufi master from Iran by his daughter, and most recently, a coffee table book on marijuana. I also offer image research and licensing services, which I do for both publishers and independent authors—if you need images for a book and don't know where to start, I can help!
I've made several good friendships with folks I've met from the Guild, and made some terrific work contacts as well. This is my second year on the Board, and I'm looking forward to it! When I'm not editing, I sing (not in a choir yet, alas), read far too many books, and bake. Sometimes all three happen at the same time--depends what I'm making!
Laura Shaw, Treasurer
My love of editing started young, growing up with a family of voracious readers and writers. I’m a Seattle native—I went to Garfield High School and studied economics at the University of Washington. After graduation, I joined Teach for America and moved to New York to teach elementary school in Brooklyn. What I thought might be a quick stint turned into 12 years in the classroom, the final five back home in Seattle, where I’ve since transitioned into editorial and consulting work. I enjoy writing, editing, and proofreading grant proposals, particularly when I can support anti-racist organizations. I also love developmental and line editing for creative writers, and I plan to explore editing in a wider range of genres. I think the best part of being an editor has been the fabulous people I’ve met in the Guild!
Sarah M. Peterson, Secretary
I’ve been described as an editor-plus, and my work has always involved working with people and organizations to help their communications products communicate better.
As a technical writer and editor, I’ve partnered with subject matter experts who didn’t like writing to streamline and beautify federal websites and government reports. I’ve designed online trainings, moderated webinars with national audiences, and reported on federal-tribal government consultations. At the other end of the spectrum, I’ve helped independent authors design, self-publish, and market memoirs and children’s books.
Accessibility First, the business I co-own with graphic designer Anna Morgan, focuses on all aspects of inclusive communications design, from words, ideas, and organization to properly tagged PDFs and 508-compliant websites. In the Northwest Editors Guild, I’m excited by how editors of so many different stripes come together to find commonalities and places of cooperation.
I live in Spokane with my wonderful husband, five cats, and a loveable but poorly behaved dog.
Members at Large
Alicia Ramos
I’ve always been an editor in one fashion or another. My love of reading led me to an undergraduate degree in literature. I started my professional career practicing law, spent more years than I like to admit in corporate communications, and finally made the switch to full-time editing in late 2016 when I joined ECG Management Consultants. I’ve been a Guild member since 2015 and a board member since 2019.
My freelance work, which includes everything from proofreading to substantive editing (but not full developmental editing), is focused on popular fiction, particularly queer romance and romantic suspense. Nothing makes me happier than hearing that I’ve delivered what the author needed in a way that delighted them and helped them grow.
Alison Cantrell
I’m a freelance editor and proofreader based in Vancouver, Washington, with a background in editing fiction and proofreading technical documents and other short-form works. I’ve been working with writers for ten years in various forms, from tutoring student writers to editing book manuscripts. I have a master’s degree in book publishing with a focus in editing from Portland State University.
While pursuing my degree, I worked with Ooligan Press and performed extensive editorial projects for four of their titles, including two literary fiction novels and two YA novels. I currently work with both independent authors and several content creation agencies, where I edit and proofread a range of documents—from social media copy and blog posts to white papers and case studies—for their various clients.
Aside from editing, I enjoy spending time with my family (which includes a supportive husband, a curious daughter, an adoring dachshund, and an indifferent cat), working on my own writing, and volunteering with the EdsGuild and a local Portland literary journal.
Brendan McLaughlin
I'm a writer, editor, and communications consultant. After earning a degree in journalism from Western Washington University, I spent eleven years with a non-profit consulting firm. I've worked with non-profits advancing agriculture, climate, energy, land use, oceans and public health policy at the community, local, state and federal levels. I have a fairly broad skill set in the world of public interest communications, from strategic planning and message development to meeting facilitation and press relations. I've helped translate complex policy and scientific issues into accessible, compelling language, and produced detailed research reports on issues ranging from land use policy in the western United States to international climate policy and deforestation. I left the firm a few years ago to start my own consulting practice and work as an editor. I earned my Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. I primarily do developmental editing for fiction and non-fiction, and also some copyediting. When I’m not helping writers, I still work with non-profit organizations to make the world a better place.
Laura Whittemore
I'm an independent copyeditor and proofreader who works primarily on book-length fiction but gets really excited when a natural history project comes along. After discovering that copyediting existed, that I enjoyed it and was pretty good at it, and that I could be trained in it, I completed UC San Diego's copyediting certificate program, left my longtime retail position, and hung out my shingle in 2014. Joining the Guild and attending Red Pencil has landed me clients, given me training opportunities, and connected me with colleagues, for which I am eternally grateful.
I have a BA in Biology from Lewis and Clark College, and when I am not editing, I am teaching birding classes for the public in the Portland, Oregon, area.
Erica Akiko Howard
I am a Seattle-based independent editor and graduate of the University of Washington Editing Certificate Program. I do line and copyediting, proofreading, and fact-checking. My specialties include environmental science and science education, and I am passionate about science literacy and science communication. I enjoy working with people of diverse backgrounds, including people for whom English is a foreign language. I have family ties in Japan, and I have studied or conducted research in Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Russia. Outside of editing, I have worked as a college science instructor, a dance artist, a pianist, and a cricket caretaker. I also enjoy experimenting with food, though no one has ever paid me for it.
Alessandor Earnest
I’m Alessandor Earnest. Think Alice and/or. I’m a developmental editor and book coach specializing in speculative fiction books, comics, and graphic novels. I especially enjoy genre-benders like horror-comedy. My favorite stories are those that spring from the question, “Wouldn’t it be strange if…?”
As someone with ADHD, I’ve spent my whole life finding creative workarounds to accomplish pretty much everything I've ever set out to do. The way that worked for everyone else never seemed to work for me! I share the strategies and adaptations I’ve learned with my book coaching clients to help them write, meet deadlines, and gain confidence in their skills.
I write about writing, productivity, motivation, and ADHD for publications like The Startup, Invisible Illness, The Ascent, Creative Cafe, and The Brave Writer, among others. I am currently working on a book of writing strategies and a graphic novel that takes the Groundhog Day trope for a ride! I also run a Discord server called Writers of Strange Fiction, where speculative fiction writers can share resources, feedback, and support with an active community of other strange writers.
Yellow is my favorite color. I use way too many exclamation marks in professional emails. My not-so-guilty pleasure is writing and editing second person POV.
Ivonne B. Ward
As my work has evolved over the past 22 years, I’ve gained a reputation as someone who can do a little of this and a little of that, and do it well—from web design and development to graphic design to writing, editing, and translation (Spanish-English). These days, I’m happily earning a living exclusively as an editor, working primarily on business and marketing content for websites, social media, and email campaigns. Two years ago, I pressed pause on running my own editing and writing business to accept a full-time contract role at Microsoft, where I’m currently a senior editor with the Brand Content Studio.
I have a BS in Communication and MS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. I joined the Guild in 2018, the same year I completed the editing certificate program at the University of Washington. During my time with the Guild, I've enthusiastically tabled at various events and served on the planning committee for the 2019 Red Pencil Conference.
When I’m not editing, you might find me tap dancing in my living room or taking very long walks close to home in Downtown Renton or farther out, adventuring and exploring throughout the Pacific Northwest region. In non-pandemic times, I spent a lot of time volunteering in my community, supporting local theaters, rocking out at live-music venues, and dancing to exhaustion with friends and strangers. I look forward to the day we can once again gather, hug hello and goodbye, and dance with shared joy and abandon.
