The Big Bad Book Blog is the brainchild of Greenleaf Book Group’s self-proclaimed Big Bad Book Nerds. It is a creative outlet for the Greenleaf team, designed to educate and entertain the writing and publishing community with useful insights and fun commentaries. Click here to learn more about Greenleaf Book Group: www.GreenleafBookGroup.com.

YOUR BIG BAD BLOGGERS

Clint Greenleaf, CPA, started Greenleaf Book Group in 1997 after writing and publishing two books, selling foreign publication rights, and securing a multi-book contract with Adams Media. Now he’s a big-shot CEO, and he still gets to watch The Simpsons.

Meg La Borde is the Chief Operating Officer of Greenleaf Book Group and a former literary publicist. She has been with Greenleaf since 2000 and has worked with more than 300 authors and publishers since 1998. She no longer wears capes (or plastic outerwear of any sort, for that matter), but she does continue to fight for the forces of good (though, admittedly, her nemesesbad titles, unattractive fonts, inefficient logistics, and the likeare not quite as scary as, say, The Joker).

Justin Branch oversees the consulting division of Greenleaf Book Group and lives under a large pile of books. (Don’t be fooled by that gruff, gun-wielding cowboy in the picture—he was a different man back then.) At Greenleaf, he identifies promising new titles and gives authors the tools they need to be successful in a retail environment. Justin joined the book industry after eight lively years in television production and marketing.

As Special Projects Manager, Tanya Hall handles a range of projects and initiatives that don’t fall neatly into other departments. Tanya also handles Greenleaf Book Group’s foreign rights program.

Lari Bishop, Managing Editor for Greenleaf Book Group, is experienced in all aspects of the written word. She has a master’s degree in journalism, but loves novels—particularly those with stories about brave women escaping from harrowing adventures on horseback.

A publishing veteran originally educated in journalism and Spanish, Nathan Delacretaz has assumed the unlikely but highly enjoyable (his words, we promise) role of “all-purpose computer guy” at Greenleaf Book Group. Prior to Greenleaf, he was with Harcourt, where he occupied roles varying from international sales to graphic design.

Kristen Sears leads Greenleaf’s distribution department. Kristen ensures each new title is set up with the appropriate venues and presents books to buyers for local and national buys. She is responsible for fostering relationships with booksellers and wholesalers and also handles the development of special sales programs and new distribution channels. Kristen is known for her tendency to eat more than most men, her inability to sit still, and to occasionally break into a spontaneous dance number.

As a four-time winner of Greenleaf’s seasonal “Young at Heart” plaque, Jay Hodges belies his years (and years) of experience with a childlike glee. Jay has a master’s degree in German literature with a minor in Norwegian, is a documentary filmmaker, and a former editor for Routledge and Penguin. When not indulging his creativity, Jay is fond of correcting the grammar of hapless passersby.

Sheila Parr is a designer at Greenleaf Book Group. She works to create book covers and layout designs that stand out in the market and attract readers. Her favorite things are fine point Sharpies and breakfast tacos. Like the design of this blog? Sheila did it.

Erin Nelsen is an editor at Greenleaf Book Group, where she debates, exaggerates, pontificates, and obsesses over words in both small and large denominations. She likes chocolate and The Chicago Manual of Style.

Lisa Woods is a genius and Zen master. Her main responsibility at Greenleaf Book Group is epic battle against her nemesis, Darth HP LaserJet, using only a protective shield of Post-it notes and manuscript pages to protect her desk from Darth Jet. Between confrontations, she designs covers and interiors and lurks mysteriously in area bookstores.

Ashley Marion is Greenleaf Book Group’s Marketing Associate. She customizes online, supply chain marketing, and platform marketing campaigns for authors, and she oversees the sales representatives. In addition, she manages the sugar rush at Greenleaf and maintains only the highest quality standards with constant supplies of Jelly Beans and Smarties.

Ryan Wheeler is the marketing manager at Greenleaf Book Group, where he manages all of our marketing programs, supervises our marketing representatives and staff, and manages each publisher’s marketing campaign in the highly competitive Big Bad Book World. Ryan reached Texas from his home state of Minnesota with courage and intestinal fortitude, the way the pioneers did it. However, now that he’s here, he mostly spends his time hunting out live music.

Aaron Hierholzer helps out with anything distribution-related at Greenleaf, which includes setting up new titles in various systems, handling book orders, and practicing dark arts you wouldn’t understand. Due to an abundance of (female) people at Greenleaf with phonetically identical first names, he is more commonly known as The Baron.

Brian Viktorin is the controller at Greenleaf Book Group, the person responsible for making sure our numbers make sense. He loves college football, live music, chips and queso, and the knowledge that he’ll soon be the recipient of the plaque on Jay’s wall. Brian’s dream has always been to play the guitar like Clapton, but he realizes the only instrument he’ll ever master is a calculator.

As production manager at Greenleaf Book Group, Alan Grimes coordinates the editing, formatting, design, and printing of our books. He can convert between picas, points, and inches in a flash, and he loves the smell of books hot off the presses.

Shari McMillan is the Accounts Receivable Administrator for Greenleaf Book Group. When she’s not doing her cooking show or training Vanna White in her Wonder Woman Underoos, she’s overseeing the company’s A/R and collection efforts. She also assists in day-to-day accounting functions and activities.

Jenny Elder is the Assistant Consultant for Greenleaf. Her main duties consist of corralling unruly submissions, organizing book reviews, and living on BookScan. When she is not reveling in the awesomely nerdy envy her job inspires, she enjoys playing music around town. Sadly, she is no longer a natural blonde.