Recognizing women and the role they play in the world on International Women’s Day
This year’s International Women’s Day Celebration theme is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. Women’s economic empowerment is central to greater gender equality in the world. The entire community benefits when women are given equal opportunities to lead, learn, and earn.
As a women-owned business, Indie Publishing Group is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day in 2024 and the critical role women play as part of the publishing industry as a whole.
Celebrating the Indie Publishing Group Team
As part of International Women’s Day 2024, we wanted to celebrate the women who have helped shape Indie Publishing Group into the company it is today.
Chrissy Hobbs – Owner & Head of Formatting
Chrissy was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She has traveled the world, spending a lot of time in the United Kingdom, the USA, and Australia. Starting out in the self-publishing industry as a project manager, Chrissy quickly transitioned into a formatting role before successfully self-publishing several best-selling children’s books. Identifying a gap in the market, she started Indie Publishing Group to assist Canadian authors with affordable, reliable, and accessible self-publishing services.
Mary Metcalfe – Head Editor
Mary has had a lifetime of experience working in the publishing industry, working for several large publishing houses before transitioning into a more relaxed lifestyle as a freelance editor. She has successfully self-published two literary fiction novels and an illustrated children’s book and is an avid historian. Her years of experience as an editor are an invaluable addition to the editing team at Indie Publishing Group.
Marilyn Boake – Editor
Marilyn is both an editor and writer and enjoys working with new authors, particularly by giving them detailed manuscript evaluations and critiques. Holding an editing certificate from Simon Fraser University, Marilyn has helped over 300 authors with their books.
Senica Maltese – Editor
Senica is a Canadian writer, editor, and film enthusiast. She has her BA in Writing and English Literature from the University of Victoria and moved to the United Kingdom to pursue her Masters in Creative Writing and Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia.
Kirstin Whitman – Editor
Kirstin is a graduate of Brescia University College, and after completing her degree in English Language and Literature, she went on to earn an editing certificate through Simon Fraser University.
Cassandra Filice – Editor
Cassandra Filice has 20 years of professional writing and editing experience. Before turning to her full-time writing and editing business, she taught high school English for nine years. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies and been shortlisted for awards. Two new books of poetry will be published in 2024.
Denise Wilson – Editor
Denise has edited hundreds of projects and has over two decades of education in the craft of writing and editing while also holding a marketing degree. She has ghostwritten and edited hundreds of manuscripts, along with websites, marketing copy, blogs, magazine features, and business reports.
Heba Sourour – Editor
Heba Sourour is an editor with a Bachelor’s and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Alexandria University. After working as a TA at her school for over a decade, she turned editing, her lifelong passion and loyal companion, into a full-time career. Having been raised between the US and Egypt and now based in Vancouver, BC, Heba is bilingual (English and Arabic speaking) and has a special affinity for world literature.
Vanessa Alexandre – Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Vanessa Alexandre is an illustrator and writer based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, working as a freelance illustrator since 2007. She has participated in exhibitions like Cow Parade, Football Parade, and Jaguar Parade in Brazil and NYC. Her work was selected to the exposition RefugiArte by the UN Refugee Agency. In addition to her work, Vanessa visits schools nationwide, performing literary activities and illustration workshops.
Kezzia Crossley – Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Kezzia is an award-winning Canadian Illustrator & Designer who has worked seamlessly with clients from all around the world and loves the collaborative process it fosters. An avid hiker and mountaineer, many of her illustrations are influenced by the wildlife and nature she encounters and the beautiful settings she visits.
Tanya Zeinalova – Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Tanya is a creative artist who makes whimsical, beautiful illustrations with unique style. She enjoys painting, and every artwork by her is created with great passion and love. She’s open to any new ideas and ready to bring to life all your ideas, even the wildest ones.
Britt Wilson – Graphic Designer and Cover Designer
Britt is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Brisbane, Australia. She has been drawing and creating for as long as she can remember, and her work often portrays her passion for nature and animals. After earning a Diploma in Concept Art and Illustration in 2018, she decided to specialize in digital illustration and also began to explore graphic design.
Leysan Sotnikova – Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Leysan is a highly talented graphic designer and illustrator of children’s books. She creates graphics, watercolors, and digital images for children’s books, as well as for printing on textiles, wallpaper, wrapping paper, etc.
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024 – Conclusion
At Indie Publishing Group, we’re proud to be taking part and celebrating International Women’s Day 2024. We’re also proud of our self-publishing services, which assist Canadian and North American authors in self-publishing their books, including assisting with the children’s book self-publishing process.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, or uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and children’s book formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams. Do you have any additional writing or self-publishing questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly! One of our friendly and professional team members will get back to you ASAP!
